Windows 11 Window Management Cheat Sheet

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Operating Systems · Windows 11 Window Management Cheat Sheet

Virtual desktops, moving windows between them, snapping, switching and multi-monitor tricks in Windows 11, with a section on keeping separate personal and work desktops. Written from my own knowledge of Windows 11 and not tested key by key on this machine (Windows 11 Pro, build 26300), so if a shortcut misbehaves, the Settings pages named here are the first place to look.

Virtual Desktops: The Basics

Win+TabTask View: every window on this desktop, with the strip of desktops along the bottom

Win+Ctrl+DCreate a new desktop and switch to it

Win+Ctrl+Left / RightSwitch to the previous / next desktop (also works inside Task View)

Win+Ctrl+F4Close the current desktop; its windows are not closed, they move to a neighbouring desktop

Touchpad swipeFour fingers left / right switches desktop; three fingers up opens Task View (laptops; set under Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad)

Right-click a desktopIn Task View: rename it, choose its own wallpaper, or move it left / right (dragging also reorders)

PersistenceDesktops, their names and wallpapers survive a restart; the windows on them do not, unless the app restores itself

Moving a Window to Another Desktop

Drag in Task ViewWin+Tab, then drag the window's thumbnail onto another desktop in the strip. Drop it on New desktop to create one for it

Right-click in Task ViewRight-click the window's thumbnail > Move to > pick the desktop (or New desktop)

Keyboard onlyWin+Tab, arrow to the window, press the Menu key (or Shift+F10) > Move to. Not tested on this machine

Show on all desktopsRight-click the thumbnail > Show this window on all desktops, or Show windows from this app on all desktops (every window of the app, including new ones)

No default shortcutAs far as I know Windows 11 has no built-in key to send the active window to another desktop; AutoHotkey scripts or similar third-party tools can add one

Personal vs Work Desktops: Setup

Name themWin+Tab, right-click each desktop > Rename: "Personal" and "Work"

Different wallpapersRight-click a desktop > Choose background: you can tell at a glance which one you are on

Alt+Tab: this desktop onlySettings > System > Multitasking > Alt+Tab shows windows from > This desktop only. Work and personal windows stop mixing

Taskbar: this desktop onlySettings > System > Multitasking > On the taskbar, show all open windows > Only on the desktop I'm using

Taskbar clicksWith all desktops chosen, clicking an app's taskbar button jumps to the desktop that holds its window; with this desktop only it opens a new window here

Shared appsUse Show windows from this app on all desktops for things you want everywhere (music player, chat, a notes window)

Open the settingsWin+R, then ms-settings:multitasking

Snapping: Keyboard

Win+Left / RightSnap the window to the left / right half; pressing again at the edge carries it to the next monitor

Win+UpMaximise (a snapped window goes to the top quarter instead)

Win+DownRestore a maximised window; a second press minimises it

Win+Left, then Win+UpTop-left quarter (Down gives bottom-left; the same on the right)

Win+Shift+Up / DownStretch the window to full height / restore its height, keeping its width

Win+ZOpen the snap layouts picker; press the number shown on a layout, then on a zone

Win+HomeMinimise everything except the active window; press again to restore

Win+M / Win+Shift+MMinimise all / restore all minimised windows

Win+DShow the desktop; press again to bring the windows back

Snapping: Mouse & Snap Layouts

Drag to a sideLeft or right edge: half of the screen. A corner: a quarter

Drag to the topMaximise; the snap layouts picker also drops down at the top of the screen

Hover over MaximiseHover the maximise button (or press Win+Z) to see the layouts, then click a zone

Snap AssistAfter snapping one window, thumbnails of your other windows offer to fill the rest of the layout

Snap groupsSnapped windows appear as a group in the taskbar hover preview, Task View and Alt+Tab; click it to bring them all back together

Drag a dividerResize two snapped windows together (needs When I resize a snapped window, simultaneously resize any adjacent snapped window)

Double-click the title barMaximise / restore. Double-click the top or bottom edge of a window to stretch it to full height

ShakeTitle bar window shake (off by default, Settings > System > Advanced) minimises all other windows when you shake one

Move, Resize & the Window Menu

Alt+SpaceOpen the window's system menu

Alt+Space, then MMove: use the arrow keys, then Enter (Esc cancels)

Alt+Space, then SSize: use the arrow keys, then Enter

Alt+Space, then X / N / RMaximise / minimise / restore

Alt+F4Close the window

Shift+right-click a taskbar buttonThe window menu for that window (Move, Size, Close)

Switching Between Windows

Alt+TabSwitcher: hold Alt and keep pressing Tab, or use the arrow keys and Enter. Add Shift to go backwards

Ctrl+Alt+TabThe switcher stays open after you let go of the keys

Alt+EscCycle windows in the order they were opened, without a switcher

Win+TabTask View: a bigger overview, with desktops

Win+1 … 9Start or switch to the app in that taskbar slot; press again to cycle its windows

Win+Shift+1 … 9Open a new window of that app

Win+Ctrl+1 … 9Switch to the app's last active window

Win+TCycle through taskbar buttons (Enter to open)

Taskbar Tricks

Middle-click a buttonOpen a new window of that app

Shift+click a buttonSame: open a new window of that app

Ctrl+Shift+click a buttonOpen the app as administrator

Drag buttonsReorder them; their Win+number slots change with them

Hover a buttonPreview the windows; hover a preview to peek at the window, click to bring it up

Far-right cornerClick it to show the desktop (turn on under Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviours)

Several monitorsTaskbar behaviours > When using multiple displays, show my taskbar apps on: all taskbars, the main one plus where the window is, or only where it is

Several Monitors

Win+Shift+Left / RightMove the active window to the monitor on that side, keeping its size and position

Win+PProjection: PC screen only, Duplicate, Extend, Second screen only

Remember positionsSettings > System > Display > Multiple displays: Remember window locations based on monitor connection sends windows back to their monitor when a screen is plugged in again

Minimise on disconnectSame page: Minimize windows when a monitor is disconnected

Desktops are sharedVirtual desktops apply to all monitors together: switching desktop changes every screen

Settings Worth Knowing (Multitasking page)

Snap windowsThe master switch for everything in the snapping options below

Snap Assist suggestionsWhen I snap a window, suggest what I can snap next to it

Layouts on hover / dragShow snap layouts when I hover over a window's maximize button; when I drag a window to the top of my screen

Edge snappingWhen I drag a window, let me snap it without dragging all the way to the screen edge

Show snapped windowsShow my snapped windows when I hover taskbar apps, in Task View, and when I press Alt+Tab

Tabs in Alt+TabShow tabs from apps when snapping or pressing Alt+Tab: Edge tabs listed (or not) beside windows

Open itWin+R, then ms-settings:multitasking

PowerToys: What Windows Does Not Do

Installwinget install Microsoft.PowerToys --source winget (not installed on this machine at the time of writing; package id from my own knowledge)

FancyZonesYour own custom zones: hold Shift while dragging a window to drop it in a zone. Layout editor: Win+Shift+`

Always On TopWin+Ctrl+T keeps the active window above all others

WorkspacesWin+Ctrl+` saves and relaunches a set of apps in chosen positions: a one-click "work layout"

Keyboard ManagerRemap keys and shortcuts

PowerToys RunAlt+Space by default, which clashes with the window menu above; change it in PowerToys settings if you miss the menu

Your Personal / Work Workflow

Send this VS Code window to WorkWin+Tab, drag its thumbnail to the Work desktop (or right-click > Move to > Work)

Jump to Work and backWin+Ctrl+Right / Win+Ctrl+Left

Keep chat on bothRight-click the thumbnail > Show windows from this app on all desktops

Lay out a screenWin+Z, pick a layout, fill each zone from Snap Assist

Lost a window?Win+Tab shows every window on this desktop; set Alt+Tab to all desktops to find one elsewhere

Why can't I send a window to another desktop with a key?

Windows lets you switch desktops with the keyboard (Win+Ctrl+Left / Right) but, as far as I know, only lets you move a window with the mouse or the Task View context menu. If you do it often, the quickest habit is: Win+Tab, drag the window onto the other desktop, Win+Ctrl+Left / Right to follow it.

Closing a desktop does not close its windows

Win+Ctrl+F4 (or the X on a desktop thumbnail) moves that desktop's windows to a neighbouring desktop. Check where they went before you carry on, especially if it was the work desktop you closed.