Windows 10 virtual desktops let you separate open windows into different workspaces. Closing a virtual desktop does not normally close the applications on it; Windows moves those windows to another remaining desktop.
Close a virtual desktop
- Press Windows + Tab to open Task View.
- Find the virtual desktops shown in the Task View interface.
- Point to the desktop you no longer need and choose its close button.
You can also use Windows + Ctrl + F4 to close the virtual desktop you are currently using. Windows shifts its open windows to another desktop rather than ending each program.
Close an application instead
If your goal is to exit a program, close that application’s window normally or use Alt + F4. Closing a virtual desktop is an organizational action and should not be confused with quitting the apps displayed on it.
Move between desktops
Use Task View to select another desktop, or press Windows + Ctrl + Left Arrow or Windows + Ctrl + Right Arrow to switch between them. This is useful for separating work, communication, and personal windows without minimizing everything.
Virtual desktops are not separate user accounts or security boundaries. Applications and files remain part of the same signed-in Windows session.
The virtual-desktop instructions remain useful on Windows 10, although Microsoft ended the operating system’s standard free support in October 2025. Current Windows 11 virtual-desktop features differ somewhat, so screenshots from a newer system may not match an older Windows 10 PC.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
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