

I’ve got web browsing going on in Desktop 1. I have two monitors on my setup that’s why each of my four desktop blocks are divided in half and I created 4 virtual desktops. Initially, you’ll only see one desktop but creating additional desktops is as easy as clicking a empty desktop block, opening a few application, changing the customization preferences and then clicking the next empty desktop block. It sits silently in the tray waiting for you to click and configure. But I did check Run automatically at logon in the lower right corner of the window because I want Desktops2.0 to feel like it’s a part of Windows 8.1 – not an accessory that needs to run separately.ĭesktop 2.0 manifests itself as a tiny icon that resembles a collection of four blue squares. Since this is pretty intuitive for most people I would leave it alone. To switch between desktops use the Alt shortcuts instead. Incidentally, Alt + Tab let’s you switch between open applications on the currently active desktop.

If you wanted to go back to your first desktop just press Alt + 1. So if you want to switch to the third desktop, you would press Alt + 3. Here’s how to set it up:ĭownload Desktops v2.0 and run the file Desktkops.exeīy default, Desktops 2.0 lets you shuffle through desktops by pressing the Alt key plus a desktop number ranging from 1 to 4. This means there’s no junkware, ggratuitous offers or spyware bundled in the application.ĭesktop v2.0 is also pretty fast. A little company called Sysinternals created Desktops v2.0 but Microsoft purchased Sysinternals in 2006 so you’re actually installing a Microsoft product. In Windows 8 and 8.1, you can get started with multiple desktops using a humble program called Desktops v2.0. Once upon a time there was a Virtual Desktop Manager Powertoy that you could install and invoke from the XP Desktop Manager toolbar. Virtual Desktops is actually an archaic Windows features that dates all the way back to the the Windows XP days. Using Virtual Desktops is a great way to organize your world especially if you find yourself constantly switching between various disparate tasks. The point is that each desktop is a completely distinct desktop (a new explorer.exe process) so you can customize the taskbar, change the wallpaper and all that good stuff without affecting the other desktops. And maybe on another desktop you’re playing games such as Minecraft. On another desktop, you can have your web apps open. Perhaps you have Outlook and Microsoft Excel running there. You can have one desktop dedicated to productivity. Virtual desktops are pretty cool because they let you use multiple desktops on one physical computer.
