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Task View gives you a visual overview of open windows and virtual desktops in Windows. Open it with Windows key + Tab or the Task View button on the taskbar, then select a window to bring it forward, create or switch desktops, or move apps between desktops.
What Task View is for
Task View is a workspace overview and navigation tool. It displays open windows alongside your virtual desktops, making it easier to find a window or organize different tasks into separate work areas. Microsoft describes it as a more comprehensive overview than Alt+Tab. Microsoft’s multitasking guidance explains how Task View fits alongside other Windows tools.
Select an open-window thumbnail to bring that window to the foreground. You can also create desktops and drag apps between desktops from Task View. A desktop is a separate work area for grouping apps and tasks; it does not mean those apps have been closed.
How to open and use Task View
Open Task View and choose a window
- Press Windows key + Tab, or select the Task View button on the taskbar. If the button is not visible, use the keyboard shortcut.
- Select the thumbnail of the open window you want to use. Windows brings that window to the foreground.
For more keyboard options, see Microsoft’s Windows keyboard shortcuts.
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Create and manage virtual desktops
Use Task View to create another desktop, switch between desktops, or drag an app from one desktop to another. Keyboard shortcuts provide a direct alternative:
- Create a desktop: Windows key + Ctrl + D.
- Switch to the next or previous desktop: Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrow or Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrow.
- Close the desktop currently in use: Windows key + Ctrl + F4.
Closing a desktop is an action on the workspace, not the same instruction as closing each app assigned to it. Microsoft’s multiple-desktop guide covers desktop setup and management.
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Task View vs. Alt+Tab vs. Snap
| Tool | Main purpose | What it helps you do |
|---|---|---|
| Task View | Overview of open windows and desktops | Find a window, navigate desktops, and manage work areas |
| Alt+Tab | Switch among open apps or windows | Move directly from one open item to another |
| Snap | Arrange windows on the screen | Position and resize windows in screen layouts |
Use Task View when you want the broader picture of your windows and desktops. Use Alt+Tab for direct switching, and Snap when the goal is to arrange windows on screen. These are separate Windows multitasking tools, not different names for the same feature; see Microsoft’s guide to multitasking in Windows.
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Does Task View show Timeline?
Windows 10’s Timeline added a history of past activities to Task View. That Timeline experience was retired in Windows 11, so older descriptions of Task View may not match what Windows 11 users see. Microsoft’s Timeline guidance points Windows 11 users to recent files, OneDrive, or history within individual apps instead.
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