Lesson 5: Tips for Managing Multiple Windows
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Tips for managing multiple windows
Windows 10 has several features that make it easier to multi-task and work with multiple windows at the same time.
Note: This lesson will focus on using Windows 10 with a desktop or laptop computer. If you're using a tablet computer with a touchscreen, some of the instructions below will work differently (and some features won't be available at all). Check out our lesson on Using Windows 10 on a Tablet to learn more.
Snap
Snap allows you to resize windows quickly, which is
especially convenient when you want to see two windows side by side. To do this, click and drag the desired window to the left or right until the cursor reaches the edge of the screen, then release the mouse. The window will snap into place. To unsnap a window, simply click and drag the window down.
Note: If you have more than one window open when snapping, you'll be able to choose a window to snap to the other side of the screen automatically.
Flip
You can use Flip to switch between open windows. To do this, press and hold the Alt key on your keyboard, then press the Tab key. Continue pressing the Tab key until the desired window is selected.
Task view
The Task view feature is similar to Flip, but it works a bit differently. To open Task view, click the Task view button near the bottom-left corner of the taskbar. Alternative, you can press Windows key+Tab on your keyboard. All of your
open windows will appear, and you can click to choose any window you want.
Virtual desktops
Instead of keeping everything open on the same desktop, you can move some of your windows to a virtual desktop to get them
out of the way. This feature wasn't available in previous versions of Windows, and it's especially helpful for managing a lot of windows at the same time. To create a new desktop, open Task view, then select New desktop near the bottom-right corner.
Once you've created multiple desktops, you can use Task view to switch between them. You can also move windows between desktops. To do this, open Task view, then click and drag a window to the desired desktop.
To close a virtual desktop, open Task view and click the X in the upper-right corner of any desktop you want to close.
Showing the desktop
If you have a lot of windows open at the same time, it can be difficult to see the desktop. When this happens, you can click the bottom-right corner of the taskbar to minimize all open windows. Just click it again to restore the minimized windows.
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Another new feature in Windows 10 is Task View, which lets you have several desktops open at once. A desktop is a set of apps that are saved on the same screen. If you have a lot of apps that you're switching between, you can group them into a few different desktops, and then switch between desktops instead of constantly minimizing one window to get to another.
View Windows and Desktops
Follow these steps to view and open windows and desktops.
- Click the Task View icon.
All the windows you have open are reduced to thumbnails, letting you switch between apps quickly.
Press
+ D to open Task View. - Click the window or desktop you want to view.
Add a Desktop
Here's how you add a desktop.
- Click the Task View icon.
- Click + New Desktop.
A new desktop is added, with nothing on it yet, but any apps you open while this desktop is selected will be added to it.
- Open the apps and windows you want to appear on the new desktop.
Move Windows Between Desktops
You can also move windows between the different desktops.
- Click the Task View icon.
- Click and drag a window thumbnail to another desktop's thumbnail.
- Click the Task View icon again.
- Click
a thumbnail to view a specific desktop.
Touchscreen users can use four fingers and swipe left and right to change desktops.
Remove a Desktop
Once you're done with a desktop, it's easy to remove.
- Click the Task View icon.
- Hover your mouse
over the desktop, and then click the Close button.
That desktop closes. If you had any apps still running on that desktop, they'll move over to the next available desktop.
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