How To Use Windows Virtual Desktops The PROPER Way

July 9, 2025 | 6 minutes read |

Windows Software

Let’s be real for a second. We’ve all been there. You’re deep into your work, and your computer screen is an absolute disaster. You’ve got work stuff mixed in with personal windows, and just trying to find that one specific document is a total nightmare.

Windows 11 has a feature called Virtual Desktops that’s supposed to help with this. And look, it’s… fine. You can make new desktops and move your windows around, but honestly, it all feels so clunky. I can never remember which desktop I’m on, and I constantly have to stop what I’m doing just to get my bearings, which completely kills my focus.

But what if I told you there’s a tiny, free program that makes Windows Virtual Desktops genuinely amazing? It’s a complete game-changer, and by the end of this, you’ll be organizing your workflow in a way that’s cleaner and way more productive than ever before.

Table Of Contents

Walkthrough Video

So, What’s This Magic Tool?

The program is called Windows Virtual Desktop Helper. Don’t worry, it’s a super lightweight utility that won’t slow your system down at all.

Its whole purpose is to fix the two things that, in my opinion, make the default feature so frustrating:

You’re Flying Blind: The biggest problem is that you have literally no idea which desktop you’re currently on. This little tool solves that by adding a clean number indicator right in your system tray, so you always know exactly where you are at a glance. Trust me, it seems simple, but it’s a total game-changer.
Navigation is Awkward: Switching desktops by default is just slow. The helper fixes this by letting you use simple keyboard shortcuts to instantly jump between your desktops. It’s so much faster once you get the hang of it.

Let’s Get It Set Up!

Ready to make your life easier? Let’s get it installed.

First, open your browser and head to the program’s official GitHub page.
Scroll down until you see the download links. You can grab the MSI bundle to install it properly, or you can get the portable version, which is what I did.
Once it’s downloaded, find the file and unzip the archive.
Since it’s a portable app, I highly recommend moving the folder somewhere safe and organized so you don’t accidentally delete it.
Now, open the folder, right-click the program’s executable file, and select “Run as Administrator”.

At first, it might not seem like anything happened, but if you check your system tray, you’ll see the new desktop indicator number and two little arrows. For an easier life, I suggest you drag and pin them right onto your main taskbar so they’re always visible.

Organizing Your New Desktops

This little setup is your new command center for virtual desktops. The number shows which desktop you’re on, and the arrows let you hop between them with a single click.

To create new desktops, just press Windows Key + Tab to open Task View and click “New desktop” a couple of times. Let’s say you have three in total.

Now for the fun part, organizing! From the Task View screen, you can literally drag and drop your open windows onto different desktops. It’s that easy to separate your work from your personal stuff.

When you click the arrows on your taskbar to switch, you’ll see a cool, transparent overlay pop up that shows the name of the desktop you just landed on. It’s big, clear, and so much better than the tiny default one.

Making It Perfect: The Fun Part!

Okay, let’s customize this thing. Right-click the desktop number on your taskbar and select Settings. A window pops up with all the options.

Navigation Arrows: You can turn the arrows on the taskbar off if you want a cleaner look, but personally, I like having them.
The Overlay: You can mess with the overlay that pops up when you switch. You can change the animation speed (I think 500 milliseconds feels best), its position on the screen, and even where it shows up if you have multiple monitors.
Keyboard Shortcuts (The Best Part!): This is where you unlock serious productivity. You can set up keyboard shortcuts to fly between your desktops. The default Alt + Number combo feels the most natural to me. I can hit Alt + 2 to jump to my “Work” desktop or Alt + 1 to get right back to my “Main” one without ever taking my hands off the keyboard. It’s so fast and effortless once you get used to it.
Run on Startup: Finally, and I highly recommend this, check the box to have the program run automatically when your computer starts. Set it and forget it.

Conclusion

And there you have it! With one awesome little tool, we’ve turned a clunky Windows feature into something you’ll actually want to use every day. You get a clear icon so you’re never lost, and keyboard shortcuts that are a total game-changer for staying organized and focused.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Not at all. It’s a very lightweight utility and it doesn’t slow down your system.

A: Nope! There’s a final option in the settings that lets you set the program to run automatically when your computer starts up. I highly recommend checking this box so you can just set it and forget it.

Absolutely! The settings let you choose between using Alt, Control, or even a combination with the number keys (1-9) to jump between desktops. You can find what feels most natural for you.

You can easily get rid of them. In the settings, there’s an option for the navigation arrows. If you uncheck it, they’ll disappear from your taskbar.

You sure can! The settings let you customize it quite a bit. You can change the animation speed, get rid of the see-through effect, and even use a little grid to pick exactly where on the screen it appears. If you prefer a cleaner look, you can even turn it off completely.