How To Use Windows 11’s Task View For Multitasking

Windows 11’s Task View is a powerful feature designed to enhance multitasking and productivity. It allows users to organize multiple open apps and desktops, switch between tasks, and manage workspaces more efficiently. Whether you're juggling multiple projects, need separate virtual desktops for personal and work tasks, or just want a more organized view of open windows, Task View can streamline your workflow. 

In this guide, we'll explore how to use Task View for multitasking in Windows 11, from setting up virtual desktops to navigating between applications and using advanced features like Snap Layouts and Timeline.

Introduction to Task View in Windows 11

Task View is a feature that allows you to see all your open windows and applications in a single, organized view. You can also use Task View to create and manage multiple virtual desktops, helping you separate different workflows. This feature is accessible through the Task View button on the taskbar or by using a simple keyboard shortcut.

Key Features of Task View:

1.View Open Windows: Easily see all open windows and switch between them.

2.Virtual Desktops: Create and manage multiple desktops for different tasks or projects.

3.Snap Layouts: Arrange windows side by side for better multitasking.

4.Timeline (Limited): View a history of your recent activities and open files across devices.

Accessing Task View

Using the Task View Button:

1. Locate the Task View button on your taskbar. It appears as a small icon with two overlapping rectangles.

2. Click the Task View icon to open an overview of all your currently open apps and windows, along with any virtual desktops you’ve created.

If you don’t see the Task View button, you can enable it:

1.Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.

2.In the settings window, toggle on Task View under Taskbar items.

Using a Keyboard Shortcut:

You can also open Task View using a shortcut:

1.Press Windows + Tab to instantly open Task View and see your current windows and desktops.

Managing Open Windows and Applications

Task View allows you to easily switch between open applications and windows, making it a useful tool for multitasking. Here’s how to manage open windows:

Switching Between Open Apps:

1. Open Task View by clicking the Task View button or pressing Windows + Tab.

2. In the Task View interface, you’ll see thumbnails of all your open windows.

3. Click on the window you want to switch to, and it will immediately become the active window.

Closing Open Windows:

1. In the Task View interface, hover over a window’s thumbnail.

2. Click the X button in the top-right corner of the thumbnail to close the window.

Snapping Windows for Side-by-Side View:

Windows 11’s Snap Layouts feature makes it easy to arrange multiple windows for side-by-side multitasking:

1. Open an app and hover your mouse over the maximize button at the top-right corner of the window.

2. A Snap Layout grid will appear, offering options to arrange windows in various configurations (e.g., side-by-side, quadrants).

3. Select the layout you prefer, and then choose other windows to fill the remaining spaces.

 Virtual Desktops: A Powerful Multitasking Tool

One of the standout features of Task View is the ability to create and manage virtual desktops. Virtual desktops allow you to separate different tasks, such as work projects, personal tasks, or entertainment, into distinct workspaces.

Creating a Virtual Desktop:

1. Open Task View by clicking the Task View button or pressing Windows + Tab.

2. At the top of the Task View interface, you’ll see your current desktop with a + New Desktop button next to it.

3. Click + New Desktop to create a new virtual desktop.

4. You can now switch between different desktops by clicking on them in Task View or by using the keyboard shortcut Windows + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow.

Switching Between Virtual Desktops:

1. Open Task View and click on the desktop you want to switch to, or use the keyboard shortcut Windows + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow to quickly move between desktops.

Moving Windows Between Desktops*:

You can move open windows or apps between virtual desktops to better organize your work:

1. In Task View, click and drag the window’s thumbnail to the desired desktop at the top of the screen.

2. Alternatively, right-click on the window in Task View, select Move to, and choose the desktop you want to move it to.

Renaming Virtual Desktops:

You can rename virtual desktops to keep them organized:

1. Open Task View.

2. Right-click on the desktop you want to rename and select Rename.

3. Enter a new name, such as "Work," "Personal," or "Projects," and press Enter.

Closing a Virtual Desktop:

To close a virtual desktop, follow these steps:

1. Open Task View and hover over the desktop you want to close.

2. Click the X button in the top-right corner of the desktop thumbnail. Any open windows on that desktop will be automatically moved to another active desktop.

Using Snap Layouts and Snap Groups

Snap Layouts is a new feature in Windows 11 that allows you to organize multiple windows on the screen in predefined layouts. Combined with Snap Groups, you can switch back to the same group of apps with a single click.

Using Snap Layouts:

1. Open an app or window.

2. Hover over the maximize button in the top-right corner of the window, and the Snap Layout options will appear.

3. Select a layout option, such as splitting the screen into halves, thirds, or quarters.

4. After selecting a layout, Windows will prompt you to fill the remaining spaces with other open apps. Click on the apps you want to snap into place.

Snap Groups:

When you snap multiple windows into a layout, Windows 11 remembers the arrangement as a Snap Group. You can switch between apps and quickly return to your Snap Group by hovering over any app in the taskbar that belongs to the group and clicking the group’s preview.

Task View and Timeline

The Timeline feature, which was introduced in Windows 10, has been scaled back in Windows 11 but still offers a limited view of your recent activities. Task View now provides a history of recently opened files and apps, which can help you quickly return to work.

Accessing Your Activity History:

1. Open Task View and scroll down to see a list of recent activities.

2. Click on a file, app, or webpage to reopen it.

Note: Timeline's more advanced features, like syncing activity history across devices, have been removed in Windows 11, but the basic functionality of viewing recent files and apps remains.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Task View and Multitasking

Keyboard shortcuts can speed up multitasking in Windows 11. Here are some useful ones:

1.Windows + Tab: Open Task View.

2.Windows + Ctrl + D: Create a new virtual desktop.

3.Windows + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow: Switch between virtual desktops.

4.Windows + Ctrl + F4: Close the current virtual desktop.

5.Windows + Left/Right Arrow: Snap the current window to the left or right half of the screen.

6.Alt + Tab: Switch between open windows without opening Task View.

Advanced Multitasking Settings

Windows 11 allows you to customize some of the multitasking features through settings:

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.

2. Go to System > Multitasking.

3. You can customize features like Snap windows, virtual desktops, and Alt + Tab behavior from here.

Snap Window Settings:

1.Enable or disable Snap windows.

2.Customize Snap behavior, such as whether to show Snap Layouts or automatically adjust window sizes.

Enhancing Productivity with Task View

Task View in Windows 11 is more than just a way to switch between apps. It’s a powerful productivity tool that helps you organize your workflow. By using virtual desktops, Snap Layouts, and Snap Groups, you can compartmentalize tasks, create focused workspaces, and reduce the clutter of multiple open windows.

Conclusion

Windows 11’s Task View is a versatile and intuitive tool for multitasking. Whether you’re managing open windows, organizing workspaces with virtual desktops, or using Snap Layouts to arrange apps, Task View allows for seamless multitasking. Learning how to use Task View effectively will improve your workflow, help you stay organized, and boost your overall productivity. With the addition of features like Snap Groups and customizable multitasking settings, Windows 11 makes multitasking more powerful and user-friendly than ever before.