Windows 11 Taskbar: What is the Task view Feature

1Finding and Opening Task View

So, where is this magical Task view button hiding? It’s right there on 🖥️ your taskbar, usually located between 🔍 the Search icon and the ⊞ Start button. It typically looks like a couple of overlapping rectangles or windows.

Here’s how you can bring up Task view:

1. Click the Task View Icon: The most direct way is to simply click on that little icon on 🖥️ your taskbar. It’s usually the fourth icon from the left if you’re using the default centered alignment in Windows 11.
2. Use a Keyboard Shortcut: For those who love keyboard shortcuts (and who doesn’t love being a power user?), you can press the Windows key + Tab simultaneously. This is a super quick way to bring up Task view without even touching your mouse.

Pro Tip: If you don’t see the Task view icon on 🖥️ your taskbar, don’t panic! It might be hidden. We’ll cover how to show or hide it later in this guide.

2What You See When Task View Opens

Once you activate Task view, your screen will transform. Instead of seeing your desktop and open applications normally, you’ll get a bird’s-eye view of everything you currently have running.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll typically see:

• Thumbnails of Open Windows: At the top of the Task view screen, you’ll see a row of thumbnails, each representing an application or document that is currently open. These are your active tasks! Clicking on any of these thumbnails will immediately switch you to that specific window. It’s like having a visual menu of all your open programs.
• Multiple Desktops: This is where Task view really shines for power users. Below the thumbnails of your open windows, you’ll likely see a section labeled “Desktops.” By default, you’ll have “Desktop 1.” This feature allows you to create multiple virtual desktops. Think of each desktop as a separate workspace. You can drag different apps to different desktops to keep your work organized. For example, you could have one desktop for work-related tasks, another for personal browsing, and yet another for gaming.
• “New desktop” Button: To the right of your existing desktops (usually labeled “Desktop 1,” “Desktop 2,” etc.), you’ll find a button that says “+ New desktop.” Clicking this is how you create a fresh, empty workspace.

Warning: While Task view is fantastic for organization, don’t go overboard creating dozens of desktops unless you have a specific workflow that demands it. Too many can become just as confusing as too many open windows!

3How to Use Task View for Multitasking

Task view isn’t just about seeing what’s open; it’s about actively managing your workflow. Here’s how you can leverage it:

Switching Between Open Applications

This is the bread and butter of Task view. If you have many apps open:

1. Open Task View: Click the Task view icon or press Windows key + Tab.
2. Select Your App: Look at the thumbnails at the top. Find the one you want and click it.
3. You’re There! Windows will instantly switch you to that application.

Practical Tip: If an app has multiple windows open (like several Word documents), hovering over its thumbnail in Task view might show you individual instances of those documents, allowing you to pick the exact one you need.

Managing Multiple Desktops

This is where Task view truly elevates your productivity.

1. Create a New Desktop: Open Task view (Windows key + Tab). Click the “+ New desktop” button. A new, blank desktop will appear.
2. Move Apps Between Desktops:

   Alternatively, you can often click and drag an application’s thumbnail directly to another desktop listed at the bottom of the Task view screen.

   • Open Task view.
3. Hover over an open application’s thumbnail.
4. 🖱️ Right-click on the thumbnail.
5. You’ll see an option like “Move to” followed by your available desktops. Select the desktop you want to move it to.
6. Switch Between Desktops:

   • Open Task view.
7. Click on the desktop you want to switch to from the list at the bottom.
8. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Windows key + Left Arrow or Ctrl + Windows key + Right Arrow to cycle between your desktops.
9. Close a Desktop: If you no longer need a virtual desktop, open Task view, hover over the desktop you want to close, and click the ‘X’ that appears in the corner of its thumbnail.

   Warning: When you close a desktop, all the applications running on it will be moved to the desktop to its left. Make sure you’ve saved your work!

Power User Tip: Assigning specific apps to specific desktops can make your workflow incredibly smooth. For instance, keep your communication apps (like Teams or Slack) on Desktop 2, and your creative apps on Desktop 3. This way, you can quickly switch contexts without getting distracted by unrelated windows.

4Showing or Hiding the Task View Button

As mentioned earlier, you might not always see the Task view icon. If you prefer it visible, or if you want to declutter 🖥️ your taskbar, you can easily toggle it on or off.

1. 🖱️ Right-click on an empty space on 🖥️ your taskbar.
2. Select “Taskbar settings” from the 🖱️ context menu that appears.
3. In 🖥️ the Taskbar settings window, look for “Taskbar items.”
4. You’ll see a toggle switch for “Task view.” Turn it On if you want the icon to appear, or Off if you want it hidden.

Convenience Tip: Even if you hide the Task view button, you can always still use the Windows key + Tab shortcut to access the feature. So, hiding it doesn’t mean losing access!

Conclusion

And there you have it! The Task view feature in Windows 11 is a powerful tool for managing your open applications and organizing your digital workspace with multiple desktops. Whether you’re juggling dozens of browser tabs for research or trying to keep your work and personal life separate, Task view is your ally. Don’t be afraid to experiment with creating new desktops and moving apps around – you might just discover a more efficient way to work!