Independent virtual desktops per monitor about powertoys HOT 100 OPEN

Bumping this again as it's desperately needed. If anyone has found a proper workaround in the meantime, would love to see it!

from powertoys.

Thank you for the suggestion.
Some of this might already be possible, like keeping Outlook on all Virtual Desktops, by going into Task View (Win+Tab keyboard shortcut), right-clicking Outlook and selecting "Show windows from this app on all desktops".

from powertoys.

This would be very useful for web developers (and for many other devs also) that have a lot of windows open and while having live reloading windows on one monitor they could switch between console, editor, etc. on the other. Currently even with "Show window from...." function you would still see useless swipe animation with same window. We've been spoiled by macOS and Linux with those capabilities and it would be nice to go back to coding on Windows and have something familiar.

from powertoys.

+1 for the Idea, I would like to see this feature integrated into Powertoys since Windows 10 doesn't offer the functionality out of the box. Just make it how it works on macOS and I would be a happy man.

from powertoys.

The current use logic of Windows 11's virtual desktop is that multiple monitors share the same virtual desktop. Such user experience is really terrible.

If you switch virtual desktops, all monitors will switch virtual desktops at the same time instead of one-to-one mapping on the MacOS.

As a result, the function of virtual desktop has nothing to do with "productivity improvement" in the scenario of multiple monitors.

from powertoys.

It makes me think of something like combining multimonitor features and virtual desktop management. Could very sexy on portable pc devices that you dock at the office or at home.

Imagine a dual (or more) montitor setup, where your could be able to display one virtual desktop on monitor 1 and the other virutal desktop on monitor 2 as you proposed. When unplugging your device no window merging happens because its a virtual desktop, and you can now switch from one another on your temporary single monitor setup. As soon as you plug into your docking station all your desktops and windows cast right back where they belong.

from powertoys.

Had to switch to a portable working environment for a while (Macbook + iPad in sidecar). Realized I'm really missing this one on Windows. The ability to independently switch virtual desktops per monitor is a must have.

Any chance this gets implemented or at least bumped in priority?

from powertoys.

Might as well add another voice to this: moved from Mac as my personal dev driver about a month ago, massively impressed. Windows 11 + WSL2 is so far better than Mac, no issues. Except for this.

My usecase is a laptop, when at home/work plug into monitors. Fancyzones is great (better than Mac), ability to remember layouts used on monitors is great (better than Mac), virtual desktops overall are great. But this is bizzare (and I realise it's got to be due to technical hurdles): I've got desktops per-monitor, and they are isolated in that they all have different stuff going on, so it makes no sense that if I switch desktops on one monitor I want to also switch desktops on another monitor at the same time. As others have noted, it's a massive annoyance, and a productivity killer - it makes workspaces nigh-on unusable when you've got a lot going on onscreen.

from powertoys.

we really need this feature... please...

from powertoys.

My 50 cents...

I'm constantly changing between MacOs, Linux and Windows in my day-to-day working as a developer. The lack of this feature is the most annoying and productivity killer when I'm on Windows.

I'm using three monitors, and there is no sense for me how it works on Windows. To be honest, there is no advantage in using multiple monitors on windows (and virtual desktops). If I can't manage that individually per monitor, it's a waste of resources.

I'll appreciate it if it comes true in a not so far moment.

from powertoys.

Need to add my voice to this request. My workflow is really suffering from the lack of this feature. Would really love to hear from anyone who has a good workaround.

"Show windows from this app on all desktops" is not a solution.

Third-party apps since it has dropped of Windows' radar?

from powertoys.

Any update on this? I just switched back to Windows from MacOS for a new job and not having the ability to use independent virtual desktops on each monitor is absolutely killing my workflow. PowerToys seems like the only place to get meaningful changes/features implemented for Windows. I would love you all forever if you could add this.

from powertoys.

I suspect it will never get implemented since the priority for Microsoft is cloud based windows 12..... And that most likely implies browser like os experience in a single window and not really a multi display environment...

Sounds like Microsoft should change their product name to "Window" 😔

from powertoys.

It is a very anticipated improvement for me. I usually connect a laptop to an external monitor and have the following configuration:

display 1 (ext)
|-- Fullscreen opened browser for monitoring needs (Jenkins, Grafana, etc.)
|-- S4B meetings
|-- Outlook, browsing, Youtube, etc.
display 2 (laptop)
|-- Virtual desktop 1
  |-- Main environment (IDE, browser)
|-- Virtual desktop 2
  |-- Fullscreen Linux VM
|-- Virtual desktop 3 ... (other fullscreen apps)

In this scenario, it is difficult to ensure that applications still visible on the external monitor during switching between virtual desktops on my laptop screen. As a workaround, I could use win + tab to open timeline and then manually set "show this window on all desktops" option for all application on the external display. This is boring, additionally, it shows undesired animations on the external display when switching desktops using the touchpad gestures (if I even disable windows animations).

from powertoys.

It would be awesome to be able to switch desktops on different monitors independently, much much much appreciated!

from powertoys.

Vote for this, now it's useless using multiple monitors with multiple virtual desktops

from powertoys.

this feature it would be very useful, thank you.

from powertoys.

Mac User since 6 months (at work). There are not many things that work better. But independent virtual desktops is an absolute killer feature. Will be very hard going back to windows without it.
Windows needs this, including reordering and drag-and-drop for desktops and windows (btw. as much as Macos needs a file manager e.g.).

from powertoys.

This is a baffling oversight for 2023. MS even planned the appropriate "displays have separate virtual desktops" feature back in 2021 (https://www.windowslatest.com/2021/02/23/windows-10-is-getting-new-multitasking-features-with-sun-valley-update/). MacOS has had this feature forever, combined with a two-finger swipe gesture on the mouse for effortless switching.

from powertoys.

Oh boy, this critical issue is dead for a big while now :/

from powertoys.

Hi community!

Guys, it's been 5 years and the issue is still open.

Please come back to this issue and start working on it.

It's an open source project, you could only say you want something, not ask people to do something.

Did you reply because you needed to reply or just wanted to?

Doesn't matter. The comment isn't for you or is not addressed to the community. It is addressed to the Microsoft team.

P.S. Do not reply to this because this is not a Facebook nor twitter post to discuss in comments this.

P.S. Please. Remove yours and I remove this. To do not have junk collected in the comments

from powertoys.

Any news if this can be done in Windows 10/11, at least if is a planned feature for either Windows or PowerToys??

from powertoys.

IMO the problem here is the over reliance on telemetry.
As they probably see almost no usage of Virtual Desktops, they don't develop it further neither in PowerToys nor in Windows itself. But the reason we don't really use it is that it is currently missing this kind of functionalities to make it actually usable.

from powertoys.

This feature will make any user become as productive as using a Mac system! It is absolutely needed.

from powertoys.

This already work perfect on Mac OS ... just copy functionality and all will be happy.

from powertoys.

I would really love to see this enhancement. Is there any plan to get this in (or is it impossible based on the current implementation)? It has been a year and 1/2, so just wondering if there's a chance that this will happen in the near future

from powertoys.

The same as above.

from powertoys.

Joining in the chime here.
This is definitely a most required feature.
on today's businesses it's almost standard to work on 2 monitors (whether 2 external or laptop + external)
and the idea of being able to split the screen into 2 separate windows (like personal \ business, or production view vs dev view for a more business oriented point of view)
this is very ideal and very much needed.
Any chance to get some info from @msft to peak at this ?

from powertoys.

I really would like this feature as well. Without it, using multiple monitors feels clunky and almost pointless.

from powertoys.

Hi community!

Guys, it's been 5 years and the issue is still open.

Please come back to this issue and start working on it.

from powertoys.

I 100% agree that this is a musthave have feature, please Microsoft and especially the Powertool Teams make this happen in 2024. You will make allot of people very happy!!

from powertoys.

Is there some underlying technical blocker on Windows side not to have this implemented in 2022?

Incompetence?

from powertoys.

This is a productivity killer. I was trying to switch from MacOS to Window,s but I rather stay a bit longer on MacOS until this feature is launched on Windows. Can't believe we are begging these guys for a feature that has been working even on Ubuntu for many years.

Looks like Cosmic desktop for Linux is even going to implement this feature before Microsoft gets around to it. Sad thing is this was already built in a Windows 10 insider preview but then never merged in and/or approved. Whoever made that decision should have been fired or demoted imo. This is a critical usability feature for many of us & the ability to reverse left to right scrolling without reversing up and down or vice versa so that desktop switching w/ 3 fingers on a touchpad can feel natural to everyone.

https://9to5linux.com/system76s-rust-based-cosmic-desktop-promises-hdr-support-smooth-nvidia-experience

from powertoys.

@avielc I bought only the "virtualdesktops" product. The ascetic and UI are weird at best, but it works. Never had an issue with it.

from powertoys.

This is probably the biggest hurdle for me to come back as a regular Windows user. This exact feature has been on macOS forever and as someone who works with multiple monitors on daily basis, the Windows approach is extremely weird and counter productive for me.

from powertoys.

How has this been open for four years and not even a response from MS? This is my first time back on Windows from Linux & Mac in a fair while (about 2 or so years) and I'm shocked about the lack of productivity features such as this. I'm glad I'm going to be back on Mac when my new work laptop comes in, and am going to continue to avoid returning to Windows when I can for as long as possible (I use Arch + Sway for personal).

I feel for those who have to use Windows for work, the lack of a productivity feature that's so mainstream after all this time is just blatantly ignorant.

from powertoys.

Although I am not coming from mac, this feature would completely change my workflow to the better. Specially given how buggy the Virtual desktop interface is.

from powertoys.

Hello everyone, this functionality is really very important for many people.

Does anyone know if this is under development in W10 or W11? or PowerToys?

This Issue is already almost 4 years old and we still haven't had this solution?

from powertoys.

This is a MUST-HAVE Feature!! MS should notice this!!!

from powertoys.

Is sad to see - but like Linux Microsoft is letting Apple lead here. No other major OS or mainstream DE has this one feature that Apple has had for like a decade now.

Looks like it’ll stay that way. Gnome & KDE devs are also not interested in providing this option.

I imagine it’s more about inner office politics going on than anything else. Like I said - it was in an Insider build but unless the right employee or exec makes it a priority for the OS or Powertoy app then it won’t be.

from powertoys.

Another Mac user, this feature is a must - the only one that keeps me from making mac-like experience on Windows

from powertoys.

Plus one on the request. It is, for me, a productivity killer while using multiple monitors and the virtual desktop feature. Just to be clear: With multiple monitors, not having independent control over virtual desktop kills the feature.

from powertoys.

from powertoys.

BIg L for Microsoft for not implementing such a meaningful feature yet

from powertoys.

Hi community!

Guys, it's been 5 years and the issue is still open.

Please come back to this issue and start working on it.

It's an open source project, you could only say you want something, not ask people to do something.

from powertoys.

I am disappointed that this has not been implemented, especially considering Microsoft almost did so two years ago.

from powertoys.

from powertoys.

This made it into an insider build of Windows 10 but had to be enabled via the vivetool. Surprisingly not added to 11.

from powertoys.

Would love to see this available on Windows 11.

from powertoys.

IMO the problem here is the over reliance on telemetry. As they probably see almost no usage of Virtual Desktops, they don't develop it further neither in PowerToys nor in Windows itself. But the reason we don't really use it is that it is currently missing this kind of functionalities to make it actually usable.

I completely agree with @alefranz this is most likely a problem with interpreting the telemetry data poorly. MSFT see's no one uses virtual desktops, so they think they don't need to change it, but no one uses virtual desktops because it is incomplete. The biggest missing feature for virtual desktops to be useful at all is this.

If anyone is interested, here is a cool story about faulty data analysis.
https://www.trevorbragdon.com/when-data-gives-the-wrong-solution/

from powertoys.

if it was added in windows 10, what's the hold up in adding the same feature in windows 11

I recently switched from linux, loved wsl, but this is beyond disappointing.

from powertoys.

My solution has been to use macOS w/ Jump Desktop for RDP. Apple knows how to implement virtual desktops, aka Spaces, in a way that doesn't suck. @Theodoridis I also disable any automatic remapping Jump Desktop does and use my kinto.sh app to remap Windows w/ macOS shortcuts.

And used macminis w/ extended support for macOS are pretty cheap on ebay. Not free, but for basically $100 you can solve this issue today instead of some unknown ETA because upper management at Microsoft can't properly prioritize features that matter.

from powertoys.

I check this every day in hopes that something changes.

from powertoys.

Switched from macOS to win just to find this productivity killer.. Moving back to macOS until fixed.

from powertoys.

This change will be really helpful. Actually I'm feeling it's a bit weird that Windows decided to implement it in the way that all monitors switch virtual desktops at the same time. I feel like the Windows team shall respond to this ticket.

from powertoys.

There was a feature included in the insider build, but unfortunately, it hasn't been made available for general use. Is there any way we can find a solution to port it so that we can still take advantage of its capabilities? The fact that it is currently non-functional poses a substantial hurdle.

maybe the problem will be taken seriously if enough people complain here

from powertoys.

I've been forced to move from Mac to Windows as I changed to another client's project, and this issue is truly very, very annoying. Please, please give this request a high prio. We've been asking for this for far too long. #sad

from powertoys.

I 100% agree with you @alefranz it's clunky and feels incomplete. I just don't get the thinking behind Microsoft's implementation of virtual desktops. All they needed to do is copy what MacOS and Linux already do and they just didn't. I'm almost positive I saw Win 11 preview builds that had this functionality too, but apparently its not in Win 11 either. I just don't understand.

from powertoys.

I'm going to explore these:

• DisplayFusion: https://www.displayfusion.com/Features/MonitorSplitting/
• Actual Tools: https://www.actualtools.com/multiplemonitors/

from powertoys.

Another comment for hopefully more visibility to have this picked up and added to Windows as, like many have already said, it is a major productivity killer to not have this.

from powertoys.

that's over 3 years and no news \ progress about it.
It's such a helpful feature, I really hope it will get prioritized.

from powertoys.

That worked good for me when I used Windows and PowerToys: https://www.actualtools.com/virtualdesktops/download/ yes it's paid but works.

I tried this out but it doesn't solve the issue.

from powertoys.

That worked good for me when I used Windows and PowerToys: https://www.actualtools.com/virtualdesktops/download/ yes it's paid but works.

I tried this out but it doesn't solve the issue.

It appears there's a setting to switch it to this mode:
From the bottom of this page.

It definitely worked for me, I was searching for alternative workarounds and even though it is no completely aesthetic for me it is functional, the only problem is that other desktop's windows do not appear on the taskbar until you open their desktop, but with another utility from actual tools it can be handled, anyway, I liked it (:

Care to elaborate on that other util? I looked at their page and it seems like it's pretty pricy and they have like 8 apps. so I'm not sure if it's worth investing in.

The apps have a 30 days trial mode, you can test them and decide if you like them before paying anything

from powertoys.

Can I see this feature get implemented in my lifetime?

from powertoys.

Is this seriously still not implemented? Nice company, who else is surprised?

from powertoys.

"Show windows from this app on all desktops" is one of the ways. But I wish to switch easily, based on mouse cursor position or 3/4 finger swipe.

from powertoys.

Tbh I think the only real solution at the moment is something like rdpwrap. I am sure MS would rather users not use something like that, but it may the only way to replicate independent desktops (via hotkeys per 2 different users via RDP sessions). Not the solution that any of us should want - but as long as they ignore the feature they had already built in a developer insider preview awhile back there isn't much any of us can do about it.

I am sure it probably got axed though as Windows 11 went into development and neared release. Sadly they did not roll that feature into 11 or not yet. I doubt it will ever land on 10 though.

Tbh after all the work I did to get this feature I have decided not to switch desktops on the 2 separate user sessions, but I do switch desktops a lot on my Linux desktop which RDPs into Windows. That works well enough really, I don't find I need more desktops inside of the 2 - but they are thankfully pretty separate so I can easily extend into additional workspaces in either if I really need or want to. I tend to just use another 3rd party app to give me back vertical start menus as well. Only on macOS or Linux do I keep a dock at the bottom. I honestly have the perfect setup now.

from powertoys.

Thank you for the suggestion. Some of this might already be possible, like keeping Outlook on all Virtual Desktops, by going into Task View (Win+Tab keyboard shortcut), right-clicking Outlook and selecting "Show windows from this app on all desktops".

@jaimecbernardo Selecting a window to appear on all desktop is not that flexible (as it appears in all) but most of all it is super distracting when changing desktop as it doesn't stay in place but rotate around then reappear (yes, there is a hidden settings to disable those animations, but it disables it globally together with other kinds of animations)

from powertoys.

I don't think Microsoft really cares. The work for this feature was done in an insider build then they promptly forgot about it for whatever reason. I doubt it was technical. At least on Linux I can have my primary monitor to be the only one that switches.. then I run other sessions over RDP clients where I can also gain individual workspaces if I want. Not the work around I wanted - but it allows me to work as a developer as though any display has independent workspaces just like how macOS can handle it.

For gnome.

gsettings set org.gnome.mutter workspaces-only-on-primary true

from powertoys.

Any updates about this feature?

from powertoys.

I have no idea how things work, but is there no way we could built an app that achieves what we are wanting?

from powertoys.

Is there some underlying technical blocker on Windows side not to have this implemented in 2022?

from powertoys.

I'm going to explore these:

• DisplayFusion: https://www.displayfusion.com/Features/MonitorSplitting/
• Actual Tools: https://www.actualtools.com/multiplemonitors/

Any of these work for you ?

Also is there a way to port the functionality from Win 10 to Win 11 ?
Tried finding something in registry but to no avail.

from powertoys.

Any of these work for you ?

No. Still desperately looking for a good solution. If this was an app I could build, I would try.

Woe is me.

from powertoys.

Adding my voice to this, having recently switched from a Mac to a Windows laptop this is by far the #1 feature I miss from MacOS.

from powertoys.

Please!!!

from powertoys.

Any alternatives yet?

from powertoys.

Any alternatives yet?

Zilch.

Can we get together and have someone build an app that can enable this / hack the current virtual desktop setup? Is such a thing even possible?

from powertoys.

Any alternatives yet?

Zilch.

Can we get together and have someone build an app that can enable this / hack the current virtual desktop setup? Is such a thing even possible?

I would love that.... Unfortunately windows mods are not in my wheel house.... Is WinAero still active? Maybe they would come up with something?

from powertoys.

Can we commission someone to build an app/hack to get this fixed?

from powertoys.

That worked good for me when I used Windows and PowerToys: https://www.actualtools.com/virtualdesktops/download/ yes it's paid but works.

from powertoys.

This is a productivity killer. I was trying to switch from MacOS to Window,s but I rather stay a bit longer on MacOS until this feature is launched on Windows. Can't believe we are begging these guys for a feature that has been working even on Ubuntu for many years.

from powertoys.

This is a productivity killer. I was trying to switch from MacOS to Window,s but I rather stay a bit longer on MacOS until this feature is launched on Windows. Can't believe we are begging these guys for a feature that has been working even on Ubuntu for many years.

Also this feature actually doesn't work on Gnome (Ubuntu), you can have virtual desktops on a single monitor but not all monitors sadly unless it is spanning. So yea.. none of the modern DEs really support it, other than Cosmic apparently and tiling managers.

macOS is the only OS that has had this feature for a very long time, and sadly the best one can really do atm is a combination of Jump Desktop and rdpwarp most likely to create the feeling of virtual desktops per monitor with Windows. Certainly the only natural way that works with both keyboard shortcuts and touchpad gestures. Every 3rd party solution and app I have tried on Windows just fails miserably.

from powertoys.

That worked good for me when I used Windows and PowerToys: https://www.actualtools.com/virtualdesktops/download/ yes it's paid but works.

I tried this out but it doesn't solve the issue.

It appears there's a setting to switch it to this mode:

From the bottom of this page.

from powertoys.

That worked good for me when I used Windows and PowerToys: https://www.actualtools.com/virtualdesktops/download/ yes it's paid but works.

I tried this out but it doesn't solve the issue.

It appears there's a setting to switch it to this mode:

From the bottom of this page.

It definitely worked for me, I was searching for alternative workarounds and even though it is no completely aesthetic for me it is functional, the only problem is that other desktop's windows do not appear on the taskbar until you open their desktop, but with another utility from actual tools it can be handled, anyway, I liked it (:

from powertoys.

That worked good for me when I used Windows and PowerToys: https://www.actualtools.com/virtualdesktops/download/ yes it's paid but works.

I tried this out but it doesn't solve the issue.

It appears there's a setting to switch it to this mode:
From the bottom of this page.

It definitely worked for me, I was searching for alternative workarounds and even though it is no completely aesthetic for me it is functional, the only problem is that other desktop's windows do not appear on the taskbar until you open their desktop, but with another utility from actual tools it can be handled, anyway, I liked it (:

Care to elaborate on that other util?
I looked at their page and it seems like it's pretty pricy and they have like 8 apps. so I'm not sure if it's worth investing in.

from powertoys.

Thanks mate, appreciate it! I'll look it up :)

from powertoys.

from powertoys.

Came here to add to the fire.
I kinda solved this by using komorebi workspaces with yasb, but this is not using virtual desktops but rather "layouts" which in any case is not the ideal solution for this

from powertoys.

I would love to have this on windows. I would really appreciate this feature.

from powertoys.

from powertoys.

How hard can it be to implement an individual monitor support, which is absolutely essential these days... especially using teams, zoom on one monitor. It is super annoying that switching to another virtual desktop, my teams or zoom session also switched and I can't see it.

from powertoys.

from powertoys.

I suspect it will never get implemented since the priority for Microsoft is cloud based windows 12..... And that most likely implies browser like os experience in a single window and not really a multi display environment...

from powertoys.

from powertoys.

I want to switch back to Linux as well, however, having a HiDPI means that I will have to choose between tiny text on my laptop, or extreme lag if I turn on fractional scaling. So, Microsoft please.

from powertoys.

+1 really helpful

from powertoys.

It looks that this app do the work https://www.actualtools.com/virtualdesktops/independent_virtual_desktops_on_multiple_monitors.shtml

But it is incredible this is not built in in windows

from powertoys.

Just figured I'd add my vote for this feauture to somehow be added to Windows. has anyone here found a solution to make this work?

from powertoys.

This Is the missing feature to convince me to a definitive switch from Mac to win

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