Virtual desktop shortcut: create and switch spaces
Make a new virtual desktop with Win+Ctrl+D on Windows, then switch with Win+Ctrl+← / →. On Mac, switch Spaces with Ctrl+← / Ctrl+→ and add one from Mission Control.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create a new virtual desktop (Windows) | Ctrl+↑ → + | Win+Ctrl+D | |
| Switch to next/previous desktop | Ctrl+→ / Ctrl+← | Win+Ctrl+→ / Win+Ctrl+← | |
| Close current virtual desktop (Windows) | Ctrl+↑ → hover → ✕ | Win+Ctrl+F4 | |
| Open Task View / Mission Control | Ctrl+↑ (or F3) | Win+Tab |
Virtual desktops on Windows
Press Win+Ctrl+D to create a fresh virtual desktop and jump to it. Move between desktops with Win+Ctrl+→ and Win+Ctrl+←. Close the one you are on with Win+Ctrl+F4 — its windows move to the desktop on the left, nothing is lost. Press Win+Tab to open Task View and see every desktop as a strip along the top.
Spaces on Mac
macOS calls them Spaces. Switch between them with Ctrl+→ and Ctrl+←. To add a Space, press Ctrl+↑ (or F3) to open Mission Control, then click the + in the top-right. Drag a window onto a Space thumbnail to move it there. Remove a Space by hovering it in Mission Control and clicking the ✕.
Jump straight to a numbered desktop
On Mac you can enable System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Mission Control and turn on Ctrl+1, Ctrl+2… to switch to a specific Space. Windows has no built-in number jump — use Win+Ctrl+←/→ to step through them.
FAQ
How do I create a new virtual desktop on Windows?
Press Win+Ctrl+D. It creates a new desktop and switches to it immediately. Close it later with Win+Ctrl+F4.
How do I switch virtual desktops on Mac?
Press Ctrl+→ or Ctrl+← to move between Spaces. Add a new Space from Mission Control (Ctrl+↑), then click the + in the top-right.
Do my open windows move when I close a virtual desktop?
Yes — on Windows, closing a desktop with Win+Ctrl+F4 moves its windows to the adjacent desktop instead of closing them.