Space
might be infinite, but the space on your computer’s desktop is not. Teachers
have to do a lot on computers like create content, post assignments, grade,
communicate with parents and students. It doesn’t take long for your computer
desktop to get full of open windows, which can make it difficult to get to the
one you need. One solution to this problem is to buy another monitor, but this
can be expensive, take up actual desk space, and end up just as cluttered on
both monitors. So, what’s the solution? Use virtual desktops.
Using
virtual desktops is like using multiple monitors, but on one screen. For
example, you could leave your email on one desktop, and your Google Classroom
on another. You can then quickly jump back and forth between desktops. You can
find instructions for how to use virtual desktops for Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks
below.
Chromebook:
Notes: Virtual
Desktops are called Desks; instructions from Google Support.
Create a desk
- On
your Chromebook keyboard, press the Show windows key.
- At
the top right, select New desk.
- Optional:
To rename a desk, select the virtual desk's name and
enter in your preferred name.
- Drag
a window to the new desk.
Important: When
you sign out, windows in other desks will merge into a single desk.
Go to a different desk
- On
your Chromebook keyboard, press the Show windows key.
- At
the top, select the desk you want to use.
Move a window to another desk
- On
your Chromebook keyboard, press the Show windows key.
- At
the top, select the desk with the windows you want to move. You may have
to press the Show windows key again.
- Drag
and drop windows and apps to your preferred desk.
Remove a desk
- On
your Chromebook keyboard, press the Show windows key.
- On
the desk you want to remove, at the top right, select Close.
- All
apps and windows from the deleted desk will go to the desk on the left. If
one is not available, all apps and windows will go to the desk on the
right.
Use virtual desk keyboard shortcuts
Important: Depending
on your keyboard, you can press the Search key or the Launcher
key for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
- To
create a new desk: Press Search + Shift + =
- To
move a window one desk left or right: Press Shift + Search + [ or ] (left
or right square bracket)
- To
go to a different window: Hold Alt and press Tab until
you get to your preferred window within a desk.
Windows:
Create Virtual Desktops
Select the Task View icon to the right of the
Windows Search box.
Choose New Desktop in the top left of the
screen.
Drag any open
applications into any of the desktops, or go to a desktop to open a new
application.
Shortcut:
Win+Ctrl +D will create a new virtual Desktop,
Navigate Between Desktops
Select the
Task View
All of the virtual
desktops will show up across the top.
Click on the
one you want to work on.
Shortcut:
Win+Ctrl+Left and Right Arrows will jump between virtual desktops
Close a Desktop
Note: When you close a virtual desktop, any
open windows will move to the original desktop.
Select the Task View
Mouse over the desktop you want to close
Click on the X in top right.
MAC
Note:
Virtual Desktops are called Spaces for Mac; Instructions from Apple Support.
Create a space
1. On your Mac, enter
Mission Control (swipe up with three or four fingers, press the Mission Control
key, or press Control-Up Arrow).
If you’re working with apps in full screen
or Split View, their thumbnails are shown in the Spaces bar.
2. In the Spaces bar,
click the Add button.
You can create up to 16 spaces.
3. When you’re done,
click the thumbnail for a space to open it.
Move between spaces
Do any of the following:
·
On a trackpad, swipe left or right with three or four
fingers. On a Magic Mouse, swipe with two fingers.
·
Press the Control key and the Right or Left arrow key.
·
On your Mac, enter Mission Control (swipe up with three
or four fingers, press the Mission Control key, or
press Control-Up Arrow), move the pointer to the top edge of the screen, then
click a space in the Spaces bar.
Move an app window from one space to another
On your Mac, do any of the following:
·
Drag the window to the edge of the screen. After a
moment, the window moves to the next space.
·
From the space that has the window you want to move,
enter Mission Control (swipe up with three or four fingers, press the Mission
Control key , or press Control-Up Arrow),
then drag the window up to the space you want to use.
If you drag the window onto a full screen
app in the Spaces bar, you can use the apps in Split View.
Delete a space
1. On your Mac, enter
Mission Control (swipe up with three or four fingers, press the Mission Control
key, or press Control-Up Arrow), then move the
pointer to the top edge of the screen.
2. In the Spaces bar,
place the pointer over the space you want to delete, then click the Delete
button that appears.
If the space contains open windows, they
are moved to another space.
