Never Run Out Of Space!

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

1. On your Chromebook keyboard, press the Show windows key.
2. At the top right, select New desk.
3. Optional: To rename a desk, select the virtual desk's name and enter in your preferred name.
4. 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

1. On your Chromebook keyboard, press the Show windows key.
2. At the top, select the desk you want to use.

Move a window to another desk

1. On your Chromebook keyboard, press the Show windows key.
2. At the top, select the desk with the windows you want to move. You may have to press the Show windows key again.
3. Drag and drop windows and apps to your preferred desk.

Remove a desk

1. On your Chromebook keyboard, press the Show windows key.
2. On the desk you want to remove, at the top right, select Close.
3. 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.