Windows has constantly been focussing on improving the multitasking experience on the OS, and the latest version of Windows (Windows 11) comes loaded with multitasking and productivity-boosting features. This article is a complete guide on multitasking in Windows. Please make sure that you stay tuned till the end of this article since we will discuss some features you might not have even heard about.
What Multi-Tasking Features Does Windows Have?
Multitasking can save a lot of time and also make your workflow more efficient and effective. While something is loading and processing in one window, you can utilize that time by working in the other window.
The latest versions of Windows come with a wide range of multitasking features. You get to split your screen between multiple windows with the help of the Snap Layouts option. With the Snap Groups option, you can group multiple Snap Layouts and use the one which suits your current point of work.
You can also create Virtual Desktops. It helps create a virtual setup of multiple displays on your Windows computer without attaching an external display. The other desktop will let you separate your tasks and windows so that you don’t get lost in the whole clutter of windows.
Multitasking in Windows 11/10 (Complete Guide)
Here is the complete guide to multitasking in Windows. Stay tuned till the end for fascinating tips and tricks.
- Snap Layouts
- Snap Groups
- Virtual Desktops
- Focus Sessions
Let’s have a detailed look at these features and how to use them.
1] Snap Layouts
The option to split screen between multiple windows was present in Windows 10 as well, but there were a few layouts available. With Windows 11, Microsoft has improved the feature and revamped it to make it more accessible and easy to use. Here’s how to do it:
- Open Multiple windows on your desktop.
- In the window’s top right corner, hover over the minimize-maximize button to see multiple Snap layout options.
- Now, find the Snap layout of your choice, and click on any of the windows in the snap layout to put the current window in the respective part of the snap layout.
- Now, you will get an option to select a Window for each part of the Snap Layout, and once you do that, you have your Snap layout ready.
You can choose from 4 snap layouts. The first and the most commonly used one is the split-screen, which bisects the screen in two. The second lets you allot a broader space to the first window and a lesser space to the second one.
The third layout allows you to place three windows simultaneously, where the window on the left takes half of the space in portrait orientation, and the other half of the screen is shared by two windows in landscape orientation. The fourth and last allow you to place four windows simultaneously and allocate the same space to all four windows.
2] Snap Groups
Snap Groups is handy if you use it with the proper knowledge. With Snap groups, you can have multiple snap layouts, which you can bring up when you wish to have a specific setup in your workspace. Here’s how to use Snap Groups:
- Create a Snap Layouts as stated in the former part of this article.
- Once created, press Windows+D keys on your keyboard. It will create a Snap Group.
- To access the snap group, hover over any of the apps in the particular snap group in the taskbar, and you’ll see an option to either open that app individually or the Snap Group as a whole.
3] Virtual Desktop
A virtual desktop is a feature that can give you a dual-screen desktop-like environment without an external monitor because, just like in multi-screen setups, with Virtual desktops, you can create a separate desktop for your tasks related to another domain or other project. It helps significantly in organizing tasks in the personal and workspace. To create a virtual desktop, follow these steps:
- Click on the task view icon in the taskbar.
- In the bottom section of the task view, you will see an option to create a new desktop.
- To create a new desktop, click on the new desktop button, and you will enter the new virtual desktop.
- To switch to the main desktop, click the task view icon from the taskbar to access all the desktops you’ve created on your computer.
4] Focus Sessions
Focus session is exclusively a Windows 11 feature that is not directly related to multitasking but does enable you to multitask more efficiently as the feature can be used to restrict distractions. Here’s how to use Focus sessions in Windows 11:
- Focus sessions are now integrated into the taskbar clock itself, so to start a focus session, you only need to access the calendar from the taskbar. You’ll see a Focus button in the bottom right. Click on it to get started.
- To configure Focus session settings, search for focus settings in the Start menu. And then configure the settings according to your preference.
The ability to multitask can help you get ahead of others at your workplace, school, college, or anywhere. We hope this article has been helpful and insightful to you. Please make sure you share it with everyone.
Are Virtual Desktops Same As Virtual Machines In Windows?
No, virtual desktops are not as same as virtual machines in Windows. To put it in laymen’s terms, a Virtual machine is where you install and run an OS within an application or virtual machine client installed on your computer. A virtual machine works independently, while a virtual desktop is just a mere extension of your Windows computer, which is used to organize different application windows simply and effectively.
Can I Use Focus Sessions In Windows 10?
Unfortunately, Windows 10 does not have focus sessions feature yet. Microsoft has also not shared any word for the feature being released on the older versions of Windows. You can install many third-party applications that provide the same functionality of focus sessions to Windows 10.
