Windows 10: Can a single user have multiple, visually-distinct "desktop" layouts?

I would like to set up different visual environments for different types of work/play on my PC, for example:

"Studio" desktop -- wallpaper of my favorite recording studio. Shortcuts on the desktop/taskbar icons for Cubase, Sibelius, etc. (music production software), everything else hidden.

"Office" desktop -- plain boring wallpaper. Shortcuts/taskbar icons for Chrome, Gmail, OpenOffice, etc.

"Gaming" desktop -- fantasy-art wallpaper. Shortcuts/taskbar icons for Guild Wars 2, Steam, Discord, etc.

I'd hoped the "Virtual Desktops" feature could accomplish this, but apparently not...? Any changes I make to the wallpaper/background, or to the taskbar, or to the contents of This PC > Desktop, is applied across all "virtual desktops." (In what sense are they "desktops," then...?)

I want to avoid creating different user accounts, if possible. (To minimize maintenance, and avoid the login screen on what is otherwise a single-user PC.)

What's the best way to approach this?

submitted by /u/EmeraldEnclaveRanger
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:)

 

Multiple Desktops

Hello Willum08.

If you have 2 monitors, they can be set to display as extended, and your preferred can be sorted that way

what was suggested can do this (fences) separated by extended displays
... unclear ... 2 monitors - or 1 monitor with multiple desktops -

very easy - just add another user -

If your point was to have 1 user only and multiple desktops -

fences is a good desktop icon sort tool that can hide groups - can create multiple fences that can be ghosted
tiles is a little dated and complex but can do much (see pm - message inbox)

depends on what you seek - unclear -
- multi monitors or 1 - extended or single display - multiple users for distinct independence

best wishes
good luck

 

Copy pinned start menu apps from one user to another user, Windows 10

Hi Richard,

Doing this may require more advanced steps than simply copying a file from the AppData folder. Kindly answer these questions so we can assist you better:

• Will you be doing this for different users on the same computer, or for different computers in a domain?
• Did you find a suggestion worth trying? How did it go?

You can follow these steps if you will be applying the changes to multiple user accounts on a single computer:

• Customize the Start menu for one user account on the computer.
• Right-click on the Windows icon on your home screen.
• Choose Command Prompt (Admin).
• Click Yes if you are prompted for access.
• Copy and paste this command in the window: powershell export-startlayout –path
  %UserProfile%\Desktop\Default_Start_Screen_Layout.xml -as xml.
• Press Enter.
• You will find a file on the desktop named Default_Start_Screen_Layout.xml (you can rename it or move it to another location).
• Click on Start.
• Type Edit group policy then press
  Enter.
• Open all the user accounts you want the changes to be applied to.
• Expand Start Menu and Taskbar and double-click on
  Start Screen Layout.
• Select Enabled.
• Type the full path of the .xml file you created in the
  Start Layout File field.
• Click Apply then OK.

Let us know how the steps above work out for you.

Regards.

 

Remote Desktop: Single point of entry for multiple workstations?

I have a lab of 30+ Windows 10 desktops and have made them available for my users to RDP into them. I only allow one RDP connection per desktop. I've managed to present a list of the computers that are not in use, and user can pick a name from the list
to type into their RD connection settings. Is there some way to create a single point of entry for these systems so that users can be connected to an open desktop automatically?

For example, if I have a Windows 2019 server with Remote Desktop Services, I would like my users to connect to this one server and have it automatically create the RDP session to one of those available desktops. Is this something that Connection Broker
can do?

Thanks.