Windows 10: On Windows 11 virtual desktops, how do I force it to create new instances of applications...

I am new to virtual desktops, so please forgive a rookie question. I am trying to create a separation between my virtual desktops, so that I have separate instances of applications. There seem to be 3 possible ways applications can be handeled:1. An application may be visible across all desktops, where any given instance is shared, so modifications while in Desktop1 apply the same as Desktop 2;2. An application may be 'forced' onto just a single desktop: if I launch an app assigned to Desktop 1 while on Desktop 2, Windows will switch me over to Desktop 1 and show me the one and only instance.I

:)

 

New instances of an application open in incorrect virtual desktop

Thanks for trying to help but I don't see how your instructions pertain to the question of: "Does anyone know how to ensure that when I open a new instance of an already active application it opens it in the current
virtual desktop, and not where the application was originally opened?"

The whole point of this thread is we don't think opening a new instance an already running application should change the current desktop view nor should we be tasked with moving the newly created application instance
(including remembering which desktop we were on).

The original request of "Does anyone know how to ensure that when I open a new instance of an already active application it opens it in the current virtual desktop, and
not where the application was originally opened?" is still germane after 3+ years.

As of now the only fix we have for this problem are partial fixes by third party tools. The only thing Microsoft has done is make it worse! The changes made in April 2018 update
to the task view (adding Timeline) created significant lag including the initial load of task view and dragging applications with the mouse. And to add insult, disabling the new Timeline function only cut down on some of the new lag without eliminating it.

This limitation (that the thread is about) is the reason I never ever recommend using virtual desktops to anyone. Come on MS fix this!

 

How do I open the existing instance of an app from another virtual desktop?

Thank you for the reply.

To clarify, I don't want to "open" an existing instance of Chrome (or any app for that matter). I simply want to be able to "go to" that instance from any VD instead of being forced to open a new instance.

For example, if I'm on VD 1 and Chrome is running on VD 2, I want to be able to click the Chrome icon on the Windows taskbar and jump to that instance of Chrome instead of being forced to open a new instance on VD 1.

When you click the target app (e.g. Chrome) on the KDE taskbar, one of the two things happens:

• If there's only one instance of that app running, it will take you right there. If that instance is running on a different virtual desktop, KDE Plasma will switch to the VD where it's running.
• If the are multiple instances of the app running, you will see the list of all those instances above the app on the taskbar. Click any of those instances, and KDE Plasma will take you to that instance. Again, VDs will be switched automatically if necessary.

This way, the application does not have to do anything. The desktop manager lets you pick whichever instance of the app running on any of the VDs. In other words, it gives you access to all instances of the app running on any of the VDs right from the
taskbar. That's what I want to do in Windows as well.

Hope I'm clearer now.

 

New instances of an application open in incorrect virtual desktop

When virtual desktop was first introduced it worked fine. You could open multiple instances of an app in another desktop without being auto swiped back to former desktop where app is already running. After some Windows updates I had the same issues which
is very counterproductive.