Windows 10: Select Desktops to Show Open Windows on Taskbar in Windows 10

How to: Select Desktops to Show Open Windows on Taskbar in Windows 10

How to Select Desktops to Show Open Windows on Taskbar in Windows 10


Information Windows 10 introduces a new feature called Task View. Task View is a virtual desktop manager that allows you to quickly switch between all of your open apps on multiple desktops. Create custom additional desktops to group apps for productivity, entertainment, or whatever you choose. This makes multitasking and organizing your opened apps much easier.

On the taskbar in Windows 10 build 10041, you can select to show windows that are open on either all desktops or only the desktop you are currently using.

This tutorial will show you how to select to show windows that are open on either the taskbar for all desktops or only the desktop you're using for your account in Windows 10.



Note All desktops = Windows that are open on all desktops will show on the taskbar for all desktops. You will be able to quickly switch between any windows that are open on any desktop with a simple click/tap on the icon of the open window on the taskbar. If the window is open on a desktop other than the desktop you are using, you will be switched to the desktop the window is open on.

Only the desktop I'm using = Windows that are open on other additional desktops will not show on the taskbar of the desktop you are using. You will need to use ALT+TAB, CTRL+ALT+TAB, or Task View to switch between windows that are open on the other desktops.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: Select Desktops to Show Open windows on Taskbar in Settings app
• Option Two: Select Desktops to Show Open windows on Taskbar using BAT file

EXAMPLE: On the taskbar, show Windows that are open on only the desktop I'm using

(Desktop 1 - using)




(Desktop 2)










OPTION ONE [/i] Select Desktops to Show Open windows on Taskbar in Settings app
1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.

2. Do step 3 or step 4 below for what you would like to do.


3. On the taskbar, show windows that are open on all desktops
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on Multitasking on the left side, and select All desktops for "On the taskbar, show Windows that are open on" on the right side under Virtual desktops. (see screenshot below)

4. On the taskbar, show windows that are open on only the current desktop
A) Click/tap on Multitasking on the left side, and select Only the desktop I'm using for "On the taskbar, show Windows that are open on" on the right side under Virtual desktops. (see screenshot below)







OPTION TWO [/i] Select Desktops to Show Open windows on Taskbar using BAT file


Note The .bat files below are to change the registry DWORD values in the key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

VirtualDesktopTaskbarFilter DWORD

0 = All desktops
1 = Only the desktop I'm using


1. Do step 2 or step 3 below for what you would like to do.


2. On the taskbar, show windows that are open on all desktops
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 4 below.

Taskbar_Show_open_windows_on_all_desktops.bat

Download

3. On the taskbar, show windows that are open on only the current desktop
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 4 below.

Taskbar_Show_open_windows_on_only_desktop_using.bat

Download
4. Save the .bat file to your desktop, and run it.

5. If prompted, click/tap on Run.
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.

6. You will now notice a command prompt quickly open and close, and your screen flash while applying the changes to your registry and to restart explorer.

7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file(s) if you like.




That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Open Task View in Windows 10
• How to Switch Between Virtual Desktops in Windows 10
• How to Switch Between Open Apps in Windows 10
• How to Hide or Show Taskbar on Multiple Displays in Windows 10
• How to Show Window or All Windows from App on All Virtual Desktops in Windows 10
• How to Select Desktops to Show Open Windows in ALT+TAB in Windows 10
• How to Use Large or Small Taskbar Buttons in Windows 10
• How to Always, Sometimes, or Never Combine Taskbar Buttons in Windows 10
• How to Change Height or Width Size of Taskbar in Windows 10

:)

 

Start button missing

Windows 10 opens at the desktop and not the menu.

Is there a Taskbar along the bottom of the screen? If there is there is a little windows icon at the left end. This is the start button. If the Taskbar is not there try to run the mouse arrow t the bottom of the screen and the Taskbar may show up. If
it does then while it is up right click on a blank area of the Taskbar and select Properties and uncheck the Hide Taskbar box. Then the Taskbar will show at the bottom of the screen.

 

Windows 10 Taskbar on Second monitor won't auto-hide.

This worked for me:

• Open Taskbar Settings
• Turn on "Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode"
• Under Multiple displays > Show taskbar buttons on > Select "Main taskbar and taskbar where window is open" from the dropdown.