How to Set Up and Use Virtual Desktops on a Chromebook

What a desk is in ChromeOS

Virtual desktops on a Chromebook are called desks. ChromeOS, the operating system at the heart of every Chromebook, includes desks as a built-in way to keep your open windows organized. A desk is a separate workspace with its own set of windows. You might keep research, writing, and email in a desk, then put chat, music, and personal sites in another.

Desks are different from split-screen view. Split-screen view arranges multiple windows side by side on the same screen. Desks give you whole workspaces you can switch between without closing tabs or apps. You can still use split-screen inside a desk, so the tools work well together. See ChromeOS for an introduction to the operating system and split-screen view for ways to arrange windows within a desk.

• A desk can hold any open window: browser windows, Android apps, Linux apps, and system windows such as Settings or the Files app.
• Each desk keeps its own arrangement, so switching desks changes which windows are visible.
• You can name desks before or after adding windows.

Create and name a desk

To create a desk, open Overview with the Overview key in the top row of the keyboard. You can also use the Overview option in the on-screen controls if you are in tablet mode. In Overview, select New desk at the top of the screen. On a touchscreen, tap the plus icon in the desk bar instead.

Give the desk a name that reminds you of the work it holds. Select the desk name at the top of the Overview screen, then type a name such as Work, School, or Personal. Naming desks is optional, but it makes switching faster. ChromeOS keeps the desk names on the device, so they are ready when you open Overview.

Switch between desks

To switch between desks, open Overview and select the desk you want. You can also use keyboard shortcuts: press the Search key plus the right bracket key to go to the next desk, and the Search key plus the left bracket key to go to the previous desk. On keyboards where the Search key is labeled with a magnifying-glass icon, the same shortcuts still use that key. For a full list, see the keyboard shortcuts guide.

Trackpad users can also switch desks with swipe gestures. The exact gesture depends on your settings and trackpad, so check the trackpad gestures guide. If a trackpad gesture does not respond, open Overview and select the desk directly.

Move windows and apps between desks

To move an app or window from a desk to another, open Overview and locate the window. Drag the window to the desk name at the top of the screen. You can also right-click the window and choose Move to desk, then select the destination desk. The app stays open; only its workspace changes.

If you need a window available in every desk, such as a messaging app or a music player, look for the option to show that window on all desks after right-clicking it in Overview. ChromeOS also lets you drag a tab from a Chrome window to another, and you can then place that window on a different desk. This is useful when you want a browser window for research and another for personal sites.

Close or remove a desk

To remove a desk, open Overview and select the close option on the desk you no longer need. Closing a desk does not close the apps that were on it. Their windows move to another desk, so your work stays available.

You can rename a desk at any time by opening Overview and selecting its name. If you change your mind after removing a desk, create a new desk and move the windows back. The same window can be moved again as often as you like.

Use desks with different input and display setups

Desks work in clamshell and tablet modes. In tablet mode, open Overview and use the desk bar at the top of the screen to create and switch desks. If your Chromebook supports a stylus, you can select desks with the stylus just as you would with your finger. See the tablet mode guide for more.

Desks also work when you connect an external monitor. Each desk still holds a set of windows, and those windows can be arranged across multiple displays. This lets you combine physical screen space with virtual workspaces. For setup help, see the external monitors guide.

If you often fill several desks with demanding apps, a Chromebook Plus model gives you a comfortable starting point for multitasking. Chromebook Plus devices come with a baseline level of memory and storage that suits many desktop-style workflows. Browse Chromebook Plus models if you want this kind of hardware.

Use desks for a cleaner workflow

The most useful way to think about desks is as separate rooms for different kinds of work. A desk can hold class notes, references, and a writing document. Another desk can hold a video meeting and a shared document. A separate desk for messages and personal sites keeps interruptions from mixing with focused work.

Desks are especially helpful for students and for people who work from home. Students can keep research, writing, and communication in separate workspaces. See student Chromebooks for models that handle this well. Professionals can put project work in a desk and administration in another. See business Chromebooks for managed-device options.

ChromeOS devices receive automatic updates, so the productivity features you use continue to get improvements over the device's supported life. A Chromebook that is still receiving updates can help keep your desk workflow consistent and secure. For details on update scheduling, see the sources at the end of this guide.

What to pick for your use

Questions

What is a virtual desktop on a Chromebook?

On ChromeOS it is called a desk. A desk is a separate workspace that holds its own set of open windows. You can switch between desks to change which windows are visible, without closing apps or tabs.

Do virtual desktops use extra memory?

Desks themselves are a way to organize windows. The apps you keep open still use memory, so opening many apps across several desks can increase memory use. If your Chromebook feels slow, use the task manager to see what is running and close apps you no longer need. The right amount of RAM for you is covered in the RAM explained guide.

Can I move a window to another desk?

Yes. Open Overview, find the window, and drag it to the desk you want. You can also right-click the window and choose Move to desk, then pick the destination. The app remains open.

Can I use desks with an external monitor?

Yes. When a Chromebook is connected to an external display, desks still hold the same set of windows. You can arrange those windows on either screen and switch between desks as usual. See the dual monitor setup guide for help with multiple displays.

Are desks the same as tabs?

No. Tabs live inside a browser window. A desk is a workspace that can contain many windows, including browser windows with many tabs. You can keep a research browser on a desk and a communication browser on another.