Separate Virtual Desktops per Monitor in Windows 11: How to Do It
Short Answer
Separate virtual desktops per monitor are not built into Windows 11: Windows virtual desktops switch every screen at once. If you want to change spaces on one monitor while the others stay put, you need an extra tool. ScreenSpaces, a free app by Futurecode, gives every monitor its own workspaces on Windows 10 and 11; Win+Ctrl+Left/Right switches only the screen under your cursor.
How Virtual Desktops Work in Windows
In Windows 10 and 11, virtual desktops are managed from Task View (Win+Tab). Win+Ctrl+D creates a desktop, Win+Ctrl+Left/Right switches between desktops, and Win+Ctrl+F4 closes the current one. Showing only the current desktop’s windows on the taskbar is a setting too.
With more than one monitor there is an important detail: when you switch desktops, the windows on every monitor change together. Move to another desktop to work on a document on the left screen and the chat, music or dashboard on the right screen disappears as well. Windows has no option to switch the desktop of a single monitor; the only workaround is marking a window as “show on all desktops”.
Why Separate Spaces per Monitor?
Most multi-monitor users give their screens roles: one screen holds “fixed” information, the other holds changing work. For example:
- Software development: keep the code editor on one screen while switching between browser, docs and terminal spaces on the other.
- Design and content: keep the drawing tool on the main screen while moving between references, client conversations and folders on the side screen.
- Operations and support: keep a dashboard or call screen always visible while switching between email, CRM and reports on the other monitor.
Windows switching every screen together breaks this setup. When each monitor has its own spaces, the “fixed” screen never moves.
How the Mac Does It
On macOS, with “Displays have separate Spaces” turned on in Mission Control settings, each display has its own Spaces, and switching on one display does not affect the other. It is one of the behaviours people moving from Mac to Windows look for most. ScreenSpaces was designed to bring it to Windows.
Step by Step with ScreenSpaces
- Download: get the ZIP from the ScreenSpaces product page and open it (version 0.5.0, about 44 MB).
- Run: double-click ScreenSpaces.exe. If Windows shows “Windows protected your PC”, choose “More info” → “Run anyway”; the preview build is not code-signed yet.
- Done: the app installs itself for your user account (no administrator rights), adds itself to the Start menu, runs quietly in the system tray and starts with Windows.
- Use it: whichever screen your cursor is on, Win+Ctrl+Left/Right switches only that screen’s space. Win+Ctrl+Shift+Left/Right carries the front window to the next space. Win+Tab opens that screen’s own overview; drag a window onto a space to move it.
In Settings you can name your spaces (Work, Design, Music), make an app’s new windows always open on a given space, and keep apps like a music player visible on every space. On mice whose side buttons send Win+Ctrl+Left/Right, those buttons work per screen too.
Comparison: Windows Virtual Desktops vs ScreenSpaces
| Feature | Built-in Windows virtual desktops | ScreenSpaces |
|---|---|---|
| Separate space per monitor | No, all screens switch together | Yes, only the screen under the cursor switches |
| Win+Ctrl+Left/Right | Switches the desktop on all screens | Switches the space on one screen |
| Win+Tab overview | Shared across all screens | Each screen shows its own windows and spaces |
| Assign an app to a space | No | Yes |
| Names and previews | Desktop names | Names and last-look previews |
| Price | Included with Windows | Free (preview) |
| Administrator rights | Not needed | Not needed |
| Internet / telemetry | Depends on Windows settings | No internet connection, no data collection |
Limits to Know
- Wallpaper and desktop icons do not change with spaces; ScreenSpaces works by hiding and showing windows.
- Windows opened as administrator (for example some installers) stay visible on every space by default. “Also manage administrator windows” in Settings solves this; Windows then asks for confirmation once.
- Requirements: Windows 10 version 2004 or later, or Windows 11, 64-bit.
- Lost a window: right-click the tray icon and choose “Show all windows”; quitting or uninstalling the app also brings every window back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use different desktops on two monitors in Windows 11?
Not out of the box; Windows virtual desktops switch all monitors together. A tool like ScreenSpaces gives each monitor its own spaces.
How do I switch the desktop on only one screen with dual monitors?
With ScreenSpaces installed, move the cursor to that screen and press Win+Ctrl+Left/Right; only that screen’s space changes and the other screen stays put.
Is ScreenSpaces paid?
No. The preview is free for personal and commercial use.
Does it send my screen or data anywhere?
No. ScreenSpaces never connects to the internet; space previews are kept in memory only and never written to disk.
Does it work on Windows 10?
Yes, on Windows 10 version 2004 or later (64-bit).
Try ScreenSpaces
Download ScreenSpaces for free from the product page and give every screen its own spaces. Need a custom desktop tool or business software for your company? See our custom software development services or get in touch.
