The shortcut keys to change desktops vary by operating system but follow a logical pattern: a modifier key (Windows/Super/Ctrl) combined with an arrow key or page key. Users who invest time in learning these shortcuts typically report faster multitasking and a cleaner visual workspace. For cross-platform consistency, consider remapping keys to a common standard if your OS permits.
| Action | Shortcut | | :--- | :--- | | (right) | ⊞ Win + Ctrl + → | | Switch to previous desktop (left) | ⊞ Win + Ctrl + ← | | Create a new desktop | ⊞ Win + Ctrl + D | | Close current desktop (moves windows to previous) | ⊞ Win + Ctrl + F4 | | Open Task View (see all desktops) | ⊞ Win + Tab | shortcut key to change desktop
| Action | GNOME Shortcut | KDE Plasma Shortcut | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Super + Page Down | Ctrl + Super + → or Ctrl + F1/F2... | | Switch to previous desktop | Super + Page Up | Ctrl + Super + ← | | Switch directly to desktop #N | Not default (via extension) | Ctrl + F1 (desktop 1), Ctrl + F2 (desktop 2), etc. | | Show all desktops (Expo view) | Super + / (or Super + F9 ) | Super + W | The shortcut keys to change desktops vary by
We conducted an experiment with 30 participants, each of whom used a multi-desktop environment with four desktops. Participants were asked to perform a series of tasks that required switching between desktops. We compared three different methods of desktop switching: | Action | Shortcut | | :--- |
As users increasingly adopt multi-desktop environments to organize their workspaces, navigating between desktops can become a tedious task. Shortcut keys have been proposed as a solution to streamline desktop switching. This study investigates the effectiveness of shortcut keys in reducing the time and cognitive effort required to switch between desktops. We conducted an experiment with 30 participants, comparing the use of shortcut keys to traditional methods of desktop switching (e.g., using the taskbar or desktop switcher). Our results show that shortcut keys significantly reduce desktop switching time and improve user satisfaction. We also found that the most commonly used shortcut keys are those that allow users to switch to adjacent desktops. Based on our findings, we provide recommendations for designing effective shortcut key systems for multi-desktop environments.