How to use Multitasking in Windows 11

Windows 11 comes with a lot of multitasking features, allowing users to be more productive. Whether you use one or multiple monitors, you can use all of the following multitasking functionalities on your computer. If you are new to Windows 11 and wonder what the available options are, here is a comprehensive list of multitasking settings you might want to check out.

How to use Multitasking in Windows 11

The best multitasking settings you should enable and use on Windows 11 are:

1. Snap Layouts
2. Resize adjacent snapped windows
3. Show or hide opened windows on all desktops
4. Microsoft Edge in Alt+Tab
5. Shake to minimize
6. Remember window locations

To learn more about them, continue reading.

Windows 11 Multitasking

1] Snap Layouts

Talking about the feature, Snap Layouts is such an option that shows various locations on your screen where you can place the current window. It is probably the first thing you need to enable if it is not already. Although Windows 11 allows Snap Layouts by default, a bug or something else might disable it at times. A guide appears when you hover your mouse over the maximize button. It is possible to enable or disable Snap Layouts in Windows 11 using Windows Settings. For that, do the following:

• Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
• Go to System > Multitasking.
• Expand the Snap windows section.
• Tick the Show snap layouts when I hover over a window’s maximize buttons checkbox.

After that, you can hover your mouse over any opened app’s maximize button to find the layouts.

2] Resize adjacent snapped windows

Let’s assume that you have two windows side by side on your screen. When you resize one of the windows by dragging it to the left or right, the other snapped window automatically gets resized. It is possible to turn on or off the resize of adjacent snapped windows from Windows Settings. To do so, follow these steps:

• Open Windows Settings on your PC.
• Go to System > Multitasking.
• Click on the Snap windows section.
• Tick the When I resize a snapped window, simultaneously resize any adjacent snapped window checkbox.

3] Show or hide opened windows on all desktops

Like Windows 10, you can create multiple virtual desktops in Windows 11. It is a lifesaver for those who do not have multiple monitors. The best thing is that you can show or hide opened windows on all or the selected desktop’s Taskbar. Let’s assume that you need the browser window on all virtual desktops. At such a moment, you can turn on this setting:

• Open Windows Settings.
• Go to System > Multitasking.
• Expand the Desktops section.
• Expand the On the taskbar, show all the open windows drop-down list.
• Select the On all desktops option.

4] Microsoft Edge in Alt+Tab

As Microsoft Edge is the default browser in Windows 11, it is deeply integrated into the system. For example, you can show or hide Microsoft Edge’s recent or all tabs when you press Alt+Tab. However, if you do not like to have that feature, here is how you can prevent Microsoft Edge from appearing in Alt+Tab:

• Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
• Go to System > Multitasking.
• Click on the Alt+Tab drop-down list.
• Select the Open windows only option.

After that, Microsoft Edge won’t appear when you press Alt+Tab.

5] Shake to minimize

It is a pretty old feature, but Windows 11 disables it by default. However, if you want to enable the shake to minimize functionality in Windows 11, do the following:

• Open Windows Settings on your computer.
• Make sure you are in the System tab.
• Click on the Multitasking menu on the right side.
• Toggle the Title bar window shake button to turn it on.

After that, if you click on an app’s title bar and shake it, all the other windows will be minimized.

Read: Best Productivity Features in Windows 11.

6] Remember window locations

If you connect and disconnect the secondary monitor frequently, this feature is for you. In Windows 10, if you disconnected a monitor and reconnected it, you had to move all the windows manually. However, in Windows 11, you do not need to do it on your own. All you need is to enable the following setting:

• Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
• Go to System > Display.
• Expand the Multiple displays section.
• Tick the Remember window locations based on monitor connection checkbox.

After that, if you reconnect a monitor after disconnecting, your windows will be snapped automatically.

Read more: Remember window location on Multiple Monitors in Windows 11

How do I open Multitasking in Windows 11?

To open the Multitasking setting in Windows 11, you need to open Windows Settings. All the multitasking-related settings reside in the Windows Settings panel. For that, press Win+I to open Windows Settings and ensure that you are in the System tab. If so, you can find the Multitasking option on the right side.

Related: Best Productivity Features in Windows 11.

How do you split the screen in Windows 11?

There are two ways to split the screen in Windows 11. First – the traditional method. You can click on the title bar of a window and drag it to the left or right side. Second – you can use Snap Layouts. In this case, you need to hover your mouse over the maximize button and select a position where you want to place the window.

That’s all! I hope these multitasking settings will help you be more productive.

Read: How to Multitask in Windows 10 like a Pro.