How to rename virtual desktops on Windows 10

Windows 10 has been focusing on improving multitasking. One of the major improvements that were made to the OS was the addition of virtual desktops. Ever since then, users have been asking Microsoft to add an option to rename virtual desktops and there have been many, many apps that tried to fill in for the missing feature.

Microsoft has finally added an option to rename virtual desktops on Windows 10.

Rename virtual desktops on Windows 10

In order to rename virtual desktops on Windows 10, you must be running Windows 10 2004. This is the new May 2004 update that is generally available to everyone. You can learn how to get it here. The reason you need this update is that the feature to rename virtual desktops was added in it. Older versions will not have this feature.

1. On the Windows 10 desktop, click the multi-tasking button on the taskbar.
2. In the multitasking view, add a second (or third, or fourth) virtual desktop.
3. Right-click the virtual desktop that you want to rename, and select ‘Rename’ from the context menu.
4. The name of the virtual desktop will be editable. Enter any name you want to use, and tap Enter.

Desktop renaming apps

We’ve covered a few desktop renaming apps on AddictiveTips as well as some apps that make it easier to check which virtual desktop you’re currently on. It seems that all such apps have not yet been updated to support the renaming feature that has been added in Windows 10 2004.

What this means is that the apps will still be able to indicate which virtual desktop a user is on but, it is sticking to the numbers instead of the new, user-friendly name that can now be used.

The virtual desktop name is likely cosmetic at this point, not that we’re complaining. This means that users see a user-friendly name and they have complete freedom to set it to whatever they like but, Windows 10 still sees it as Desktop 1, Desktop 2, and so on.

Think of it as a website address. Users enter something user-friendly and easy to remember such Facebook.com or Twitter.com. In truth, these friendly names actually map to an IP that would be impossible for the average user to remember. The names are resolved by a DNS. For now, the virtual desktops seem to be doing something similar. A user-friendly name still corresponds to a number for a desktop. Users just can’t see it anymore. Maybe in a few years, Microsoft will fix this, or one of the many desktop management apps will update to add support for the rename feature.

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Fatima Wahab

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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