VirtuaWin for Windows

Used VirtuaWin for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

Key Details of VirtuaWin

Open and manage virtual desktops on your PC.
Last updated on February 21, 2024
There have been 5 updates
Virus scan status:
Clean (it’s extremely likely that this software program is clean)

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffFebruary 21, 2024

Multitasking has become a way of life for many people, and doing it on the computer can be frustrating if you have a lot of different programs open and not enough screen space to accommodate all of them. That's where virtual desktops come in. Such programs can create multiple versions of your desktop where you can run different programs, yet you can easily switch between them. VirtuaWin is a full-featured program that lets users create up to 20 different, highly customizable virtual desktops. It works well, but it might not be the best choice for the novice user.

The program's interface is plain; the program appears as an icon on the system tray, and right-clicking it provides access to several navigation options, as well as the Setup menu. This is where users configure each desktop's characteristics, as well as mouse behavior, hot keys, and module lists. The program has a ton of customizations for navigation, organization, and various workarounds. We think that users who are experienced with virtual desktops will be quite pleased with VirtuaWin, but neophytes are going to have to be persistent if they want to master this program. The Help file is obviously written with an assumption that the user already more or less knows how everything works and just needs a few hints about the specifics. Our use of the program was equal parts following directions and guessing, and we wished that we'd had more guidance as to how to make the most of this program.

What’s new in version 4.5

Version 4.4 fixes activation of minimized window when not hiding them.

VirtuaWin for Windows

Used VirtuaWin for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: October 12, 2012

Latest update: February 21, 2024

Version: 4.5

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows ME
Windows 95
Windows 2003
Windows 98
Windows 98 SE
Windows 2000
Windows NT

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 21,673

Downloads Last Week: 3

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.8/5

16 User Votes

It works...but might take a while to get the hang of it
ejzllanes96August 24, 2013
Pros
-Very customizable (hotkeys, positions of desktops, etc.) -Open source. You can modify it whenever you like(according to the EULA) -Very snappy without those annoying fading or whatever effects. Once you switch, it shows up without any nonsense
Cons
-NOT pick up and play. You need to learn it by fiddling around -Does NOT have simple drag and drop interface -Does NOT have a preview image of the desktop -Can be confusing at first -You have to program the hotkeys yourself. The default one does not work. Mine is programmed "Ctrl + Left" and "Ctrl + Right" (I chose to have 3 desktops placed horizontally)
Summary
My hotkeys are programmed as "Ctrl + Left" and "Ctrl + Right" (I chose to have 3 desktops placed horizontally) Its not easy at first and you have to have patience and an open mind to learn it. But once you get the hang of it, you will enjoy less clutter and more productivity. This program still needs more development in the user interface, though.
Fantastic Multi-paging for Windows! Easy yet powerful!
acidduckOctober 21, 2011
Pros
Fast screen switching, set up is really easy, plenty of features - this app is MUCH more powerful than most comments here would suggest. Great Hotkeys functionality
Cons
"Failed to Register Hotkey #, check hotkeys" error message could easily be more descriptive - perhaps "This hotkey combination is already in use by another application. Please try assigning a different shortcut" The Desktop does not actually change... just the windows change. this may be a showstopper for some people. For me it does not matter, I just need different screens to manage my windows. If you want different background and icons for each screen, you will need to install some custom modules to VirtuaWin - I have not tried this because I actually prefer to keep the same desktop icons on each screen.
Summary
I'm using windows 7 on a 13" i7 laptop - the machine is super powerful. I'm a developer, so I run lots of apps at once, and screen space is limited. This is why I started investigating virtual desktop solutions. I almost did not try VirtuaWin because of some of the comments here... but I found this application is EASY to setup! I got stuck for about 2 minutes trying to understand the "Failed to Register Hotkey #, check hotkeys" message when I was trying to assign new hotkeys - but then I realised that these hotkeys were already in use by Windows system functionality! I was trying to assign "Win + 1" combo - but this combination shows the first taskbar item in Windows 7 - so the combo is already in use! I didn't realise, so try your combo first - if nothing seems to happen, chances are, you can probably use it. I ended up settling for "Ctrl + Win + F#" to jump to each screen. Easy. No hassle at all. You can also set specific windows to always open to a particular desktop. You can also easily configure dragging windows between the different desktops, or even assign a hotkey to make a window visible on ALL desktops... very useful! I highly recommend this for anyone using lots of applications with limited screen real estate. As I mentioned, this app doesn't actually change your desktop- it just organises different windows to different screens (also each screen has it's own task bar). I didn't find this difficult to configure at all. Just spend 5 - 10 minutes looking at the config options (accessed by right clicking the tool bar icon). I didn't have to read the documentation at all, so I can't comment if it is well written - but chances are, you won't even need to look at it either! This solution is perfect for me. Give it a try, it might be perfect for you too! Thanks VirtuaWin Developer - it's a great application!
It works consistently
darkchoc5October 15, 2011
Pros
Works as advertised
Cons
Could be easier to work with. Not always intuitive, like how to set up hotkeys.
Summary
I had to speak up when I saw some negative postings about this product. I have used it on XP, Win7 32 bit, and Win7 64bit with never a problem. Some of the complaints in the reviews are because people did not take the time to configure it. Look, this works. Consistently. I am a programmer and desparately needed multiple desktops on Windows. Once you figure it out (for example, figure out how to work around Windows' hotkeys), it's great. Google is your friend to figure it out. It is worth it!
Error Messages From The Moment It Starts
KageTora777August 3, 2011
Pros
Never kept it long enough to find any
Cons
Error messages straight out the box.
Summary
'Failed to register hotkeys! Check your hotkeys!'...checking...uhh... greyed out.... exit....'Failed to register hotkeys! Check your hotkeys!'....uuhh....what hotkeys?.....'Failed to register hotkeys! Check your hotkeys!'......what are they even for?......'Failed to register hotkeys! Check your hotkeys!'....'Failed to register hotkeys! Check your hotkeys!'...OK, CrapCleaner will get rid of this noisy runt for me.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Aug 3, 2011<p/>Pros: Uninstalled faster than it installed.
no extra abilities
unstresst2June 17, 2011
Pros
zero zero zero zero
Cons
everything remains the same accross all desktops.....cant make any D T look or act different.....what i open on one is open on all......same icons on all too
Summary
everything remains the same accross all desktops.....cant make any D T look or act different.....what i open on one is open on all......same icons on all too
I was not impressed
May 21, 2011
Pros
Virtuawin installed easily and allowed me to install FreeDOS OS without a hitch.
Cons
FreeDOS ran in a small window. I expected full screen. There is a full screen mode, but it still left the OS running in the small window. I may give it another look to see if I can find a way better way to run freeDOS.
Summary
Just What I Was Looking for
AstroMattFLMay 6, 2011
Pros
Just started using, but configured it in 1 minute to behave like Mac spaces, and I'm up and running. Small footprint in memory.
Cons
None, I hope. Trivially easy to set up and use - I don't understand comment above.
Summary
If you like working with multiple desktops, this is a good choice for Win 7. I often like to have a VNC session to my office Linux server, so this allows me to put that in a separate desktop. Very nice when working on a notebook.
Not my cup of tea
BertA78April 3, 2011
Pros
Does what it it needs to do.
Cons
To complicated
Summary
Not my thing
Easy to use
smkrbrOctober 12, 2010
Pros
Easy configuration, use, all understandable
Cons
A bit mass UI
Summary
flexible, reliable
darkchoc5September 7, 2010
Pros
Does what a desktop manager should
Cons
Takes a little getting used to, but worth taking the time. Very powerful once you do.
Summary
A trivial tweak could be to offer to layout the windows as four across, rather than a 2 x 2 square. But that is not enough to mark it down.

Developer’s Description

By Johan Piculell

Open and manage virtual desktops on your PC.

Using a virtual desktop manager you will be able to organize applications over several "virtual" desktops. Portable VirtuaWin application was designed to be a simple, easy use yet still highly configurable and extensible virtual desktop manager. Virtual desktops are very common in the Unix community and once getting used to this, it is very hard to manage without it.