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Getting Started

WorkTop lets you create multiple desktops on Windows, each with its own files, icon layout, and wallpaper. Instead of one cluttered Desktop folder, you get separate workspaces for different projects and contexts.

How it works

Windows has a single Desktop folder, usually at C:\Users\You\Desktop. WorkTop creates additional desktop folders and seamlessly switches Windows between them. Each desktop has its own files, and icon positions are saved and restored automatically when you switch.

Your original Windows Desktop is always preserved as the OS Desktop. It has all the features supported by WorkTop, but cannot be deleted.

Creating a desktop

There are two ways to create a new desktop:

  • From the Manager window: double-click the system tray icon (or launch WorkTop from the Start menu), then click Create Desktop.
  • From the tray menu: right-click the tray icon and select New desktop.

Give your desktop a name (e.g. "Work", "Gaming", "Project X") and click Create. WorkTop will create an empty desktop that you can then switch to and customize.

Switching desktops

The fastest way to switch is the Quick Switcher: press Alt+W to open a visual overlay showing all your desktops with preview thumbnails. Click one to switch, or keep pressing Alt+W to cycle through them.

You can also switch from the Manager window or the tray menu.

When you switch, WorkTop saves the current icon layout, swaps the Desktop folder, and restores the new desktop's layout. Simple and fast.

The system tray

By default, WorkTop lives in your system tray (the small icon area near the clock). It runs quietly in the background and is always available:

  • Double-click the tray icon to open the Manager window for full desktop management.
  • Right-click for a quick menu with your desktops, the option to create a new one, and utilities like restoring the last saved layout.

You can hide the tray icon in Settings, under the System section. WorkTop then keeps running in the background with no tray icon; open the Manager again by launching WorkTop from the Start menu. Inside the Manager, the WorkTop menu in the top-left corner holds Settings, Check for Updates, and Quit.

Where files are stored

Custom desktops are stored in %USERPROFILE%\.worktop\<desktop id>\. Each desktop has its own state and configuration, and a folder with the actual files of the desktop. Your OS Desktop stays in its original Windows location (or in OneDrive if you have enabled Desktop Backup on your computer).

You can access desktop files normally through File Explorer. They are regular folders on disk.

Free vs Pro

WorkTop is free to use with your OS Desktop plus two custom desktops. If you need more, a one-time Pro purchase unlocks unlimited desktops.