isobit/win10-desktop-switcher

A windows 10 executable for switching directly between virtual desktops, useful for AutoHotKey.

Windows 10 Virtual Desktop Switcher

Uses the hidden IVirtualDesktopManagerInternal interface to switch desktops directly.

Usage

DesktopSwitcher.exe <n>, where n is the id of the desktop you want to switch to (zero-indexed).

AutoHotkey

Here is an example AutoHotkey script which binds Alt+1 through Alt+9 to switch directly to that desktop number:

!1::Run, DesktopSwitcher.exe 0, , hide
!2::Run, DesktopSwitcher.exe 1, , hide
!3::Run, DesktopSwitcher.exe 2, , hide
!4::Run, DesktopSwitcher.exe 3, , hide
!5::Run, DesktopSwitcher.exe 4, , hide
!6::Run, DesktopSwitcher.exe 5, , hide
!7::Run, DesktopSwitcher.exe 6, , hide
!8::Run, DesktopSwitcher.exe 7, , hide
!9::Run, DesktopSwitcher.exe 8, , hide

Installation

Just grab the latest release here.

Help! DesktopSwitcher.exe has stopped working!

Make sure you've created the desktop you're trying to switch to in the Win+Tab screen first. If DesktopSwitcher.exe is still not working, open an issue and tell me to update the GUIDs.

win10-desktop-switcher's Issues

Need to run twice...

After update to build 19041.vb_release.191206-1406 (windows 10 pro) the switch happens on the second try.
FYI I have the switcher tied to 3 taskbar buttons (three desk tops). The first run seems to take focus from the last active window but not to switch the desktop.

In Agape
George

Compliment

Love the work, thank you!

Windows 11

I was delighted to find this and use it on my main desktop about eleventy-dozen times a day. But I see MS broke it with Win11. Before I try to see if I can grok the code and do it myself, are you already on that?

Not working on Windows 11

I was enjoying the tool on Windows 10, unfortunately it stopped working after upgrading to Windows 11.
It now crashes with:

Unhandled Exception: System.InvalidCastException: Specified cast is not valid.
   at DesktopSwitcher.IServiceProvider10.QueryService(Guid& service, Guid& riid)
   at DesktopSwitcher.Program.Main(String[] args)

Doesn't work on windows 11

I know this tool is called 'win10-desktop-switcher', but it would be nice if it would also work on Windows 11. Seems to be a GUID issue like you mention, as the error message I get is

Unhandled Exception: System.InvalidCastException: Specified cast is not valid.
at DesktopSwitcher.IServiceProvider10.QueryService(Guid& service, Guid& riid)
at DesktopSwitcher.Program.Main(String[] args)