VirtualDesktopUtils

VirtualDesktopUtils is a Windows 11 WPF utility for moving windows between virtual desktops via a hotkey-triggered picker popup and direct hotkeys. Pure WPF — no Windows Forms dependency.

✨ Highlights

• Desktop picker popup — press a configurable hotkey (default Ctrl+Alt+Space) to open a centered popup for the focused window. Pick a desktop by clicking, arrow keys + Enter, number keys 1–9, or press P to pin/unpin to all desktops. Auto-closes after selection or on Escape.
• Direct switch hotkeys — configurable modifier (default Ctrl+Alt) + number 1–9 switches directly to that desktop without opening the picker.
• Pin/unpin windows — pin a window to all desktops or unpin it, via the picker popup.
• Start with Windows — optional startup toggle in settings.
• App update checks — optional startup and manual checks against GitHub Releases.
• Native Windows 11 virtual desktop integration via internal COM interop.
• Cross-process window move support (including modern/packaged apps like Windows Terminal).
• System tray icon with modern rounded dark context menu (Show, Refresh, Exit).
• Optional startup sync of COM GUID config from MScholtes/VirtualDesktop11-24H2.cs.
• Runs elevated (requireAdministrator) for reliability with elevated target apps.

🖼️ Popup screenshot

🧭 Typical workflow

1. Start VirtualDesktopUtils — it runs elevated and sits in the tray.
2. Press picker hotkey (default Ctrl+Alt+Space) while any app is focused to open the desktop picker.
3. Pick a desktop to move the window there, press a number key for instant move, or press P to pin to all desktops.
4. Alternatively, press direct switch hotkey (default Ctrl+Alt+1 through Ctrl+Alt+9) to switch desktops instantly without opening the picker.

📚 Feature overview

Desktop picker popup

• Triggered by a configurable global hotkey (capture any modifier+key combo in settings).
• Shows the target window name, available desktops (excluding the current one), and a pin/unpin option.
• Full keyboard navigation: ↑↓ arrows, Tab, Enter to confirm, 1–9 for instant move, P to pin/unpin, Escape to dismiss.
• Dark glass UI with rounded corners, drop shadow, and keyboard hints.

Direct switch hotkeys

• Configurable modifier (capture any modifier combo in settings) + number 1–9.
• Switches directly to desktop N without opening any UI or moving windows.

Settings UI

• Toggle auto-refresh desktop state on/off with configurable interval.
• Toggle start automatically with Windows.
• Toggle automatic app-update checks on startup.
• Manual Check now for app updates.
• Toggle GUID auto-update on startup + manual Update now.
• Press-to-capture hotkey fields for picker hotkey and direct switch modifier.

Tray behavior

• Minimize-to-tray on close.
• Modern rounded dark context menu: Show, Refresh, Exit.
• Double-click tray icon to show settings.

🧱 Architecture (high level)

• src/WindowMain.xaml(.cs): settings UI, hotkey registration.
• src/WindowPopUp.xaml(.cs): hotkey-triggered desktop picker popup.
• src/WindowTrayMenu.xaml(.cs): rounded dark WPF tray context menu.
• src/App.xaml.cs: app startup/shutdown and tray lifecycle.
• src/Services/GlobalHotkeyService.cs: RegisterHotKey-based picker and direct switch hotkeys.
• src/Services/VirtualDesktopService.cs: desktop enumeration, move, switch, pin/unpin via internal COM.
• src/Services/WindowDiscoveryService.cs: candidate top-level window filtering.
• src/Services/RuntimeConfigService.cs: persisted config (config.json) for all settings.
• src/Services/AppUpdateService.cs: app update check against GitHub Releases and version comparison.
• src/Services/TrayIconService.cs: system tray icon via Win32 Shell_NotifyIcon P/Invoke (no WinForms).

🚀 Getting started

Prerequisites

• Windows 11
• .NET 10 SDK

Build

dotnet restore .\src\VirtualDesktopUtils.csproj
dotnet build .\src\VirtualDesktopUtils.csproj -c Release

Run

dotnet run --project .\src\VirtualDesktopUtils.csproj -c Release

Or run the built executable:

.\src\bin\Release\net10.0-windows10.0.19041.0\VirtualDesktopUtils.exe

⚙️ Configuration notes

• Elevation is controlled by src/app.manifest (requireAdministrator).
• All settings are persisted to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualDesktopUtils\config.json.

🙏 Sources and credits

• MScholtes VirtualDesktop (core move/interop patterns and internal COM references):
  https://github.com/MScholtes/VirtualDesktop
• MaximizeToVirtualDesktop (virtual desktop move reference):
  https://github.com/shanselman/MaximizeToVirtualDesktop
• Grabacr07 VirtualDesktop (additional API/reference context):
  https://github.com/Grabacr07/VirtualDesktop