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Thatcherw
Iron Contributor
Jul 24, 2026

After opening Task View with a keyboard shortcut, the arrow keys don't work to switch between views

After pressing Win + Tab to open Task View, the arrow keys on the keyboard cannot be used to switch between virtual desktop thumbnails, and the thumbnails cannot be selected. You must click a thumbnail with the mouse to switch virtual desktops; keyboard navigation does not work. The issue persists even after restarting File Explorer.

1 Reply

  • Restarting File Explorer rules out only a transient shell issue; it does not confirm that Task View’s keyboard focus works. Microsoft documents Win + Tab to open Task View and Win + Ctrl + Left Arrow or Win + Ctrl + Right Arrow to switch directly between virtual desktops. Use those shortcuts as the immediate workaround. Inside Task View, test Tab and Shift + Tab to move focus, followed by Enter, because arrow keys may not receive focus until a control is selected. Install Windows updates, then test another keyboard and another user profile. Temporarily disable keyboard-remapping, accessibility, shell-customization, or hotkey utilities that could intercept navigation keys. If arrows still cannot select thumbnails, record the Windows edition and build with winver and file a Feedback Hub problem while reproducing it, with a recording and input details. That is safer than registry changes for behavior Microsoft does not document as configurable.