Windows 10 full screen mode to work like OS X

Question

I have been using OS X for a while now and when I changed a job recently I was force to go back to using Windows, it was then that all my problems began!

Is there anyway I can have my windows in full screen mode then allow me to use ctrl + [left arrow] or [right arrow] to switch between the different windows? I have come to love this feature on OS X and really can't stand using windows without, I'm not too bothered if I have to install a 3rd party library to handle this.

I know I can have multiple desktops setup on windows then switch between them using ctrl + [windows key] + [left arrow] or [right arrow], but this is really not the same and passing windows to the different desktops is really not very good.

Answer 1

There is a tool that will do pretty much exactly what you want. You need to first install AutoHotkeys macro key tool. It is highly recommended and allows you to automate a lot of stuff on Windows. Works well with Windows 10.

The second thing is an AHK script and DLL created by Jari Pennanen. It is available on his Github repo:VirtualDesktopAccessor

You just need to change the script to use the Control keys you want for switching desktops. I did so by adding the following to the this script:

^1::GoToDesktopNumber(0)
^2::GoToDesktopNumber(1)
^3::GoToDesktopNumber(2)
^4::GoToDesktopNumber(3)
^Left::GoToPrevDesktop()
^Right::GoToNextDesktop()

So that changes to desktop 1-4 by using Ctrl-1 through Ctrl-4. It also assigns Ctrl-Left and Ctrl-Right [arrows] to move back and forth through the desktops.

This assumes you have just four desktops assigned, my preferred setup.

Answer 2

Also for anyone looking to make it so if you click on a pinned shortcut to go to virtual desktop where the app is already open (instead of opening new instance of app) Be sure to turn on:

"On the taskbar, show windows that are open on"

"All desktops"

In Customize virtual desktop settings