Understanding Desktop Types

Oct 13, 2025 by pynkocean.com 4 views

Introduction

In Windows operating systems, there are three types of desktops: WinLogon desktop, Application desktop, and Screen saver desktop. Each of these desktops serves a specific purpose and has its own set of characteristics. As a developer, it's essential to know which desktop is currently active to ensure that your application functions correctly. In this article, we'll explore how to get the active desktop type on Windows using C++.

Understanding Desktop Types

WinLogon Desktop

The WinLogon desktop is the desktop that is displayed when a user logs in to their Windows account. It's the desktop that appears before the user's desktop, and it's where the user's login credentials are entered. The WinLogon desktop is also known as the "Secure Desktop" because it's a secure environment that's not accessible to normal applications.

Application Desktop

The Application desktop is the desktop that's displayed when a user runs an application. It's the desktop that's used for normal application execution, and it's where the user interacts with the application. The Application desktop is also known as the "User Desktop" because it's the desktop that's associated with the user's account.

Screen Saver Desktop

The Screen Saver desktop is the desktop that's displayed when the user's computer is idle for a specified period of time. It's the desktop that's used for screen savers, and it's where the user's screen is blanked out to prevent screen burn-in.

Detecting the Active Desktop Type

To detect the active desktop type, you can use the Windows API function GetSystemMetrics. This function returns a value that indicates the current desktop type. Here's an example of how to use this function:

#include <Windows.h>
int main() 
int desktopType = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CUSTOMELEMENTS);
if (desktopType == 0) {
// WinLogon desktop
std:cout << "WinLogon desktop is active." << std::endl;
 else if (desktopType == 1) 
// Application desktop
std:cout << "Application desktop is active." << std::endl;
 else if (desktopType == 2) 
// Screen saver desktop
std:cout << "Screen saver desktop is active." << std::endl;

return 0;
}

However, this approach has a limitation. The GetSystemMetrics function only returns the current desktop type, but it doesn't provide any information about the previous desktop type. This can make it difficult to determine whether the desktop type has changed.

Using WTS_SESSION_CHANGE

To overcome this limitation, you can use the WTS_SESSION_CHANGE notification. This notification is sent by the Windows operating system when the desktop type changes. You can register for this notification using the WTSRegisterSessionNotification function. Here's an example of how to use this function:

#include <Windows.h>
int main() 
WTSRegisterSessionNotification(NULL, WTS_SESSION_CHANGE);
MSG msg;
while (GetMessage(&msg, NULL, 0, 0)) {
if (msg.message == WM_WTSSESSION_CHANGE) {
// Handle the WTS_SESSION_CHANGE notification
int desktopType = msg.wParam;
if (desktopType == WTS_CONSOLE_SESSION) {
// WinLogon desktop
std:cout << "WinLogon desktop is active." << std::endl;
 else if (desktopType == WTS_REMOTE_SESSION) 
// Application desktop
std:cout << "Application desktop is active." << std::endl;
 else if (desktopType == WTS_REMOTE_CONNECT) 
// Screen saver desktop
std:cout << "Screen saver desktop is active." << std::endl;

}
TranslateMessage(&msg);
DispatchMessage(&msg);
}
return 0;
}

Conclusion

In this article, we've explored how to get the active desktop type on Windows using C++. We've discussed the different types of desktops, including the WinLogon desktop, Application desktop, and Screen saver desktop. We've also shown how to use the GetSystemMetrics function and the WTS_SESSION_CHANGE notification to detect the active desktop type. By using these approaches, you can ensure that your application functions correctly and provides a good user experience.

Additional Resources

Code Examples

Q: What is the WinLogon desktop?

A: The WinLogon desktop is the desktop that is displayed when a user logs in to their Windows account. It's the desktop that appears before the user's desktop, and it's where the user's login credentials are entered. The WinLogon desktop is also known as the "Secure Desktop" because it's a secure environment that's not accessible to normal applications.

Q: How can I detect the active desktop type using C++?

A: You can use the Windows API function GetSystemMetrics to detect the active desktop type. This function returns a value that indicates the current desktop type. However, this approach has a limitation. The GetSystemMetrics function only returns the current desktop type, but it doesn't provide any information about the previous desktop type. This can make it difficult to determine whether the desktop type has changed.

Q: What is the WTS_SESSION_CHANGE notification?

A: The WTS_SESSION_CHANGE notification is sent by the Windows operating system when the desktop type changes. You can register for this notification using the WTSRegisterSessionNotification function. This notification provides information about the previous desktop type, making it easier to determine whether the desktop type has changed.

Q: How can I register for the WTS_SESSION_CHANGE notification?

A: You can register for the WTS_SESSION_CHANGE notification using the WTSRegisterSessionNotification function. This function takes two parameters: the handle of the window that will receive the notification, and the type of notification that will be sent. In this case, you would pass NULL as the first parameter and WTS_SESSION_CHANGE as the second parameter.

Q: What are the different types of desktops?

A: There are three types of desktops: WinLogon desktop, Application desktop, and Screen saver desktop. Each of these desktops serves a specific purpose and has its own set of characteristics.

Q: What is the difference between the WinLogon desktop and the Application desktop?

A: The WinLogon desktop is the desktop that is displayed when a user logs in to their Windows account. It's the desktop that appears before the user's desktop, and it's where the user's login credentials are entered. The Application desktop, on the other hand, is the desktop that's displayed when a user runs an application. It's the desktop that's used for normal application execution, and it's where the user interacts with the application.

Q: How can I handle the WTS_SESSION_CHANGE notification?

A: You can handle the WTS_SESSION_CHANGE notification by using the WM_WTSSESSION_CHANGE message in your window procedure. This message is sent to the window that is registered to receive the notification. You can then use the wParam parameter to determine the type of notification that was sent.

Q: What are some common use cases for detecting the active desktop type?

A: Some common use cases for detecting the active desktop type include:

Determining whether the user is logged in or logged out
Detecting whether the user is running an application or not
Handling screen saver events
Determining whether the user is using a remote desktop connection or not

Q: Are there any limitations to detecting the active desktop type?

A: Yes, there are some limitations to detecting the active desktop type. For example, the GetSystemMetrics function only returns the current desktop type, but it doesn't provide any information about the previous desktop type. This can make it difficult to determine whether the desktop type has changed. Additionally, the WTS_SESSION_CHANGE notification may not be sent in all cases, such as when the user is running an application in full-screen mode.

Q: How can I troubleshoot issues with detecting the active desktop type?

A: You can troubleshoot issues with detecting the active desktop type by using the Windows API debugging tools, such as the Windows Debugger (cdb.exe) or the Windows Performance Toolkit (xperf.exe). You can also use the Windows API documentation and the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) to find information about the Windows API functions and notifications that are related to detecting the active desktop type.