diff --git a/komorebi-bar/src/bar.rs b/komorebi-bar/src/bar.rs
index 1defb9ee..92d7d862 100644
--- a/komorebi-bar/src/bar.rs
+++ b/komorebi-bar/src/bar.rs
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ use komorebi_client::MonitorNotification;
 use komorebi_client::NotificationEvent;
 use komorebi_client::PathExt;
 use komorebi_client::SocketMessage;
+use komorebi_client::VirtualDesktopNotification;
 use komorebi_themes::catppuccin_egui;
 use komorebi_themes::Base16Value;
 use komorebi_themes::Base16Wrapper;
@@ -758,6 +759,30 @@ impl eframe::App for Komobar {
                 self.monitor_index = monitor_index;
                 let mut should_apply_config = false;
 
+                match notification.event {
+                    NotificationEvent::VirtualDesktop(
+                        VirtualDesktopNotification::EnteredAssociatedVirtualDesktop,
+                    ) => {
+                        tracing::debug!(
+                            "back on komorebi's associated virtual desktop - restoring bar"
+                        );
+                        if let Some(hwnd) = self.hwnd {
+                            komorebi_client::WindowsApi::restore_window(hwnd);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    NotificationEvent::VirtualDesktop(
+                        VirtualDesktopNotification::LeftAssociatedVirtualDesktop,
+                    ) => {
+                        tracing::debug!(
+                            "no longer on komorebi's associated virtual desktop - minimizing bar"
+                        );
+                        if let Some(hwnd) = self.hwnd {
+                            komorebi_client::WindowsApi::minimize_window(hwnd);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    _ => {}
+                }
+
                 if self.monitor_index.is_none()
                     || self
                         .monitor_index
diff --git a/komorebi-bar/src/widgets/komorebi.rs b/komorebi-bar/src/widgets/komorebi.rs
index 04ddd29b..36659494 100644
--- a/komorebi-bar/src/widgets/komorebi.rs
+++ b/komorebi-bar/src/widgets/komorebi.rs
@@ -718,6 +718,7 @@ impl KomorebiNotificationState {
         let show_all_icons = render_config.borrow().show_all_icons;
 
         match notification.event {
+            NotificationEvent::VirtualDesktop(_) => {}
             NotificationEvent::WindowManager(_) => {}
             NotificationEvent::Monitor(_) => {}
             NotificationEvent::Socket(message) => match message {
diff --git a/komorebi-client/src/lib.rs b/komorebi-client/src/lib.rs
index 4c138813..909d85ba 100644
--- a/komorebi-client/src/lib.rs
+++ b/komorebi-client/src/lib.rs
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ pub use komorebi::State;
 pub use komorebi::StaticConfig;
 pub use komorebi::SubscribeOptions;
 pub use komorebi::TabsConfig;
+pub use komorebi::VirtualDesktopNotification;
 pub use komorebi::WindowContainerBehaviour;
 pub use komorebi::WindowsApi;
 pub use komorebi::WorkspaceConfig;
diff --git a/komorebi/src/lib.rs b/komorebi/src/lib.rs
index dcce4d90..0bac3780 100644
--- a/komorebi/src/lib.rs
+++ b/komorebi/src/lib.rs
@@ -228,6 +228,8 @@ lazy_static! {
         Arc::new(Mutex::new(HashMap::new()));
 
     static ref FLOATING_WINDOW_TOGGLE_ASPECT_RATIO: Arc<Mutex<AspectRatio>> = Arc::new(Mutex::new(AspectRatio::Predefined(PredefinedAspectRatio::Widescreen)));
+
+    static ref CURRENT_VIRTUAL_DESKTOP: Arc<Mutex<Option<Vec<u8>>>> = Arc::new(Mutex::new(None));
 }
 
 pub static DEFAULT_WORKSPACE_PADDING: AtomicI32 = AtomicI32::new(10);
@@ -297,6 +299,14 @@ pub enum NotificationEvent {
     WindowManager(WindowManagerEvent),
     Socket(SocketMessage),
     Monitor(MonitorNotification),
+    VirtualDesktop(VirtualDesktopNotification),
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Copy, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "schemars", derive(schemars::JsonSchema))]
+pub enum VirtualDesktopNotification {
+    EnteredAssociatedVirtualDesktop,
+    LeftAssociatedVirtualDesktop,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
diff --git a/komorebi/src/process_event.rs b/komorebi/src/process_event.rs
index 291b51d5..1d653da2 100644
--- a/komorebi/src/process_event.rs
+++ b/komorebi/src/process_event.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ use crate::workspace::WorkspaceLayer;
 use crate::Notification;
 use crate::NotificationEvent;
 use crate::State;
+use crate::VirtualDesktopNotification;
 use crate::Window;
+use crate::CURRENT_VIRTUAL_DESKTOP;
 use crate::FLOATING_APPLICATIONS;
 use crate::HIDDEN_HWNDS;
 use crate::REGEX_IDENTIFIERS;
@@ -116,8 +118,17 @@ impl WindowManager {
             }
         }
 
+        let mut last_known_virtual_desktop_id = CURRENT_VIRTUAL_DESKTOP.lock();
+
         if let Some(virtual_desktop_id) = &self.virtual_desktop_id {
-            if let Some(id) = current_virtual_desktop() {
+            let latest_virtual_desktop_id = current_virtual_desktop();
+            if let Some(id) = latest_virtual_desktop_id {
+                // if we are on the vd associated with komorebi
+                let should_retile = id == *virtual_desktop_id
+                    // and we came from a vd not associated with komorebi
+                    && (*last_known_virtual_desktop_id).clone().unwrap_or_default() != id;
+
+                *last_known_virtual_desktop_id = Some(id.clone());
                 if id != *virtual_desktop_id {
                     tracing::info!(
                         "ignoring events and commands while not on virtual desktop {:?}",
@@ -128,8 +139,41 @@ impl WindowManager {
                     // if borders are enabled, they will not be drawn again until the user interacts
                     // with the workspace or forces a retile
                     border_manager::destroy_all_borders()?;
+
+                    // to be consumed by integrating gui applications like bars to know
+                    // when to hide visual components which don't make sense when not on
+                    // komorebi's associated virtual desktop
+                    tracing::debug!("notifying subscribers that we have left komorebi's associated virtual desktop");
+                    notify_subscribers(
+                        Notification {
+                            event: NotificationEvent::VirtualDesktop(
+                                VirtualDesktopNotification::LeftAssociatedVirtualDesktop,
+                            ),
+                            state: self.as_ref().into(),
+                        },
+                        true,
+                    )?;
+
                     return Ok(());
                 }
+
+                if should_retile {
+                    self.retile_all(true)?;
+
+                    // to be consumed by integrating gui applications like bars to know
+                    // when to show visual components associated with komorebi's virtual
+                    // desktop
+                    tracing::error!("notifying subscribers that we are back on komorebi's associated virtual desktop");
+                    notify_subscribers(
+                        Notification {
+                            event: NotificationEvent::VirtualDesktop(
+                                VirtualDesktopNotification::EnteredAssociatedVirtualDesktop,
+                            ),
+                            state: self.as_ref().into(),
+                        },
+                        true,
+                    )?;
+                }
             }
         }