What you need to know
- PowerToys will soon have a workspace feature that will allow you to create a shortcut that opens a group of apps in a layout of your choice.
- Workspaces supports multiple monitors and you can customize which screens and apps are included in a layout.
- While the feature is in testing, it is called “App Layouts.”
- Workspaces should be delivered soon in the upcoming PowerToys update, which will bring the app to version 0.84.
Microsoft is putting the finishing touches on a new feature in PowerToys that will allow you to launch a group of apps arranged in a specific way. When the feature ships with PowerToys version 0.84, it will be called “Workspaces,” but during testing, the feature will be referred to as “App Layouts.”
Workspaces let you set a specific app layout, such as one app taking up the left half of your screen and two other apps spread vertically on the right half. You can then save this layout and create a shortcut to launch these apps in the arrangement you prefer. The feature also supports complex functionality, such as launching an app in a specific state.
The layouts you create can span multiple monitors or a single screen. When you capture a layout, you can customize which apps and monitors are included in the layout.
“The goal of app layouts is to give you, as a developer, one-click access to your workspaces and workflows and one-click setup of your desktop,” Microsoft product manager Connor Plante explained in a YouTube video about Microsoft developer tools spotted by Neowin. The section on app layouts starts at minute 39:46 of the video.
The latest version of PowerToys is version 0.83, so Microsoft should release version 0.84 of the app soon.
🎒The best offers for the start of school📝
Best free Windows 11 app
There are many Windows 11 apps, but PowerToys is one of the first I install on every PC. The app is versatile, powerful, and improves the overall computing experience. PowerToys Run is a launcher that lets you open apps and somewhat replaces the Start menu. Mouse Without Borders lets you control multiple monitors with a single mouse and keyboard. FancyZones is a must-have if you have an ultrawide monitor or a large display. These are just some of the utilities in the app.
What I love about PowerToys is that it’s all about getting things done. It doesn’t ask you to do anything, and it doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles. Instead, it offers a huge collection of tools to help you be productive. I use Image Resizer all the time, and it’s saved me a ton of time over the years. I expect Workspaces to do the same.
Every day when I open my computer, I open Slack, AirTable, and several Microsoft Edge tabs. I spread these out across multiple monitors and have that set up as my home base throughout the day. It doesn’t take long, but I have to move my apps around every time I start my PC. Workspaces should streamline this process to a single click (or double-click, if you prefer).
