Microsoft PowerToys 0.84.1 update fixes issues with new Workspaces feature

Microsoft PowerToys 0.84.1 is now available for download. This update introduces minor fixes following the recent "major" release, which added a new feature called Workspaces to the suite. The PowerToys suite is a set of tools that enhance Windows' capabilities.

PowerToys 0.84.1 is a crucial update for all users who have already downloaded the previous version 0.84 and started testing the new Workspaces tool. The latest PowerToys update brings three fixes, all of which concern this feature. Microsoft has fixed the issues with detecting certain applications (including Steam and Discord) as well as the editor interface itself.

Workspaces is a tool that allows you to specify the applications necessary for a given task and their layout on the screen, then launch such sets with a single button press—directly from the editor or a shortcut on the Windows desktop. In a sense, it is a variation on virtual desktops and an extension of FancyZones, another tool available within PowerToys that allows you to divide the screen into different areas in a more advanced way than Windows itself allows.

To handle Workspaces, it is most convenient to manually launch the desired applications and arrange them properly on the screen. Then, after enabling the appropriate section in PowerToys, it is possible to capture the layout and make any additional edits. The application remembers the arrangement of programs on the screen and saves this layout so that it can be conveniently recalled later. This is a convenient solution, especially for users of ultrawide monitors, which are often virtually divided into several parts for convenient task execution.

Besides FancyZones and Workspaces, PowerToys includes other noteworthy tools that can facilitate everyday tasks performed on a Windows computer. After installing the suite, it's worth checking out tools like Mouse Utilities, PowerRename, and File Explorer Add-ons.