Power up your productivity with PowerToys' FancyZones tool

PowerToys is a valuable addition to Windows that offers a range of free tools to simplify system operations significantly. One of these tools is the FancyZones application, which helps efficiently manage the layout of program windows on the desktop. Here’s an explanation of how to operate this tool.

Windows users, especially those who use multiple programs simultaneously, likely use the ability to split large screens into virtual sectors for conveniently handling several software windows. However, the built-in Windows tool has limited configuration options. A convenient alternative is the free Microsoft PowerToys add-ons.

Among the tools available within PowerToys is FancyZones, which greatly facilitates the use of ultrawide screens and setups with multiple monitors. Users can almost literally split the workspace into sections and move application windows between them with the mouse by pressing a keyboard button. All configurations can be saved for later use and quickly called up to transform the workspace on the desktop depending on the task.

To use FancyZones, the first step is to install PowerToys. After launching the tool, all its elements are visible in the main menu. You need to find the FancyZones option and enable the tool with the slider.

The next steps involve configuration. The most important aspect is the Layout Editor, which will open in a new window. Here, users can choose a convenient screen division or create their own. This way, the screen can be divided into many smaller areas, to which applications can be fitted by dragging their windows with the mouse.

In the Layout Editor, you can start by creating a new layout, enabled by the button in the bottom right corner of the window. A small wizard will appear, allowing you to name the layout (you can change it later, but it’s worth naming it immediately for easy reference) and choose a grid or canvas layout. The steps will be demonstrated using the grid as an example.

After automatically launching the next editor, users can freely set and add new screen division elements. Simply click the mouse to make another division slider appear on the screen, which can be moved freely. This way, any layout with a division into many parts can be created. This solution is especially advantageous when using ultrawide monitors and needing to use many program windows simultaneously. There’s nothing to prevent creating an advanced layout, as long as it fits your needs. For example:

After initially setting up the layout, it will appear on the list of all custom layouts in the main editor window. You can then select the pencil button to access additional settings. Here, you can set a numeric shortcut for the layout (useful for regularly using more than one layout, as you may use the computer for various tasks) and decide on the gaps between windows. In our opinion, it’s most convenient to reduce these gaps to zero. Naturally, you can return to edit the layout at any time.

Once you have selected settings and activated the layout, it’s time to start using it. Additional options in the main FancyZones window are also useful. Pay special attention to the keyboard shortcut that allows quick access to the settings window. We also recommend enabling highlighting zones by pressing the Shift key. This way, daily operation involves “grabbing” windows with the mouse by the top bar, pressing Shift on the keyboard, and then “dropping” the window into the chosen zone, where it will automatically adjust.

There are many more options, but all are clearly described, and using them is a matter of experimentation and analyzing your preferences. Note that you can exclude certain applications from being snapped by FancyZones and react solely to system ones. Additionally, you can change colors to match the layout and application division to your taste or current desktop wallpaper.

A convenient division of the workspace significantly impacts computer work efficiency, so it’s worth optimizing it.