PowerToys added a new tool called Workspaces which when configured launches all your favorite apps at once and automatically arranges them on your desktop in custom positions. For example, I have a workspace called Start which opens my browser, writing application, and file manager, and automatically places them on the desktop in correct positions so that I don’t have to manually organize them on the desktop.
The good thing, you can create as many workspaces as you want with custom applications and screen positions. To put it simply, PowerToys Workspaces is a sophisticated version of opening multiple apps with a desktop shortcut.
In this quick and easy tutorial, I will show you how to create workspaces using PowerToys to launch and automatically arrange apps on your desktop on Windows 11.
Before You Begin
- Please download and install PowerToys, if you haven’t already. Installing requires administrator rights. To install, download the installer from the official GitHub page, double-click the installer file, and follow the installation wizard.
- You should be using PowerToys v0.84.0 or higher.
- The steps are shown in Windows 11 but they also work in Windows 10.
Create Workspaces to Launch and Auto Arrange Apps on the Desktop
- Press the Start button.
- Search and open “PowerToys“.
- Go to the “Workspaces” tab on the sidebar.
- Turn ON the “Enable Workspaces” toggle.
- Click the “Launch Editor” option.
- Click the “Create Workspace” button.
- Now, open the applications you want to launch.
- Arrange them how you want them to appear.
- Click the “Capture” button.
- Review the captured applications.
- Enter a name of your choice in the “Workspace name” field.
- (Optional) Select the “Create desktop shortcut” checkbox.
- Click the “Save Workspace” button.
- To launch a work, click the “Launch” button in the Workspace editor or use the desktop shortcut.
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
First, launch the PowerToys app. To do that, search for “PowerToys” in the Start menu and click the “Open” option.
Once opened, go to the “Workspaces” tab on the sidebar and turn “ON” the “Enable Workspaces” toggle. Next, click the “Launch Editor” option.
Click the “Create Workspace” button at the top.
Now, open all the applications you want in this workspace and arrange them as needed. For example, I divided my screen into two by snapping my browser to the left and writing the application to the right. Then, I minimized the File Explorer (Directory Opus). Once done, click the “Capture” button.
You will now see a review window, review all the applications. If you find any unwanted applications, click the “Remove” button next to them.
Next, enter a name for your workspace in the “Workspace Name” field. Optionally, select the “Create desktop shortcut” checkbox to launch the workspace directly from your desktop.
Once satisfied, click the “Save Workspace” button.
That is it. With that, you’ve created a custom workspace. Following the same steps, you can create as many workspaces as you want with different applications and custom screen positions.
To open a workspace, you can either double-click the desktop shortcut (if you created one by selecting the “Create desktop shortcut” checkbox while creating the workspace) or by clicking the “Launch” button in the Workspace Editor. You can open the Workspace Editor by pressing the “Windows key + Ctrl + `” or by clicking the “Launch Editor” option in “PowerToys” > “Workspaces“.
To edit or remove a workspace, launch the PowerToys app, go to “Workspaces” > “Launch Editor“, click the three dots icon next to the workspace name, and click the “Edit” or “Remove” options respectively.
Wrapping Up — Opening and Auto Arranging Apps on Your Desktop
As you can see, thanks to the awesome new Workspaces tool in PowerToys, you can not only launch all your favorite apps with one shortcut but also auto-arrange them how you want. Depending on your workflow and use case, create multiple workspaces and improve your productivity.
If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.
