Microsoft PowerToys Workspaces: Launch and Arrange Apps with One Click

Microsoft is set to introduce a powerful new feature to its popular PowerToys suite: Workspaces. This upcoming tool, slated to debut in the PowerToys 0.84 update, will allow Windows users to launch and automatically arrange their favorite apps with just a single click.

Effortless App Management with Workspaces

PowerToys Workspaces is designed to streamline the process of organizing your desktop environment by allowing you to create custom app layouts. These layouts can be saved as shortcuts, enabling you to instantly launch multiple apps and arrange them across your monitor(s) in predefined configurations. Whether you’re a developer, designer, or power user who frequently juggles multiple applications, this feature promises to simplify your workflow significantly.

“The goal of app layouts is really to allow you, as a developer, to get into your workspaces and your workflows easier with just one click and get your desktop all set up with just one click,” explained Microsoft product manager Connor Plante in a YouTube demo.

Flexible Layouts for Every Task

Workspaces is particularly versatile, supporting multiple monitors and allowing users to create various layouts for different tasks. For instance, you could set up a coding workspace with Visual Studio, terminals, and browsers, or a design workspace with Photoshop, Illustrator, and reference material—all ready to go with a single click.

The feature also offers advanced customization options, such as capturing currently-running app layouts, setting specific window sizes and states, integrating CLI arguments, and granting admin permissions on an app-by-app basis.

You can find the App Layouts section at the 39:46 mark in the video.

A New Tool for Power Users

The Workspaces feature is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to enhance the PowerToys suite, which has seen regular updates and new additions over recent years. One notable recent addition is an AI-powered copy and paste tool that can produce summarized or translated text, leveraging OpenAI API integration.

PowerToys Workspaces is expected to be a game-changer for Windows power users who manage multiple apps across their desktops. By automating the repetitive task of window management, this tool will help users dive straight into their workflows with minimal setup.

As macOS continues to catch up with Windows in terms of window management features, the introduction of Workspaces gives Windows yet another edge, making it the go-to platform for those who require efficient and customizable desktop environments.

Stay tuned for the release of PowerToys v0.84, where this exciting new feature will make its debut.