Using New PowerToys Workspaces to Increase Your Productivity

Are you tired of opening multiple applications one by one every day? It's a common frustration for many of us. The good news is that Microsoft PowerToys has recently introduced a game-changing feature: Workspaces. With this new utility, you can create customized workspaces containing all your frequently used apps. Once set up, you can launch them all with a single click, saving time and streamlining your workflow. Sounds exciting, right? Let's explore how PowerToys Workspaces can boost your productivity.

1. PowerToys Workspaces Overview

PowerToys Workspaces is a new feature designed to help users organize and launch multiple applications more efficiently. This tool allows you to set up a workspace, which is essentially a collection of apps arranged according to your preferences. With one click, all the applications you need for a specific task will open and be positioned on your screen just the way you like.

Whether you're a developer, designer, or business professional, Workspaces can save you the hassle of manually opening and arranging your apps every time you start working.

2. How to Use PowerToys Workspaces

Step 1: Download the latest version of PowerToys. You can find the latest release here. If you're already using PowerToys, simply update to version 0.84.1 or later.

Step 2: Install it following the installation prompts. After installation, PowerToys will automatically launch. If it doesn't, you can open it manually from the Start menu.

Step 3: Navigate to the left sidebar within the "PowerToys settings" window. Scroll to the bottom and select "Workspaces".

Step 4: Click "Launch Editor" to open the editor, where you can set up and manage your workspaces.

Step 5: Launch the applications you want to include in your workspace. Arrange the windows to your liking—this layout will be saved and replicated every time you open this workspace.

Step 6: Click "Create Workspace". The system will capture your current window setup, including app size, placement, and additional configuration options.

Note: You can fine-tune each application's launch behavior by specifying command-line (CLI) arguments, launching as an administrator, or choosing whether the app should start maximized or minimized.

Step 7: After configuring your workspace, click "Save Workspace" to save the workspace.

Tip: For easier access, you can select the "Create desktop shortcut" check box to create a desktop shortcut for the workspace.

3. Summary

PowerToys Workspaces is a powerful new feature that simplifies the process of opening and arranging your daily applications. Although it's a recent addition and may still have a few bugs, its potential is clear. By allowing you to create custom workspaces, PowerToys ensures that you can get straight to work without the repetitive hassle of opening and organizing your tools. Over time, it's likely to become an essential part of daily workflows for many users.

With this tool at your disposal, your workday becomes more efficient, leaving you more time to focus on what truly matters. Give it a try and see how PowerToys Workspaces can transform your productivity!

FAQs

1. Does Workspaces remember pinned tabs in Chrome?

Yes, pinned tabs in Chrome are unaffected. If you use multiple Chrome profiles, the system will prompt you to choose which profile to launch unless you specify a particular profile using the --profile-directory="Default" (Replace default with actual profile name, like profile1 or others) argument.

Note: You can get respective profile name by typing chrome://version in the address bar.

2. Does Workspaces support virtual desktops?

Unfortunately, Workspaces currently only supports capturing applications from a single desktop. Virtual desktops aren't supported at this time.

3. Is there a "one-click close" option for Workspaces?

No, Workspaces does not offer a one-click close feature. Once launched, applications need to be closed manually.