Every day, I rely on a fixed array of applications to streamline my workflow. My primary monitor is split, with Obsidian serving as my go-to text editor on one side and a web browser occupying the other half. My secondary display is tasked with supporting myriad functions, such as File Explorer, LocalSend, a language model (LLM) tool, and an additional browser, each neatly occupying a quarter of the screen.
One challenge that arises from this setup is the necessity to manually restore it each time I reboot my computer, which happens more frequently than I’d prefer. Fortunately, the Workspaces feature in PowerToys provides a seamless solution for this issue. With just a single click, it can launch and arrange all of my applications exactly where I need them. This functionality is not only effortless and innovative but also ranks among the top features that Microsoft should consider including as a default in Windows 11.
What Is PowerToys Workspaces?
A Snapshot of Your Ideal Setup
PowerToys is a suite of advanced utilities designed for power users on Windows 10 and 11. You may already be familiar with several of its popular tools, such as PowerToys Run for rapid application launches, FancyZones for custom window management, and Always Awake to prevent your device from sleeping. However, the feature that has significantly alleviated my long-standing frustrations with Windows is Workspaces.
Workspaces allows users to capture a precise snapshot of their open applications and their respective window positions, enabling quick restoration with a single click. Essentially, it accomplishes two key tasks: it remembers and reopens your frequently used apps, and it retains your preferred layouts, ensuring applications are positioned exactly as you like.
Additionally, you can create distinct workspaces for various tasks. For instance, I have separate workspaces for different clients, coding projects, and creative endeavors.
Workspaces comes integrated within PowerToys. If you haven’t installed it yet, you can download it from the Microsoft Store. After installation, open PowerToys, locate the Windowing & Layout section, and select Workspaces. Enable the feature by toggling the Enable Workspaces switch.
启动工作区的默认快捷方式是Win + Ctrl + Backtick，但您可以在激活设置下自定义它。
创建你的工作区
一次设置，无限期使用
要创建工作区，首先要按照所需的布局排列应用程序。打开特定工作流程所需的所有应用程序，并使用 Windows 对齐布局或FancyZones调整它们的位置。完成完美设置后，按Win + Ctrl + 反引号（或您自定义的快捷键）访问工作区编辑器。
点击“创建工作区”，为您的设置命名，然后选择“捕获”。此操作将保存每个打开的应用程序及其位置。捕获完成后，您将在编辑器中看到所有已捕获应用程序的列表。要从此列表中删除任何应用程序，请选择该应用程序并点击“删除”。每个条目还带有一个下拉箭头，用于访问高级选项。
高级设置允许您添加命令行参数，这对于接受特定启动参数的应用程序非常有用。例如，您可以将路径作为参数添加到 VS Code 中，从而将其配置为直接打开特定的项目文件夹。
此外，您可以自定义应用程序以管理员权限启动（这对于开发工具很有帮助），或者决定它们是否以最小化或最大化模式启动。最小化选项对于Slack或Spotify等后台应用程序尤其有用。
对于追求精确控制的用户，如果捕获的布局不够精确，您可以手动调整每个应用程序的位置值。此外，工作区可以保存为桌面快捷方式，可以通过多种途径启动，包括桌面、Windows 搜索、PowerToys Run 或 Listary 等第三方启动器。
当您访问工作区编辑器时，您可以按Win + Ctrl + Backtick来启动您的配置，然后单击启动以恢复所有应用程序。
该工具能够高效管理打开的应用程序，确保重新定位现有窗口，而不会创建重复窗口。如果您使用多台显示器，Workspaces会记住每个应用程序分配到哪个屏幕。
提升的机会
还不够完美
While Workspaces delivers significant benefits, it comes with some limitations. A notable drawback is its inability to save web applications, which means that restored sessions do not function correctly. For example, although I utilize YouTube Music as a standalone app in Edge, Workspaces incorrectly opens it in a standard browser window. This issue persists with other Progressive Web Apps and shortcuts created in Chrome.
Applications such as AutoHotkey, which rely on interpreters, or Java applications, can also cause complications. There are instances where Workspaces struggles with multiple instances of the same application, particularly with File Explorer or Chrome tabs. If you set up three different File Explorer windows in specified folders, they may not retain their intended positions or directory paths upon launching the workspace.
Additionally, the tool can falter with window positioning. An application intended to display on the left monitor may appear on the right, or windows can overlap rather than snapping neatly into place. Although you can rectify window arrangements manually with FancyZones, Workspaces ideally would manage this autonomously.
Addressing a Longtime Frustration with Windows
Despite its flaws, Workspaces effectively automates the tedious process of manually reconstructing your desktop each day. It allows you to restore your apps to their original positions with a single click, and you can create an unlimited number of workspaces. This feature makes one ponder how long it will take for Microsoft to incorporate this functionality into Windows natively. Until that day comes, Workspaces remains the optimal choice.
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