This Windows tool made my dual-monitor setup finally make sense

I’ve spent a lot of time talking about how much I enjoy having a dual-monitor setup, and after getting plenty of recommendations for different tools that make it more useful, one has reigned supreme. PowerToys, a free application that deserves to be installed on every Windows PC, regardless of whether you have multiple monitors, has been a tremendous piece of software for many reasons. But one part of the app has made doing tasks surprisingly more efficient, as FancyZones has made my day-to-day life on my PC so much easier.

I know what you may be thinking — can’t you already drag windows to a specific zone? Yes, you absolutely can. But if you demand total control over these types of things, PowerToys may be the tool for you.

Layout Editor is a game-changer for gaming or work

Discord Streams, Maps, or anything in between in just moments

When I’m playing games with friends, it’s typically my job to help locate specific items. Interactive maps are one of the greatest things that have been invented in recent years, especially as games like Elden Ring have surged in popularity. Using the Layout Editor in FancyZones, I can create a specific layout so I can keep an eye on a Discord stream of what my friends are doing, while pairing it with an interactive map or anything else in between on my vertical monitor. But this isn’t just useful for playing games with friends, as I can create multiple layouts to use while I’m working or just relaxing.

The part that is incredibly nice is that you can customize nearly everything about these layouts, including the number of zones and the space around them. If you’ve got a smaller monitor that you need to work with, you can drop the number of zones down. But if you happen to be using something like a TV or an ultrawide monitor with FancyZones? You can use up to 128 zones, which sounds incredible and terrifying at the same time.

Keyboard shortcuts are much appreciated

Less time with my hands off the keys, the better

As someone who made the jump into a new note-taking app because of its keyboard shortcuts and minimalist looks, it should come as no surprise that I absolutely adore keyboard shortcuts. Rather than needing to take my hands off my keys, I can just use a few simple strokes to do what I would typically need to stop, drag, and drop. No matter if it’s having a more in-depth clipboard or swapping my windows to different spots on my customized screen, keyboard shortcuts make FancyZones a must-have for me.

Not only can I swap my screens where I want them to be, but I can also rotate between the aforementioned custom layouts that I’ve created. If I’m in Work Mode and need to focus a bit more, I can move my chat applications and other distracting apps to smaller zones while prioritizing my workflow. It may take a bit of muscle memory to start remembering to do this, but it’s worth it in the end.

OS

Windows

Developer

Microsoft Corporation

Pricing model

Free, Open-source

Snapping is a welcome addition to my daily life

A useful feature that feels like it shouldn’t need an additional app

Most Windows users already know that you can drag individual windows to a specific part of the screen to relocate and resize them. Most Windows users also know that it can be clunky and cumbersome more often than not, especially with a dual monitor setup. Windows can get sent to the wrong screen, be put at the wrong size, or just be annoyingly finicky in the first place. With FancyZones, you don’t need to fret about that anymore, as you can see and specify exactly what Zone you want the screen to go to.

By pressing and holding Shift while dragging a Window, you can select exactly which Zone you’d like it to go into. Utilizing the shortcuts above, I can place multiple windows in the same zone and quickly cycle through them until I get exactly what I need. It’s a more refined version of a tool we’ve all grown to know and love, and I appreciate the amount of customization here to fit every situation.

PowerToys can be slightly intimidating

I suggest checking out everything it has to offer, honestly

Some folks are not as computer savvy as the rest of us, and that’s completely okay! We all have to start somewhere, and PowerToys is a great tool for every user in some way, shape, or form. It can be incredibly daunting the first time it gets launched, with countless menus that make it read like a set of IKEA instructions. Take the time to learn what else this program can do, and see if there are portions of it that may or may not benefit you in the long run.

While I speak of FancyZones being incredibly useful on a dual-monitor setup, it could be used on a single display, a larger screen, or an Ultrawide with incredible results. I’ve installed it on my wife’s laptop, as well, and after walking her through how to use it properly and some good-use scenarios, it’s become one of her favorite tools, even with just one screen.

Related

I’m never using Windows without this app again

Windows is great, but adding this makes it unstoppable.

FancyZones is a productivity winner

But it’s also great for playtime, too

I’ve been spending a lot of time trying different applications for the sake of productivity. I get distracted incredibly easily, so having a way to hide the windows that I don’t need to see until a later time is great, but being able to switch through different zones and create customized layouts has been a dream come true in every different form.

But even when it’s time to stop working for the day and jump into some games with some friends, FancyZones is an incredible tool to have. Interactive maps and streams on one screen, with whatever game I’m playing on the second. It’s like virtual heaven trapped inside a monitor, and I do hope Microsoft begins including PowerToys in every Windows installation from now on.