Microsoft PowerToys just added the perfect tool for multi-monitor setups

What you need to know

Microsoft PowerToys has a new utility that allows you to launch a set of apps in a custom layout.
The tool, called PowerToys Workspaces, supports saving a layout of applications and launching them with a single click through Workspaces Editor or a desktop shortcut.
The same update that adds PowerToys Workspaces includes several other improvements to PowerToys, including the addition of multiple measurements in the Screen Ruler utility.

As a seasoned researcher with years of experience working with various productivity tools, I must admit that the latest update to Microsoft PowerToys has caught my attention. The addition of PowerToys Workspaces is a game-changer for those, like myself, who juggle multiple applications on multi-monitor setups.

As a researcher diving into the latest developments, I’m excited to share that Microsoft released an update for PowerToys this week, introducing a potent new feature – PowerToys Workspaces. This addition enables me to save a configuration of applications on my desktop, which can be effortlessly launched with just one click. The beauty lies in the customization options, where I can adjust window sizes and positions to create a workspace tailored to my needs, ready for instant access whenever I return. For those working with multi-monitor setups, this utility could be a game-changer!

In its latest release, PowerToys has been updated to version 0.84.0. Notably, the changelog for this update is quite comprehensive, but it doesn’t introduce any other significant new features or alterations compared to the introduction of PowerToys Workspaces.

PowerToys v0.84.0

Highlights

New utility: PowerToys Workspaces – this utility can launch a set of applications to a custom layout and configuration on the desktop. App arrangements can be saved as a workspace and then relaunched with one click from the Workspaces Editor or from a desktop shortcut. In the editor, app configuration can be customized using CLI arguments and “launch as admin” modifiers, and app window sizes and positions can be updated as desired. This is our first public version of Workspaces and we are excited for you to try it out for yourself! Make sure to file issues you encounter on our GitHub so the team can continue to improve the utility.
- Known issues – the team is actively working on fixing these:
  - Apps that launch as admin are unable to be repositioned to the desired layout.
  - Border of “Remove” / “Add Back” app button in editor is not clearly visible on light themes.
Added Awake –use-parent-pid CLI argument to attach to parent process. Thanks @dend!
Added custom actions – user-specified pre-defined prompts for the AI model. Additionally, actions (both standard and custom) are now searchable from prompt box and Ctrl + number in-app shortcuts are now applicable for first 9 search results.
Ported all C++/CX code to C++/WinRT as part of a refactor and upgrade series aimed at enabling AOT (Ahead of Time) compilation for enhanced performance and reduced disk footprint.

General

Added DSC support for ImageResizer resize sizes property.

Advanced Paste

Added custom actions – user-specified pre-defined prompts for the AI model. Additionally, actions (both standard and custom) are now searchable from prompt box and Ctrl + number in-app shortcuts are now applicable for first 9 search results.

Awake

Added –use-parent-pid CLI argument to attach to parent process and fixed issue causing tray icon to disappear. Thanks @dend!

Hosts File Editor

Fixed save failure when the hosts file is hidden. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

File Explorer add-ons

Fixed multiple preview form positioning issues causing floating, detached windows, CoreWebView2 related exception and process leak. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

Keyboard Manager

Convert RemapBufferRow to a struct with descriptive field names. Thanks @masaru-iritani!
Fixed issue causing stuck Ctrl key when shortcuts contain AltGr key.

PowerRename

PowerToys Run

Fixed window positioning on start-up introduced in 0.83.
Improved default web browser detection. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
Fixed volume ounces conversion to support both imperial and metric. Thanks @GhostVaibhav!
Fixed thread-safety issue causing results not to be shown on first launch.

Screen Ruler

Added multiple measurements support for all measuring tools.

Settings

Improved disabled animations InfoBar in Find My Mouse page. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

Workspaces

New utility: PowerToys Workspaces – this utility can launch a set of applications to a custom layout and configuration on the desktop. App arrangements can be saved as a workspace and then relaunched with one click from the Workspaces Editor or from a desktop shortcut. In the editor, app configuration can be customized using CLI arguments and “launch as admin” modifiers, and app window sizes and positions can be updated as desired. This is our first public version of Workspaces and we are excited for you to try it out for yourself! Make sure to file issues you encounter on our GitHub so the team can continue to improve the utility.

Documentation

Added ChatGPTPowerToys plugin mention to thirdPartyRunPlugins.md. Thanks @ferraridavide!

Development

Ported all C++/CX code to C++/WinRT.
Moved Version.props import to Directory.Build.props.
Extracted self-containment related .csproj properties to src/Common.SelfContained.props.
Unused and obsolete dependencies cleanup. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
Extracted CSWinRT related .csproj properties to src/Common.Dotnet.CsWinRT.props.
Upgraded Microsoft.Windows.CsWinRT to 2.0.8 and updated verifyDepsJsonLibraryVersions.ps1 to unblock PRs.
Explicitly Set NuGet Audit Mode to Direct in Directory.Build.props to revert changes made with VS 17.12 update. Thanks @snickler!
Upgraded UnitsNet to 5.56.0.

2024-09-06 15:38