Windows is particularly stellar at window management, and the operating system took things up a notch with Snap Layouts in Windows 11. They make it easy to organize windows and apps by snapping them into place across your screen, keeping the UI clean and productive. However, ultrawide monitors might find they need a better solution to maximize the extra space without feeling overwhelmed. That's where FancyZones come in — it's a feature included in the free PowerToys utility that lets you create and save window snapping layouts. They can be activated with a simple keyboard command, saving you the hassle of organizing your desktop space each time you fire up your PC.
The name FancyZones comes from the feature's use of "zones" to determine where windows snap on your desktop. When using the default Windows 11 Snap Layouts feature, you are limited to Microsoft's preset snapping zones. FancyZones lets you create your own snapping zones, allowing you to find the perfect spot for your windows. Contrary to popular belief, this utility doesn't split your ultrawide monitor into multiple virtual monitors. It simply gives you more control over how you can organize windows and apps, which is especially appreciated on widescreen displays.
FancyZones snaps windows in place
It's a better way to organize and manage your windows and apps
At its core, FancyZones is a way to snap windows in place. If your needs are met by Windows 11's default Snap Layouts and Snap Assist features, you might not need FancyZones. There are a few ways the default options might fall short, though. For one, Snap Layouts work with a maximum of two window columns. This makes sense for a standard monitor, where having two apps side-by-side feels like the maximum. For an ultrawide monitor, it's a completely different story. You can fit three or four apps comfortably in vertical columns on the ultrawide screen, but Snap Layouts won't let you do that.
Instead, you need to install PowerToys from the Microsoft Store or GitHub, and fire up FancyZones. After starting up PowerToys, navigate through Windows & Layouts → FancyZones and flip the toggle beside Enable FancyZones. From there, you can start playing around with the default zones in FancyZones. Click and drag a window while pressing the Shift key to see your zones. Release a window in a zone to see it snap into place.
To use FancyZones as a replacement for Snap Layouts, dig into the PowerToys settings and select the Override Windows Snap option. Then, you can use the Windows key and the arrow keys to snap windows into active zones using keyboard shortcuts. This is already a pretty neat way to manage windows, but the fun really starts when you create custom zones.
You can create custom layouts with FancyZones
Tell each app where to be, and move them all at once with a keyboard shortcut
Creating custom layouts helps you overcome the limitations of window snapping in Windows 11 as far as ultrawide monitors are concerned. You can make your own zones by using either the Grid or Canvas layout. While the Grid layout offers a three-column setup to start and can be configured from there, I like the Canvas layout because it starts with just one zone. It's like a clean slate, and you can add zones from there. In the Canvas editor, you can click a zone to divide it, and move a divider by clicking and dragging the thumb. You can select multiple zones and Merge them together to effectively delete one if you have too many.
The cool thing about FancyZones is that you can create multiple zone layouts and switch between them with simple shortcuts. In the editor for a layout, click the pencil icon to assign that layout a number between zero and nine. This activates a keyboard shortcut for that layout, and you can trigger it by entering Win + Ctrl + Alt + [number]. You can also automate where windows appear by tweaking a setting in FancyZones. To do this, navigate through Windows & Layouts → FancyZones → Windows → Window behavior and hitting the Move newly created windows to their last known zone toggle.
This essentially gives FancyZones a "memory" for your windows. If you're like me and meticulously position your apps in the same spots on your ultrawide each time you work, FancyZones automates this process for you. In my case, Slack will find its home on the left, followed by a photo editor and two browser windows. Since you can also customize the window snapping zones yourself and hot swap them, there are endless ways to configure your ultrawide UI to improve your productivity.
I’m never using Windows without this app again
Windows is great, but adding this makes it unstoppable.
Why FancyZones is perfect for ultrawide monitors
Ultrawide aspect ratios can be tough to keep organized without structure
I held off on switching to an ultrawide monitor for years, in part because I liked the separation dual monitors provided. I could easily use split screen window layouts on each monitor, and they combined to form a robust productivity system. Then, I realized that ultrawide monitors are just as good — provided you have the right organizational tools. On the Windows side of things, there's no better option than PowerToys' FancyZones. It's a great app for window management on any PC, but it really helps wrangle the open space provided by the best ultrawide monitors.
Microsoft PowerToys
- OS
- Windows 10, 11
- Price model
- Free
- Services
- FancyZones, PowerRename, Color Picker
Microsoft's PowerToys app is a suite of power user features and tools that expand on Windows 10 and Windows 11 functionality. It's free, and it includes FancyZones, and excellent window manager upgrade for ultrawide monitor users.