Launch a Complete Work Setup with PowerToys Workspaces in Windows 10/11

PowerToys Workspaces lets you capture a complete set of open apps—such as a browser, Outlook, Teams, File Explorer, and Windows Terminal—then launch and arrange that setup again with one click. It is supported on Windows 11 and on Windows 10 version 2004 (20H1, build 19041) or later, on 64-bit x64 or ARM64 PCs. Set aside about 15 minutes to install or update PowerToys, arrange your preferred apps, capture the layout, and create a reusable launch shortcut.

Prerequisites and compatibility​

Before creating a workspace, confirm the following:

• Your PC runs Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 2004 or later.
• You use a 64-bit x64 or ARM64 processor.
• The applications you want in the workspace are already installed and can open normally.
• You have Microsoft PowerToys installed and running.

To check your Windows version:

1. Windows 11: Open Start > Settings > System > About.
2. Windows 10: Open Start > Settings > System > About.
3. Under Windows specifications, confirm the edition, version, and OS build.

Install or update PowerToys​

If PowerToys is not installed, use one of these methods.
Option 1: Microsoft Store

1. Open Start > Microsoft Store.
2. Search for Microsoft PowerToys.
3. Select Microsoft PowerToys from Microsoft.
4. Select Get or Install.
5. When installation finishes, select Open.

Option 2: Windows Package Manager

1. Right-click Start.
2. Select Terminal on Windows 11, or Windows PowerShell on Windows 10.
3. Run:
   winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys --source winget
4. Wait for the installation to finish, then open PowerToys from Start.

A Windows restart is not normally required after installing PowerToys. However, if PowerToys does not appear in Start or its keyboard shortcut does not respond, close PowerToys from the notification area and open it again.

Create a complete work setup with Workspaces​

1. Enable the Workspaces utility​

1. Open PowerToys from the Start menu.
2. In the left pane, select Workspaces.
3. Turn on the Enable Workspaces switch if it is off.

Expected result: The Workspaces page shows its editor controls, including Launch editor.

Tip: PowerToys must remain running in the background for Workspaces shortcuts and launch behavior to work. Do not disable PowerToys from Startup if you expect to launch the workspace after signing in.

2. Prepare the apps and layout you want to restore​

Before capturing, decide what “complete work setup” means for one project or work mode. A practical beginner workspace might include:

• A web browser on the left for research or web apps.
• Microsoft Teams or Slack in a narrow right-side column.
• Outlook or a to-do app in another window.
• File Explorer open to the project folder.
• Windows Terminal, Notepad, or your preferred editor.

1. Open the apps you want included.
2. Open each app to the folder, website, document, or view you want where possible.
3. Resize and move the windows into the approximate positions you prefer.

Do not worry if the layout is not perfect yet. The Workspaces capture screen lets you continue opening, closing, moving, and resizing windows before saving.

3. Open the Workspaces editor​

Use either method:

• In PowerToys > Workspaces, select Launch editor.
• Or press Windows key + Ctrl + ` (the grave accent/backtick key, usually to the left of the number 1 key).

Expected result: The PowerToys Workspaces editor opens and displays any saved workspaces.

4. Create the workspace capture​

1. In the editor, select + Create workspace.
2. The desktop enters the Capture experience.
3. Review the applications shown in the capture area.
4. Open, close, move, or resize windows until the desktop reflects the work setup you want.
5. When ready, select Capture.

Expected result: Workspaces saves a record of the selected apps and their window positions, then opens the workspace editing screen.

5. Name and refine the workspace​

1. Enter a recognizable name, such as:
   • Daily Work
   • Project Alpha
   • Writing and Research
   • Support Desk
2. Review the app list.
3. For an app you do not want launched every time, open its drop-down menu and remove it from the workspace.
4. Adjust a window’s saved size or position if needed using its available controls.
5. Enable Move existing windows if you want PowerToys to reposition matching apps that are already open rather than relying only on newly launched windows.

Use Move existing windows carefully. It is useful for a routine setup, but it can rearrange an application you were already using for something else.

Warning: Avoid enabling Launch as Admin unless the application genuinely requires elevation. Each elevated app will trigger a User Account Control prompt, and PowerToys has a known limitation: apps launched as administrator may not move into their saved positions correctly.
Recovery: Open the workspace editor, open the affected app’s drop-down menu, clear Launch as Admin, and save the workspace. Then launch the workspace again.

6. Add optional launch arguments only when they solve a real need​

Workspaces can pass command-line arguments to individual apps. This can make a workspace more useful by opening a specific file, folder, profile, or website.
For example:

• A code editor can open a particular project folder.
• Windows Terminal can open a chosen profile.
• A browser can open specific websites or tabs.
• An Office app or text editor can open a particular document.

1. In the workspace editor, open the drop-down menu for the target app.
2. Find the field for command-line arguments.
3. Enter only arguments documented by that application’s publisher.
4. Save the workspace.

Warning: Incorrect command-line arguments can prevent an app from opening as expected or cause it to open the wrong file, profile, or website. Do not paste commands from untrusted sources, especially commands that run scripts, alter security settings, or point to unfamiliar locations.
Recovery: Open PowerToys > Workspaces > Launch editor, select the workspace, open the affected app’s drop-down menu, remove the arguments, and save. If you re-capture the workspace, PowerToys removes the previous command-line arguments and app-specific settings as part of the clean re-capture.

For a first workspace, it is reasonable to skip arguments entirely. Capture the layout first, verify it works, then add arguments only for apps that need more predictable behavior.

7. Create a desktop shortcut and save​

1. In the workspace editor, choose the option to create a desktop shortcut.
2. Select Save workspace.

Expected result: The workspace appears in the editor’s saved workspace list, and a shortcut appears on the desktop.
The desktop shortcut is the simplest way to launch the full setup without opening PowerToys Settings first.

Verification of success​

Test the workspace before depending on it during a busy day.

1. Save open work in all applications.
2. Close the apps included in the workspace, or minimize them if you are testing Move existing windows.
3. Double-click the workspace shortcut on the desktop.

During launch, PowerToys displays a progress dialog for the apps in the workspace:

• A green check mark means the app launched and was repositioned successfully.
• A loading indicator means the app is still opening or moving.
• A red X means PowerToys could not launch that app.

Expected result: Your chosen apps open and move to approximately the positions captured in the workspace. The progress dialog closes automatically when processing finishes. You can also dismiss it manually or cancel the launch.
Some visible movement is normal. Windows applications generally start first, then PowerToys tells Windows to move and resize their windows. This can make windows briefly appear in a default location before moving into the captured layout.

Alternate launch method: pin the workspace to the taskbar​

A desktop shortcut is required before you can pin a workspace to the taskbar.

1. Create and save the workspace with a desktop shortcut.
2. Locate the shortcut on the desktop.
3. Windows 10: Right-click the shortcut and select Pin to taskbar.
4. Windows 11: Right-click the shortcut. If Pin to taskbar is not immediately shown, select Show more options, then select Pin to taskbar.

Expected result: Selecting the taskbar icon launches the complete workspace.

Troubleshooting and rollback​

Workspaces is missing from PowerToys Settings​

1. Open PowerToys.
2. Select Home and verify that PowerToys is running normally.
3. Check Settings > General for updates, install an available update, and reopen PowerToys.
4. Return to Workspaces and enable the utility.

If PowerToys will not install or update, confirm that the PC meets the Windows version and 64-bit processor requirements. On managed work or school devices, installation may be blocked by organizational policy; contact the IT administrator rather than attempting to bypass the restriction.

The shortcut opens, but nothing happens​

1. Confirm that PowerToys is running. Look for the PowerToys icon in the notification area near the clock.
2. If it is not running, open Start > PowerToys.
3. Open PowerToys > Workspaces and ensure Enable Workspaces is on.
4. Try launching the workspace from Launch editor > Launch.

If the editor launch works but the desktop shortcut does not, delete the old shortcut, open the workspace editor, edit the workspace, create a new desktop shortcut, and save it.

An app has a red X in the launch dialog​

A red X usually means PowerToys could not start the saved application.

1. Try opening the app manually from Start.
2. If it does not open manually, repair, update, or reinstall that app using its normal installer or your organization’s software portal.
3. If it opens manually, edit the workspace:
   1. Open PowerToys > Workspaces > Launch editor.
   2. Select the workspace.
   3. Open the failed app’s drop-down menu.
   4. Remove any command-line arguments.
   5. Save and test again.
4. If the app is no longer installed or is no longer needed, remove it from the workspace and save.

Existing apps move unexpectedly or a second window opens​

Applications differ in how they respond when an instance is already open. Some reuse an existing window, some open a new window, and some are single-instance apps.

1. Edit the workspace in PowerToys > Workspaces > Launch editor.
2. For a workspace intended to restore the same open apps, enable Move existing windows.
3. For an app that should open a new project-specific window, use that app’s documented command-line arguments instead.
4. Test with the app closed and again with it already open.

Windows Settings is an example of a single-instance app: if it is already open, it can be repositioned, but PowerToys cannot launch another independent Settings window.

Windows open but do not land in the exact saved position​

This is a known behavior limitation rather than necessarily a broken workspace. PowerToys launches the application and then moves and resizes it; it cannot instruct every application to start directly at an exact screen coordinate.
Try these fixes:

1. Avoid launching the app as administrator; elevated apps have a known positioning problem.
2. Wait until the Workspaces launch dialog reports completion before judging the final position.
3. Reopen the editor, choose the workspace, select Launch & Edit, make the layout more practical, then capture it again.
4. Remember that windows captured in a snapped state may be positioned to the same approximate area on launch without being restored as Windows Snap groups.

You need to undo a bad workspace edit​

If you changed the app list, arguments, or window layout and want to return to an earlier saved version:

1. Open PowerToys > Workspaces > Launch editor.
2. Select the affected workspace.
3. Use the editor’s revert option if it is available before saving a new capture.
4. If you already saved an unwanted re-capture, remove the workspace and create it again from a clean, correctly arranged desktop.

Re-capturing creates a clean capture and removes the workspace’s previous command-line arguments and related settings, so record any important app arguments before starting a re-capture.