How to Save and Restore Window Positions on Windows 10

Windows 10 can snap and resize windows, but it does not include a built-in way to save an arbitrary group of apps and exact window positions as a reusable profile. The most practical current solution is Microsoft PowerToys Workspaces. It can capture a desktop arrangement, save it, and later launch or reposition the apps in that layout.

PowerToys currently supports Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later on 64-bit x64 or ARM64 PCs. Microsoft ended standard support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, so keep that broader platform status in mind if you are still using Windows 10. See the official PowerToys installation requirements.

Save window positions with PowerToys Workspaces

Workspaces is designed for exactly this job: capturing a set of application windows, their sizes, and their screen positions, then restoring that setup later.

1. Install PowerToys and enable Workspaces

Install PowerToys from the Microsoft Store or the official GitHub release path described in Microsoft’s documentation. Open PowerToys Settings, select Workspaces, and make sure the utility is enabled. You can open its editor from the Workspaces page.

2. Open the apps you want in the layout

Launch the apps and documents you normally use together. Resize and move each window to the monitor and position you want. If you use more than one display, connect and arrange those displays before capturing the workspace so the saved coordinates match your normal setup.

3. Create and capture the workspace

In the Workspaces editor, select Create workspace. PowerToys lets you keep using the desktop while the capture experience is active. Arrange anything that still needs adjustment, then select Capture.

4. Name, review, and save the workspace

After capture, give the workspace a useful name such as Daily Work, Research, or Accounting. The editor lets you review the apps in the workspace, adjust saved window positions, remove apps you do not want, and optionally create a desktop shortcut.

PowerToys also supports command-line arguments for compatible apps. That can be useful when an application supports opening a particular file, folder, project, browser URL, or profile from its command line.

5. Restore the saved window positions

Open Workspaces and select Launch for the saved layout, or use the desktop shortcut if you created one. PowerToys will launch the required apps and move them into the saved positions. If Move existing windows is enabled for that workspace, already-open app windows can be repositioned instead of always creating another instance.

For the current behavior and known limitations, see Microsoft’s PowerToys Workspaces documentation.

Important limitations to know

• A workspace is not a frozen desktop image. PowerToys launches applications first and then moves and resizes their windows, so you may briefly see windows open before they jump into position.
• Apps do not all launch the same way. Some programs reuse an existing window, while others create a new instance. PowerToys provides the Move existing windows option, and some apps can be controlled more precisely with their own command-line arguments.
• Snapped state is not preserved. Microsoft notes that Workspaces uses public APIs and the FancyZones engine for positioning, but the restored windows are not technically restored as Windows Snap relationships.
• Administrator windows can be problematic. Microsoft documents a known issue in which apps launched as administrator may not be repositioned correctly.

If you only need repeatable zones, use FancyZones

If you do not need PowerToys to launch a complete set of apps, FancyZones is a lighter option. It lets you define custom screen regions and drag windows into them. Its settings include Move newly created windows to their last known zone and Keep windows in their zones when the screen resolution changes. Those options are useful when you repeatedly open the same apps and simply want them to return to familiar areas of the screen. See the official FancyZones documentation.

What Windows 10 Snap can and cannot do

For quick manual arrangement, Windows 10 still has Snap and Snap Assist. You can drag a window to an edge or corner, or use Windows key + Arrow shortcuts to position it. Snap is convenient for temporary layouts, but it is not a true reusable workspace-profile system. Microsoft’s Snap documentation explains the supported window-arrangement controls.

If your goal is to save a working setup and bring it back later with minimal rearranging, PowerToys Workspaces is the best fit on a supported Windows 10 installation. Use FancyZones when you mainly want consistent regions, and use ordinary Snap when you only need a quick one-time layout.