PowerToys FancyZones Guide: Snap Windows into Custom Layouts
- FancyZones lets you define zones on your screen and snap windows into them, with the mouse or the keyboard.
- Open the layout editor with Win + Shift + ` (the grave accent key), then pick a template or create a grid or canvas layout.
- By default, hold Shift while dragging a window to see the zones. You can change this in the FancyZones settings.
- Elevated (administrator) apps need PowerToys to run as administrator before they can snap.
Most people keep several windows open: a browser, a document, a chat and a spreadsheet. Windows can snap two windows side by side, but you often want something more flexible, such as one wide column and two small rows. FancyZones is the PowerToys utility built for that.
This guide shows how to use FancyZones step by step. It is a deeper look at one utility from our Microsoft PowerToys guide, so we assume PowerToys is already installed.
Sources and accuracy
The steps, shortcuts and setting names come from Microsoft's official FancyZones page on Microsoft Learn, which we read in October 2026. PowerToys changes often, so the screens in your version may look a little different.
What is FancyZones?
FancyZones is a window manager utility in PowerToys. You define zones on your desktop. When you drag a window into a zone, it is resized and moved to fit that zone. You can also place windows with keyboard shortcuts.
Turn it on and open the layout editor
- Open PowerToys Settings and turn on FancyZones.
- Open the layout editor by choosing Open layout editor in the FancyZones settings, or press Win + Shift + ` (the key above Tab on many keyboards). You can change this shortcut in Settings.
- In the editor, layouts are listed by the number of windows. Select a layout to preview it. It is applied automatically.
- Double-click a layout to apply it and close the editor at the same time.
- If you have several monitors, select a monitor in the editor first so the layout goes to the right screen.
Create your own layout
Click Create new layout and choose a style.
Grid layout. It starts with a three-column grid. You split and merge zones, and you can move the dividers. Grid layouts are relative, so they resize with the screen.
- With the mouse: click to divide a zone. Hold Shift to rotate a divider. Drag a divider by its thumb. To remove a zone, select and drag across zones, then choose Merge.
- With the keyboard: press Ctrl + Tab to focus the layout, then Tab to move between zones and dividers. Press S or Shift + S to divide a zone, use the arrow keys to move a divider and press Delete on a divider to merge the zones next to it.
Canvas layout. It starts with one zone. You can add, move and resize zones freely, and they may overlap.
- Arrow keys move a zone by 10 pixels. Ctrl + arrow moves it by 1 pixel.
- Shift + arrow resizes by 10 pixels. Ctrl + Shift + arrow resizes by 2 pixels.
Which one should you choose? Use a grid when you want neat, side-by-side areas. Use canvas when you want overlapping windows, for example a small video window on top of a larger one.
Snap windows with the mouse
- Default: Drag a window while holding Shift. The zones appear. Move over a zone to highlight it and release to snap.
- Snap across two zones: Hover near the shared edge of two zones to activate both, or hold Ctrl after one zone is active to select several.
- Non-primary mouse button: If you turn on "Use a non-primary mouse button to toggle zone activation", clicking another mouse button while dragging toggles the zones.
- Auto-show: If you clear both the Shift option and the non-primary mouse button option, the zones appear as soon as you start dragging.
- Mouse wheel: An optional setting lets you roll the mouse wheel while dragging to switch layouts. It is off by default.
Snap windows with the keyboard
Turn on Override Windows Snap hotkeys (Win + arrow) to move between zones in the FancyZones settings. Then choose how windows move:
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Zone index | Only Win + Left and Win + Right move windows between zones. Win + Up and Win + Down keep their normal Windows behaviour. |
| Relative position | All four Win + arrow keys snap windows relative to the layout. |
Other keyboard shortcuts from the official page:
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Win + Shift + ` | Open the layout editor |
| Win + PgUp / PgDn | Switch between windows snapped to the same zone |
| Win + Ctrl + Alt + [number] | Apply a custom layout that has that number |
| Win + Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys | Snap to multiple zones (Relative position mode) |
FancyZones does not override Win + Shift + arrow, which moves a window to another monitor.
Switch layouts quickly
- Turn on Enable quick layout switch.
- Open a custom layout's edit dialog and assign it a number from 0 to 9.
- Apply it with Win + Ctrl + Alt + [number], or press the number while you are dragging a window.
Settings that are worth checking
- Space around zones: Adds a margin between zones.
- Move newly created windows to the last known zone: A new window opens in the zone where that app was last used.
- Restore the original size of windows when unsnapping: Gives a window back its old size when you drag it out.
- Keep windows in their zones when the screen resolution changes.
- Show zone number and Opacity: Help you see the layout while dragging.
- Exclude applications from snapping to zones: Enter one app name per line. Partial names match, so "Notepad" also matches "Notepad++".
- Allow popup windows snapping and Allow child windows snapping: Both are off by default. The official page says turning them on may fix windows that do not trigger FancyZones.
Using FancyZones with several monitors
By default only the focused monitor's zones appear while you drag. You can show zones on all monitors, or allow zones to span across monitors, but the official page says all monitors must have the same DPI scaling for spanning and that mixed orientations may behave unexpectedly.
For advanced users: the command line
PowerToys adds its folder to your PATH, so you can run PowerToys.FancyZones.CLI.exe in a terminal. Examples from Microsoft's page: ls lists layouts, s columns --all applies the "columns" template to all monitors, and shk 3 <layout-id> assigns hotkey 3 to a layout. In PowerShell, write a layout ID without braces or put it in quotes.
Limitations and problems
- Administrator apps will not snap. FancyZones runs in the same process as PowerToys. To snap elevated apps such as Windows Terminal or Task Manager, run PowerToys as administrator.
- Some apps cannot be zoned. Microsoft's page lists a number of apps with known issues, such as Citrix, TeamViewer, VMware Workstation Player and Parsec. Check that page if one of your apps will not snap.
- Screen capture tools. The page says ShareX, Screenpresso and Greenshot can have compatibility issues, and suggests adding the app to the excluded apps list.
- DPI differences. With mixed DPI scaling, a window that is not DPI-aware may sit a few pixels away from the screen edge.
- Custom layouts file. Layouts are saved in
%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\PowerToys\FancyZones\custom-layouts.json. Microsoft advises against editing it by hand.
Zones do not appear when I drag. Check that FancyZones is on, that you are holding Shift (if that option is on), and that the window is not an administrator app.
Windows snap to the wrong place after I change the layout. Use the setting that makes windows match the new size and position, or reapply the layout.
Frequently asked questions
Is FancyZones free? It is part of PowerToys, which Microsoft publishes for free as an open-source project.
Does FancyZones replace Windows Snap? No. Windows Snap still works. FancyZones adds custom layouts, and you can choose to override the Win + arrow keys.
Can I use a different layout on each monitor? Yes. Select a monitor in the layout editor and choose a layout for it.
Where is the shortcut to open the editor? Win + Shift + ` by default, and you can change it in Settings.
Official links
Read more in our Microsoft PowerToys guide, or learn how to rename many files at once in the PowerRename guide.
Conclusion
FancyZones is most useful when you build one or two layouts that match how you work, and then use them every day. Start with a template, try the Shift-drag method, and add keyboard shortcuts once you are comfortable.
Sources checked: the official FancyZones page on Microsoft Learn (October 2026). PowerToys updates often, so check the official page for the latest details.