Best Window Manager for Windows 11 in 2026

Published 16 April 2026

The problem: You spend time arranging your windows where you want them. Then something resets them — a reboot, a driver update, undocking your laptop. Windows 11 has some built-in tools for managing window layout, but none of them fully solve the "save and restore" problem. Here's what's available and how they compare.

Windows 11 Snap Layouts (built-in)

Snap Layouts is Microsoft's answer to window management. Hover over a window's maximise button and you get a grid of layout options — halves, thirds, quarters. It's quick for arranging windows in the moment.

What it does well: Fast, no install needed, works with most apps. The keyboard shortcut (Win + Z) is handy once you learn it.

What it doesn't do: Snap Layouts doesn't save your arrangement, so after a reboot you snap everything again. Windows 11 can move windows back when you reconnect a monitor, but there's no concept of profiles — you can't save one layout for "docked at work" and another for "laptop only" and switch between them.

PowerToys FancyZones (free, Microsoft)

FancyZones is part of Microsoft's PowerToys toolkit. It lets you define custom layout zones on your screen and snap windows into them by holding Shift while dragging.

What it does well: Custom zone definitions are more flexible than Snap Layouts. Good for unusual monitor setups or ultrawide screens. It can also move a newly opened app back into the zone it was last in, and keep windows in their zones when the screen resolution changes.

What it doesn't do: It snaps windows into zones rather than remembering each window's own position and size, and it doesn't open your apps for you.

PowerToys Workspaces (free, Microsoft)

Workspaces is a newer part of PowerToys. You capture your desktop as a workspace, and launching it opens those apps and moves them into their saved positions.

What it does well: Free, and quick for opening a project's apps in one go. You can also give each app start-up options, such as a file to open.

What to know: You launch a workspace yourself, from the Workspaces editor or a desktop shortcut.

DisplayFusion (paid, third-party)

DisplayFusion is a long-standing multi-monitor management tool. It offers taskbar customisation, wallpaper management, window snapping, and some position-saving features.

What it does well: Comprehensive multi-monitor features. Has a "save window positions" function and can restore them with a hotkey.

The trade-off: It's a large application with many features beyond window positions. Position saving is one feature among dozens, and the pricing reflects the full feature set rather than just window management.

PositionPro (paid, purpose-built)

PositionPro does one thing: save, restore and profile window positions. That's it — no wallpaper management, no taskbar customisation, no custom zone editor. It just remembers where your windows go.

What it does:

Saves every window's exact position and size with one hotkey, or automatically as windows close if you turn on Auto Save
Restores them with a hotkey or automatically when you connect a monitor setup you've assigned a profile to
Multiple profiles — one for your three-monitor desk setup, one for laptop-only, one for home office
Automatic monitor detection — switches to the right profile when you dock or undock
Snap layouts — built-in grid snapping that actually remembers where you put things
Lightweight — minimal memory footprint, no background services eating resources

What it doesn't do: Wallpaper management, taskbar customisation, or anything outside window positioning. If you need those, DisplayFusion is the better choice. If you just want your windows to stay where you put them, PositionPro is purpose-built for exactly that.

Quick comparison

Here's what matters for most people:

Snap Layouts: Free, built in, arranges windows but doesn't save them
FancyZones: Free, custom zones, can put a reopened app back in its last zone
Workspaces: Free, opens a saved set of apps in their saved positions when you launch it
DisplayFusion: Paid, full multi-monitor suite, position saving is one of many features
PositionPro: Paid, focused on saving and restoring window positions, with profiles that switch when you dock or undock

Try PositionPro

Save, restore and profile your window positions on Windows 10 and 11. One-time purchase, no subscription.

Learn more

Which one should you use?

If you've never thought about window management and just want basic snapping, Snap Layouts is already on your PC and works fine. If you want custom zones on an ultrawide, try FancyZones. If you open the same set of apps for a project, Workspaces is worth a look.

If your actual frustration is windows losing their position after a reboot, sleep, undocking, or driver update, that's a different problem — and it's the specific one a dedicated position manager like PositionPro is built for.