Snap Layouts in Windows 11: Organize your windows like a pro

The arrival of Windows 11 It was a authentic revolution in the way users manage their windows and tasks. Among the most notable new features is the snap layouts, A tool that makes it easy to organize and anchor windows in a visual and intuitive way, allowing you to adapt to the multiple multitasking scenarios of everyday life.

Since its launch, Snap Layouts has been evolving, incorporating new ways to distribute and manage open applications on our desktop. Many users still don't know the full potential of this feature or how it can significantly improve productivity and user experience. If you want to discover how to get the most out of it and learn all the Tricks, ways of use, compatibilities and advantages of Snap Layouts, here is a detailed and natural guide on this key tool of Windows 11.

What is Snap Layouts in Windows 11?

The function snap layouts It is one of Microsoft's big bets to optimize multitasking in its operating system. Its main objective is allow you to quickly and easily arrange multiple open windows on the screen, choosing from different predefined templates, called "layouts." This tool allows you to divide the screen into several sections and assign different applications to each, making it easier to compare documents, work in parallel, or maintain focus without the desktop becoming a mess.

This rearrangement capability is not entirely new, as Windows carries over from previous versions options for docking windows, but Windows 11 has taken a leap forward in terms of visual, fast, and customizable options.In fact, functionality has been further improved with recent updates, such as 22H2, which add more designs and improve the overall experience.

Advantages of using Snap Layouts

Beyond the convenience of being able to view multiple windows at once, Snap Layouts incorporates a series of clear benefits that can completely transform the way you work. in the computer:

• Optimizing screen space: Ideal for both standard monitors and large or ultrawide screens, it lets you take advantage of every corner of your desktop.
• Increase productivity: By having all the necessary tools visible and organized, it is significantly reduced There lost switching between windows.
• Focus and fewer distractions: Makes it easier to focus on important tasks, avoiding the visual clutter caused by stacked or overlapping windows.
• Easy management of application groups: Windows 11 remembers groups created with Snap Layouts, allowing you to easily switch between different sets of layouts. apps.

How to Access Snap Layouts: Methods and Tricks

One of the great virtues of Snap Layouts is that You can activate it in several ways, adapting it to your preferences or preferred workflow.These are the main methods for launching anchor designs:

1. From the Maximize button

It is the most visual and direct way. Just pass the mouse over the maximize button from any compatible window (top right corner). This will open a graphical menu with the different layout options available depending on your screen size and resolution. You can choose a layout and click on the area where you want to pin the current window. The other available areas will be free for you to add other open applications.

2. Using keyboard shortcuts

For lovers of quick methods, Windows 11 integrates specific key combinations to manage window positions:

• Windows+Z: : Directly opens the Snap Layouts menu in the active window.
• Windows + Arrow keys: Moves and docks the window according to the arrow pressed (right, left, up or down), allowing it to be arranged almost instantly in different quadrants of the screen.

Depending on the current layout and how many windows you have open, these combinations can alternate between positions and sizes.

3. Dragging windows to edges or corners

The classic form, which is still in use and has been improved, consists of drag any window to the edge, corner, or top of the screenA shadow will appear indicating how the window will be positioned when you drop it:

• Corners: The window will take up a quarter of the screen.
• Right or left side: The window is anchored occupying half the area
• Upper part: Automatically maximizes.
• Bottom: This anchor is not available from towing.

Once you release the window, Windows suggests what other applications to place in the remaining slots, making it very easy to complete your chosen layout.

Types of Snap Layouts available

The number of templates or layouts you can use It depends on the size, resolution and scaling of your monitor.. In general, Windows 11 offers these main designs:

• 50:50: Two windows of the same size, each occupying half of the screen.
• 80:20: One window occupies 80% and the other 20%, ideal for working with a main application and consulting information in a secondary one.
• 50:25:25: Three windows, one larger (50%) and two smaller (25% each).
• Three-column layout: Available on Full HD (1920×1080) displays or higher, it allows you to place three applications in equal columns.
• 25: 25: 25: 25: Four identical windows, each occupying a quarter of the desktop.
• Unequal arrangement of three columns: Three apps, but with different proportions, useful for certain types of workflows.

These models may vary, as some ultrawide or high-resolution monitors allow for even more combinations. The larger your screen, the more possibilities Snap Layouts gives you..

How to configure Snap Layouts and enable/disable their options

Snap Layouts is enabled by default, but you can adjust its settings in Windows 11 settings:

• Accede to Configuration from the start menu or with the shortcut Windows + I.
• Enter the section System and select the section Multitasking in the side menu.
• Make sure the function Docking windows is enabled.
• To control whether layouts appear when you hover over Maximize, check the option Show docking layouts when hovering over a window's Maximize buttonYou can turn it on or off according to your preferences.

If you don't want Snap Layouts to appear, simply uncheck that box. This feature will no longer be available until you re-enable it.

Step by Step: How to Use Snap Layouts in Windows 11

Want to learn how to use the feature on a daily basis? The process is really simple. Here you go. A basic guide to get you started organizing your apps:

1. Open the necessary applications. Have all the windows you want to organize open (browser, word processor, utilities, etc.).
2. Hover over the Maximize button of the window you want to position first. The Snap Layouts menu will appear, displaying all the possible layouts for your monitor.
3. Select the design you prefer by clicking on the position where you want to place that window.
4. The rest of the areas will be highlighted, showing all the open apps you can place in each section. Choose which ones to place and where.
5. It's that simple: You'll have all your windows perfectly laid out and ready to work in a visual and practical way.

If you ever want to change the layout, simply repeat the process, or use keyboard shortcuts to rearrange apps almost on the fly.

Snap Groups: Taking multitasking to the next level

An interesting contribution of Windows 11 is the appearance of the so-called Snap Groups. This is a function that groups multiple apps organized using Snap Layouts, allowing you to instantly switch between sets of apps with a single click on the taskbar or using Alt + Tab.

For example, you can have one group for your browser, notepad, and spreadsheet; and a different group for your design tools. Switching tasks is as easy as selecting the appropriate group from the taskbar, making switching between contexts much faster and more efficient.

Tips and tricks for getting the most out of Snap Layouts

• Get the most out of large or ultrawide screens: The larger your monitor, the more sharing options and windows you can comfortably manage.
• Combine Snap Layouts with Snap Groups to manage different work scenarios without wasting time reconfiguring windows.
• Use keyboard shortcuts to move between windows quickly, especially if you prefer the efficiency of the mouse.
• Take advantage of shadows and previews that Windows shows you before you drop the windows when dragging them, so you know exactly how they will be positioned.

Limitations and compatibilities

Although Snap Layouts are very versatile, not all apps are supportedSome apps built on certain web or third-party technologies (such as Electron) may not display the Snap Layout-compatible maximize button. This is common, for example, with certain productivity apps converted from web apps.

If you are one of those who need even more customization, there are tools like power toys Fancy Zones developed by Microsoft, which allow you to create completely customized layouts and even save your own templates, a feature that Snap Layouts does not yet include in its standard version.

Of course, for most users, the native Windows 11 option will be more than sufficient, as it integrates seamlessly with the system and doesn't require any additional software installation.

Snap Layouts or FancyZones?

For those seeking the maximum flexibility and customizationFancyZones remains the preferred choice, as it supports custom layouts and multi-monitor integration. However, Snap Layouts has the great advantage of being fully integrated into Windows 11, making it simpler and more lightweight for most users. In future updates, Snap Layouts could incorporate more advanced options, but currently, both options can coexist perfectly depending on the user's needs.

Master the function snap layouts it will permit you work in a much more organized and efficient way In Windows 11, adapting the environment to each task, avoiding unnecessary interruptions and maximizing productivity, whether at work, school, or simply to make the most of your screen.

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Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.