Get the Perfect Dual Monitor Setup on Windows With FancyZones - Make Tech Easier

If you frequently utilize a multi-monitor setup, FancyZones can revolutionize your experience. This utility from Windows PowerToys enables complete customization of your screen arrangements. This guide delves into various FancyZones setups intended to enhance your window management on dual monitors and elevate your productivity.

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Table of Contents

• Installing PowerToys
• Extending Your Display
• Choosing Your Preferred Layout for Each Monitor
• Configuring My Dual Monitor Layout with FancyZones
• Crafting a Custom Layout in FancyZones
• Switching Between Layouts Easily in FancyZones
• Tweaking FancyZones Settings
• Additional Productivity Tips

Installing PowerToys

To utilize FancyZones, you must first install PowerToys. You can download it from the Microsoft Store or the official GitHub release page.

Install PowerToys on your Windows PC. Once it starts up automatically, navigate to FancyZones from the left-hand menu to see an overview of instructions.

Remember, you can activate FancyZones by pressing Win Shift `, which will immediately take you to Editor mode.

Extending Your Display

To maximize the benefits of FancyZones on a dual monitor setup, ensure you extend your displays first. This tool allows you to set up distinct layouts for each monitor.

On your PC, navigate to Settings -> Display. Click on the Duplicate these displays button, and switch to the Extend these displays option instead.

Confirm the change in the pop-up by selecting Keep the Changes. Your new dual-monitor setup will activate, and each display will be prepared to support its own layout.

Tip: If you're skeptical about the productivity benefits of dual monitor setups, consider reading the research.

Choosing Your Preferred Layout for Each Monitor

FancyZones functions by resizing windows into pre-set grid layouts. To tailor your setup, launch the FancyZones editor, where all connected displays are listed at the top.

Choose one of the displays at the top, and explore the Templates section for pre-made layouts. Begin by selecting one that suits your needs.

Note: You will need to manually choose a layout for each monitor.

If you think these layouts need enhancement, you can easily modify them by clicking the pencil icon.

Increase the number of zones, and adjust the spacing between them or the highlight distance.

Configuring My Dual Monitor Layout with FancyZones

For the purposes of this article, I'm setting up a dual-monitor configuration optimized for daily writing tasks. The secondary display (the larger one in my case) will manage my writing activities, while the primary monitor will keep other useful utilities accessible.

Open all the apps and browser pages you need for your working session before accessing the FancyZones Editor. Switch to the second monitor, and select the Columns template. For my needs, three separate zones suffice, but you can always add more if necessary.

To start snapping apps into the appropriate zones, click the app window or program to bring it forward, then press the Shift button. Drag the window by its title bar into the appropriate zone, and it should snap into place.

Repeat this for all zones.

In this example, I've included:

• Zone 1: an in-browser article that is relevant to my research

• Zone 2: Word document where I am gathering the data needed for my paper

• Zone 3: YouTube video to extract additional information

FYI: Discover whether investing in a 3D monitor would be worthwhile for you?

Crafting a Custom Layout in FancyZones

Now that I have the layout for my larger monitor, I want to design a custom layout for the smaller display. In the FancyZones Editor, switch to the primary monitor. Click the Create new layout button.

Name your new layout, and choose whether you want to create a grid or a canvas (for overlapping zones), then click Create. I am opting for the first option.

Begin defining your layout on the next screen. By default, it starts with three columns. You can start modifying it from here. As you move your mouse over a zone, a blue bar appears. Click to split the zone in two. If you need a vertical split instead, just hold the Shift button.

I don’t need three zones that are evenly split. Instead, I want to have one big zone and two smaller zones on the right that are split horizontally. To achieve this, long-click on the first zone, then the second. Click the Merge Zones button to have the two zones become one.

Other possible actions include:

• Dragging the corners to resize the zones
• Dragging the middle of the window to move it and place it elsewhere
• Using the button to create a new window

When you’re done arranging your layout, click Save in the small window (which also contains some instructions) to save the custom arrangement.

Once the custom layout was ready, I added the apps:

• Zone 1: WhatsApp to keep in touch with my project team members
• Zone 2: Pomodoro timer for timing my work sessions
• Zone 3: Sticky notes featuring today’s tasks

Some apps, such as Spotify and Calculator, will not snap into place into smaller zones on a smaller monitor. I wanted to have Spotify or the Calculator app in Zone 3, but I ultimately decided against it, since the apps didn’t resize well.

Switching Between Layouts Easily in FancyZones

Once you’ve created multiple custom layouts, it would be beneficial to switch from one layout to another effortlessly as you transition between tasks throughout your day.

In the FancyZones Editor, locate a custom layout you use frequently, and click the pencil button.

Click the Layout shortcuts bar, and select a number. Click Save at the bottom. Apply this layout by pressing the Win Ctrl Alt Number keyboard shortcut.

Note: Ensure the Enable quick layout switch is activated in FancyZones Settings via PowerToys.

Tip: Use these techniques with your window management to help prevent eye strain from your dual monitors.

Tweaking FancyZones Settings

Open the PowerToys Settings from the system tray. Navigate to Windowing & Layout -> FancyZones to access the Settings area.

Review the Zone behavior section to control how zones function when using FancyZones. For example, you can activate an option to Allow zones to span across monitors.

Manage your window management on your dual monitors in the Window behavior section. For instance, you can instruct FancyZones to restore the original size of windows when unsnapping. Explore all these options to see which ones could be beneficial.

You can also set custom keyboard shortcuts for switching between windows in the current zone.

At the bottom, you can configure apps that you don’t want to include in FancyZones for whatever reason.

Additional Productivity Tips

Here are some suggestions to help you optimize window management and boost your productivity using FancyZones on a dual-monitor setup:

• Use different layouts for different tasks, such as coding, writing, video editing, financial analysis, online meetings, general multitasking, etc.
• Utilize larger, central zones for the most important tasks and smaller peripheral zones for secondary or background tasks.
• Learn how to use FancyZones keyboard shortcuts, as they significantly speed up your workflow. (Refer to the shortcuts mentioned above.)
• Ensure you separate your work zone from the utility zone to minimize context-switching and distractions.
• For multitasking activities, such as writing an article and researching a topic, consider the Columns layout for vertical stacking of windows for quick switching between reference materials, charts, or media.
• Save multiple custom layouts that match your common workflows (work, gaming, media, etc.).

Ultimately, your ideal FancyZones window management on dual monitors is unique to you. Dive in, experiment, and find what enhances your workflow. Don’t hesitate to push the boundaries and create truly personalized zones.

If you’re currently in the market for a new monitor, learn which portable monitors are designed for gaming. If you’re just starting out with dual-monitor setups, explore your options in this desktop monitors buying guide.

All images and screenshots by Alexandra Arici

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