7 Best Window Managers for Windows in 2023 (Free & Paid)
By Alex • Updated Sep 16, 2023
Best for: Overall | Windows | Mac
In the digital age, managing computer windows efficiently is crucial for productivity. Window managers are great tools that help you organize, resize, and reposition windows effortlessly. This guide explores the top 7 window managers for Windows in 2023, both free and paid, to enhance your efficiency.
Best Window Management Apps for Windows
- Windows Snap
- AquaSnap
- MaxTo
- PowerToys FancyZones
- SmartWindows
- Divvy
- FancyWM
What Makes a Great Window Management App?
Before we delve into the list, let’s look at what makes a great window management app. The application should be user-friendly, intuitive, and highly customizable. It should offer features like window snapping, tiling, and docking. The ability to create custom keyboard shortcuts for faster navigation is also a significant plus. Furthermore, it should be lightweight, not consuming too much of your CPU or memory. Lastly, the app should be compatible with the latest Windows versions and support multi-monitor setups.
Now, let’s jump into our list of the 7 best window managers for Windows in 2023.
1. Windows Snap
Windows Snap is a built-in feature in Windows 10 and 11 that allows you to quickly organize your windows by snapping them to the sides or corners of your screen.
Key Features:
- Snap windows side-by-side or into the four corners of your screen.
- Drag and drop windows to resize and reposition them.
- Keyboard shortcuts for quick window movement and resizing.
Our Take:
While Windows Snap may not offer as many features as some third-party tools, its seamless integration with the Windows operating system and the fact that it comes pre-installed make it a convenient and useful tool for basic window management.
2. AquaSnap
AquaSnap is a versatile window manager that goes beyond the standard features offered by the built-in Windows Snap.
Key Features:
- Snap windows side-by-side, in quarters, or create complex layouts with hotkeys.
- Window tiling and docking with keyboard shortcuts.
- Window stretching and snapping for precise control over window sizes.
- Group multiple floating windows and move them together.
Our Take:
AquaSnap is a powerful tool that provides highly customizable window management. With its ability to create complex layouts and manage multiple floating windows, it’s perfect for power users who need advanced control over their workspace.
3. MaxTo
MaxTo is a highly efficient window manager that allows you to divide your screen into exact portions, maximizing your workspace.
Key Features:
- User-defined grid system for precise window positioning.
- Customize keyboard shortcuts for almost all actions.
- Virtual desktop support for Windows 10 users.
- Recipe feature to launch and place multiple programs at once.
Our Take:
MaxTo is an excellent choice for those seeking a balanced combination of power and simplicity. Its user-defined grid system and recipe feature are unique selling points that make it stand out.
4. PowerToys FancyZones
Created by Microsoft, PowerToys FancyZones is a powerful window manager designed to make multitasking easier and more efficient.
Key Features:
- Create custom layouts for your windows.
- Snap windows into defined zones using drag-and-drop or hotkeys.
- Multi-monitor support for enhanced productivity.
- Zone templates for quick setup.
Our Take:
Being a Microsoft product, PowerToys FancyZones integrates seamlessly with Windows. It’s a fantastic tool for those who frequently multitask and need to manage their workspace efficiently.
5. SmartWindows
SmartWindows is a versatile window manager that aims to save users’ time by restoring their display settings and application positions with a single click.
Key Features:
- Restore display settings and application positions.
- Create unlimited profiles for work, play, and study.
- Support for multiple users on a single PC.
- Multi-browser and Microsoft Office file support.
Our Take:
SmartWindows is an excellent choice for those who frequently switch between different workspaces. Its ability to restore display settings and application positions can save a lot of time and effort.
6. Divvy
Divvy is a window management solution that gives users control over their desktop layout using a simple and intuitive interface.
Key Features:
- Grid system to easily organize windows.
- User-customizable keyboard shortcuts.
- Drag-and-drop functionality for resizing windows.
- Multi-monitor support.
Our Take:
Divvy is a great tool for those who value simplicity and ease of use. It may not have as many features as some other options, but its intuitive interface makes it easy to manage windows efficiently.
7. FancyWM
FancyWM is a dynamic tiling window manager designed specifically for Windows 10 and 11 to optimize the user’s workflow.
Key Features:
- Create dynamic tiling layouts with mouse or keyboard.
- Move window focus with keyboard.
- Swap windows with keyboard.
Our Take:
FancyWM is a superb choice for those seeking a dynamic tiling window manager. It requires a bit of a learning curve, but once mastered, it can significantly boost productivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a window manager?
A window manager is a software application that controls the arrangement of open windows on your computer screen. It helps in resizing, moving, and managing multiple windows efficiently.
Why do I need a window manager?
If you frequently work with multiple windows open, a window manager can significantly improve your productivity. It allows you to precisely control the positioning and size of your windows, making multitasking easier and more efficient.
Does Windows have a built-in window manager?
Yes, Windows has a built-in feature called Snap which allows you to organize your windows by snapping them to the sides or corners of your screen. However, it is relatively basic, and you might need a more powerful third-party tool for advanced window management.
Can I use a different window manager with each virtual desktop on Windows 10?
Some window managers like MaxTo and PowerToys FancyZones support virtual desktops on Windows 10, allowing you to have different window layouts on each virtual desktop.
Conclusion
In conclusion, window managers can be a game-changer for your productivity, especially if you regularly work with multiple windows open. Whether you’re looking for a simple tool like Windows Snap or a more advanced solution like AquaSnap or MaxTo, there’s a window manager out there that’s just right for your needs. So why wait? Start improving your efficiency with one of these fantastic window managers today!
All Window Management Apps for Windows
Вкратце: бесплатная утилита altdrag упрощает управление окнами (move&resize) в Windows.
А именно, при зажатой клавише ALT:
- левой кнопкой мыши можно перетаскивать окно, ухватившись за любое место окна (не обязательно за заголовок);
- перетаскивание правой кнопкой мыши будет изменять размер, а именно двигать ту границу, к которой ближе был курсор;
- кое-что ещё (см. под кат).
Да, именно так, как это работает в Linux.
Это очень удобно. Не нужно целиться в заголовок и в границу окна.
Программа будет особенно полезна обладателям экранов с маленьким разрешением (например, нетбуки). Она поможет «обуздать» окна, превышающие размер экрана, которые обычно перетащить не получается.
Как это работает
Небольшое видео, демонстрирующее работу программы:
Как работает ресайз:
Окно разделено на 9 областей. Каждая из 8 крайних областей отвечает за передвижение ближайшей границы окна.
Центральная область работает очень хитро: растягивает окно по вертикали или по горизонтали, оставляя центр окна на месте (т.е. двигаются сразу две противоположные границы).
altdrag может ресайзить даже окна, которые обычно ресайзить нельзя (диалоги, настройки). Пока не придумал, чем это может быть полезно.
Бонус: Alt+DoubleClick в любом месте разворачивает окно, Alt+Click восстанавливает развёрнутое.
altdrag может быть полезен и владельцам многомониторных систем: можно таскать окна с монитора на монитор, при этом развёрнутые окна остаются развёрнутыми (можно отключить).
Настройки
- можно назначить клавиши, при зажатии которых выполняются действия (по умолчанию оба Alt);
- можно назначать на каждую кнопку мыши (ЛКМ, ПКМ, колесо, кнопки 4 и 5) действия: собственно, Move, Resize, а также Minimize, Center, Close и AlwaysOnTop (как по мне, наиболее полезный). В бета-версии ещё Lower.
- можно настроить «прилипание» окон: к краям экрана и к таскбару, к другим окнам снаружи, изнутри, или же вручную при зажатии Alt+Shift
Есть иконка в трее (можно отключить), через неё доступны настройки и некоторые действия.
В последней стабильной версии (0.9) настройки редактируются в ini-файле блокнотом, но в нём всё понятно без проблем. В бете (1.0) добавили гуишное окошко с настройками.
Детали
C Aero работает корректно.
Памяти потребляет немного. У меня под Windows7/64 — 2.9/3.4 МБ.
Есть portable версия.
Программа давно не обновлялась: последняя стабильная версия — февраль 2011, бета — июль 2011. Пусть это вас не смущает: багов не обнаружено; реализовано, на мой взгляд, всё что нужно (даже в февральской).
Обнаруженные недостатки
- По дефолту при установке конфиг находится в папке программы в Program Files. Если вы сидите не под администратором (или же c включённым User account control), то сохранить настройки будет проблемно. Workaround: установить программу себе в папку, или же скачать portable версию.
- Хоткеи Alt+DoubleClick и Alt+Click изменить нельзя. Второй для меня пока непривычный. UPD: но можно заменить Alt на другой хоткей, например на Ctrl.
Ссылка на скачивание: altdrag
Actual Window Manager — многофункциональный оконный менеджер для Microsoft Windows. Состоит из более чем 50 инструментов для организации рабочего стола. Повышает удобство использования и производительность работы с любыми приложениями. С его помощью вы сможете организовать рабочую среду для удобного, быстрого и эффективного выполнения ваших задач без необходимости отвлекаться на рутинные манипуляции с окнами.
После установки и запуска программа работает в фоновом режиме, обеспечивая:
- автоматическое выполнение широкого спектра действий над окнами, таких как: свернуть при запуске/деактивации, развернуть при запуске, закрыть при запуске, изменить положение/размер при запуске, зафиксировать положение/размер, изменить приоритет выполнения при запуске/деактивации и многих других;
- быстрый доступ к скрытым возможностям системы («Свернуть окно в область уведомлений», «Окно всегда поверх всех», «Полупрозрачное окно» и др.) через дополнительные кнопки заголовка окна или дополнительные пункты в системном меню окна;
- поддержку механизма виртуальных Рабочих Столов;
- дополнительные средства при работе с несколькими мониторами: эмуляция Панели Задач, кнопки «Пуск» и Переключателя Задач на каждом мониторе, быстрое перемещение окон между мониторами, быстрое разворачивание окна на все мониторы.
- и многое другое.
ТОП-сегодня раздела «Десктоп менеджеры»
Carroll 1.31
Carroll — простенький инструмент для управления разрешением экрана монитора…
DisplayFusion 10.1.2
DisplayFusion — приложение, которое призвано существенно упростить жизнь владельцев…
Seelen UI 2.0.12
Инструмент для настройки рабочего стола на Windows 10/11, который помогает повысить…
Fences 5.8.6.8
Fences — программа с помощью которой пользователь может организовать и привести в порядок…
Taskbar Hide 3.3
Taskbar Hide — небольшая утилита, которая позволяет мгновенно (в одно нажатие) скрыть любое открытое приложение на компьютере…
Отзывы о программе Actual Window Manager
Dima про Actual Window Manager 8.14.3 [21-03-2021]
Мощная штука.
Класс.
Пробовать пробовать
Эксперементировать.
60 дней пробный период.
4 | 4 | Ответить
Дмитрий про Actual Window Manager 8.14.2 [20-04-2020]
Не понял как работает эта прога, возможно я тупой.
5 | 5 | Ответить
Split your desktop in one easy gesture
Drag and drop your windows to the sides or corners of the screen, and they’ll automatically be resized to fit one half or one quarter of the screen. This feature is just like the built-in Aero Snap function of Windows 10, but with more possibilities! This is especially useful on either a 4K monitor or multiple monitors.
Sometimes, splitting your desktop into halves or quarters is not ideal
When two windows are side-by-side, resizing one of them while pressing [Ctrl] will also resize the other one. It’s an easy and powerful way to modify the layout of several tiled windows.
Don’t waste your desktop space; pixels are precious!
AquaSnap allows you to easily align your windows by making them behave like magnets. This simple feature is the cornerstone of AquaSnap, and has been carefully designed to assist you without getting in your way.
One click to conquer this free space on your screen!
This is another powerful way to quickly split your desktop space between several windows. Double-click on the edge of a window to maximize it in one direction. Perform the same action while pressing [Shift] to maximize it vertically or horizontally.
Easily manage these small floating windows
Professional applications with complex UI often scatter small toolbox windows on your desktop. Keep them grouped and move them all at once. Move one window while pressing [Ctrl] and the whole group of adjacent windows will follow.
Need to keep an eye on a small window?
This is the best way to have this window always visible while working on a full-screen application. Shake a window to make it transparent and always on top. Shake it again to restore it to its normal state.
Add new functionalities to your windows
Add secondary functions to every clickable element of the window frames, and access all the AquaSnap features with one simple click. These mouse shortcuts are also fully customizable. With 15 different clickable areas, up to 5 mouse buttons recognized, plus the modifier keys, the possibilities are endless!
Be even more productive with keyboard shortcuts!
All the features of AquaSnap are accessible through easy-to-remember and customizable keyboard shortcuts.
TidyTabs has been designed to interoperate nicely with AquaSnap. Tabbed groups created with TidyTabs can easily be snapped, docked and tiled thanks to AquaSnap. Both tools are in fact very complementary and can permit you to achieve a major productivity boost.
AquaSnap has been translated into many languages
In the latest release, we support English, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian! If we don’t have your language yet, help us get it!
A desktop enhancement tool should assist you without slowing down your computer. That’s why AquaSnap is 100% composed of highly optimized native code, with no compromise on stability and performance. It uses very little memory and nearly no CPU. AquaSnap is clean, easy to install and easy to uninstall.
7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11
AquaSnap is compatible with all Windows versions, from Windows 7 to Windows 11, with true 64-bit support. We will do our absolute best to support all future Windows versions.
Excited yet?
AquaSnap is free for personal use. Try it now!
Fully-Functional Desktop Environment for Multiple Monitors |
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Using Actual Window Manager, you will have a fully-functional taskbar for each monitor and many other features to improve the multiple monitors’ desktop environment.
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Virtual Desktops for Effective Work |
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If you have a lack of workspace on the desktop, use virtual desktops included in Actual Window Manager. This tool allows you to create the desired number on virtual desktops and increase your workspace.
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Configure Each Window Individually |
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Configure your OS as you wish. With Actual Window Manager, you can set many parameters for each window individually.
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New Title Buttons for Improving Each Window |
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Many additional title buttons available to you with Actual Window Manager:
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Custom Hotkeys |
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| Hotkeys is the tool of professionals, and Actual Window Manager supports them in full. Most of program functions can be activated via hotkey, and you can customize the key combinations at will. Moreover, you will be able to add your own hotkeys for some window operations | |
Multi-Monitor Gaming |
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Gamers will appreciate several features of Actual Window Manager that were developed specifically for enhancing multi-monitor gaming experience, making it more attractive and convenient:
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Desktop Divider |
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| The divider allows you to split the entire large desktop or each monitor into several non-intersecting areas (tiles). If you place a window into one of such tiles, the window will expand up to tile’s borders only. You can create as many custom tile layouts as you need and activate them on the fly, as circumstances require. |
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Improved Windows Folder Navigation |
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Actual Window Manager allows the use of two additional title buttons for each window. These special buttons improve Windows Folder Navigation, so you do not need to use long mouse manipulation to follow through to the desired folder.
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Desktop Mirroring |
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Mirroring is a special function that allows observing a certain window, monitor or a custom part of desktop in a separate window on another monitor. It can be useful in various specific situations:
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Window Snapping |
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If you prefer arrange your windows manually, Actual Window Manager will help you make it faster and more accurate by snapping a certain edge of the dragged window to:
Also, you will get an improved version of the Windows 7 Aero Snap feature: now it works on edges between monitors. |
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Multi-Monitor Wallpaper |
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Using Actual Window Manager, you can set up any kind of Desktop’s background on multiple displays:
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Multi-Monitor Screen Saver |
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Actual Window Manager gives new abilities for screen savers (even those that don’t have native multi-monitor support) — you will be able to:
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