Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Use PowerToys FancyZones to save a repeatable arrangement of application windows on your ultrawide display. Open the FancyZones layout editor, select the ultrawide monitor, create either a relative Grid or freely positioned Canvas layout, and then hold Shift while dragging each window into a zone. Grid is the practical choice for tiled columns and rows; Canvas is for independently sized or overlapping regions.
What FancyZones does on an ultrawide monitor
FancyZones is the PowerToys window-management utility for defining named regions, or zones, on a display. Instead of repeatedly resizing windows by hand, you create a layout once and snap applications into the same regions whenever you work.
Microsoft documents two custom-layout styles: Grid and Canvas. Grid divides the display into a relative arrangement that adapts when the screen dimensions change. Canvas lets you add, move, and resize each zone independently, and zones can overlap. Those differences matter more on an ultrawide panel than the number of zones alone: a wide screen may suit a regular set of columns, or it may need a large main workspace plus smaller, deliberately positioned reference areas.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe procedure below applies to one ultrawide display. A separate section explains the different rules when you want one layout to span multiple monitors.
#1 Best Overall
- DO MORE ON ONE SCREEN: See every detail on the wider display featuring a 21:9 aspect ratio; Ultra WQHD provides the simplest way to maximize screen real estate and experience truly seamless multitasking on just one screen.Brightness (Typical) : 300 cd/㎡. Static Contrast Ratio 3000:1.
- ENJOY A BILLION COLORS W/ INCREDIBLE DEPTH: With HDR10 that displays over 1 billion colors compared to 16.7 million for typical SDR technology, dark colors are darker and the brightest are even brighter; Content is experienced as the creator intended
- CARE FOR YOUR EYES DAY and NIGHT: An ambient light sensor on the monitor detects lighting in your workstation and automatically adjusts brightness; Eye Saver Mode minimizes excessive blue light, and Flicker Free relieves eye strain
- SEE CONTENT SMOOTHER, EVEN GAMING: A faster than average refresh rate updates the image on screen more often every second; 100Hz refresh rate reduces lag and motion blur when playing games, watching videos, or working on design projects
- STAY IN SYNC WITH THE ACTION: AMD Radeon FreeSync keeps the refresh rate of your monitor and graphics card in sync to reduce image tearing for a superfluid entertainment experience; Watch movies and play games without interruptions
For the current feature names and behavior, see Microsoft’s FancyZones documentation.
Check requirements before creating a layout
PowerToys must be installed and running before the editor or snapping behavior is available. Microsoft’s installation requirements are:
| Requirement | Supported value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 11, or Windows 10 version 2004 (20H1, build 19041) or newer | Older Windows releases are outside the documented minimum. |
| Processor | 64-bit x64 or ARM64 | PowerToys is not documented for 32-bit processors. |
| PowerToys | Installed and running | FancyZones is a PowerToys module, not a standalone Windows setting. |
| Display | Your ultrawide monitor connected and detected by Windows | The editor applies a layout to the display you select. |
Installation instructions and the supported Windows versions are listed in Microsoft’s PowerToys installation documentation. After installation, open PowerToys Settings and confirm that FancyZones is available.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Open FancyZones and select the ultrawide display
- Open PowerToys Settings from the PowerToys icon in the Windows notification area or Start menu.
- Choose FancyZones in the left navigation.
- Select Open layout editor. You can also use the default Win+Shift+` shortcut, where the final key is the backtick key. If that shortcut conflicts with another application, change it in the FancyZones settings; the shortcut is configurable.
- In the layout editor, click the monitor that represents your ultrawide display. Selecting the display first is important when more than one screen is connected.
The editor shows the layouts available for that display. To make your own, choose Create new layout. You will then choose Grid or Canvas.
Create a Grid layout for tiled columns or rows
Choose Grid when the regions should form a regular or asymmetric tile pattern and remain proportional as the display size changes. Grid is useful when you want adjacent areas to line up cleanly, such as a broad working area beside one or two narrower reference areas.
Rank #2
- Improved ComfortView Plus: Reduces harmful blue light emissions to ≤35%, for all-day comfort without sacrificing color accuracy.
- Refresh rate: A smooth, tear-free experience with AMD FreeSync Premium (refresh rate up to 120Hz) and an ultra-low 0.03ms response time create a captivating experience for work and play.
- Vivid colors: Enjoy vibrant, true-to-life colors with 99% sRGB and 95% DCI-P3 coverage. The VA panel with 3000:1 contrast ratio and HDR readiness delivers stunning depth, detail and realism.
- Re-engineered sound quality: Enjoy more detailed sound with spacious audio featuring greater output power, deeper frequency response and more decibel range than the previous generation.
- Easy connectivity: Keep your desk organized and clutter-free with a single USB-C cable (up to 65W power delivery).
- With the ultrawide monitor selected, choose Create new layout, then select Grid.
- Give the layout a descriptive name if the editor asks for one. A name based on the task, such as “Writing and references,” is easier to recognize than a generic label.
- Split a zone to create more regions. Use the editor’s divider controls to choose whether a split is horizontal or vertical, then adjust the divider position.
- Merge zones when two neighboring regions should become one larger area. This lets you build an asymmetric arrangement rather than being limited to equal-width columns.
- Continue adjusting the dividers until every region reflects an application area you will actually use.
- Apply the layout from the editor. The selected layout is applied automatically to the display; double-clicking a layout applies it and closes the editor.
Grid geometry is relative. If Windows reports a different usable width or height later, the zones resize with that display rather than retaining fixed pixel dimensions. That makes Grid a good fit for a repeatable tiled arrangement, but it also means a divider’s exact pixel position can change when resolution, scaling, or display dimensions change.
Keyboard editing in Grid
Grid editing is not limited to the mouse. The editor supports keyboard work with focused zones and dividers, so you can select the element that needs adjustment and use the documented keyboard commands to move focus or alter the split. This is useful when a divider needs precise incremental changes or when dragging is awkward at high resolution.
Create a Canvas layout for independent or overlapping regions
Choose Canvas when each region needs its own position and size instead of sharing a tiled grid. Canvas zones behave more like rectangles you arrange on the display: you can add them, move them, resize them independently, and allow them to overlap.
- Select the ultrawide display in the editor.
- Choose Create new layout, then select Canvas.
- Add a zone for each region you need. Position it where the corresponding application should appear.
- Resize each zone independently. Leave deliberate space between zones if you want a visible separation, or let zones overlap when the workflow calls for layered regions.
- Review the entire display at normal working scale. Overlapping zones are intentional in Canvas, but they can make it less obvious which region will highlight while you drag a window.
- Apply the layout. As with Grid, the selected layout is applied automatically, and double-clicking the layout applies it and closes the editor.
Canvas is appropriate for an ultrawide setup with a main application in the center, a narrow monitoring strip at an edge, and a floating reference area that does not align with the main region boundaries. Because zones are independent, changing one does not force the others into a new row or column.
Keyboard editing in Canvas
Canvas zones can also be moved and resized with arrow-key combinations after the relevant zone has focus. Use the keyboard when you need controlled increments or when a zone’s edge is difficult to grab with the mouse.
Rank #3
- 1ms MPRT: Colors fade and illuminate instantly with a 1ms response time, eliminating ghosting and piecing together precise imagery during action-packed scenes and gaming.
- Luminous Backcover Lights: A colorful LED light illuminates the back cover of the monitor, delivering a uniquely modern design.
- WQHD Resolution: At 5 million pixels, Wide Quad HD Resolution (3440 x 1440) display resolution provides you with the next level of refined, and detailed picture over the current 1080P standard.
- 21:9 Ultrawide: See more and do more with an ultrawide monitor. 21:9 provides you with 30% more screen space versus the conventional monitor. With an ultrawide resolution of 3440 x 1440, expand your performance and productivity.
Choose Grid or Canvas for your workflow
There is no universally best ultrawide layout. Decide from the applications and relationships you need at the same time:
| Question | Choose Grid when… | Choose Canvas when… |
|---|---|---|
| How should regions relate? | They should line up as rows, columns, or merged tiles. | Each region needs an independent position or size. |
| Should dimensions adapt? | A relative arrangement that resizes with the display is desirable. | You want to place and resize rectangles individually. |
| Are overlaps required? | No; the arrangement is a tiled surface. | Yes, overlapping zones are supported. |
| What happens when the plan changes? | Split or merge a zone and move its dividers. | Move or resize only the affected zone. |
Start by listing the windows you keep visible together. Then decide whether their boundaries should align. If they do, Grid generally expresses that relationship directly. If one area must sit partly over another or use an unusual shape, Canvas gives you the required freedom without forcing unrelated zones to move.
Snap application windows into the layout
After applying a layout, use FancyZones’ default mouse activation to place windows:
- Move the pointer to the title bar of the application window.
- Press and hold Shift while dragging the window. The available zones appear.
- Move the pointer over the intended zone until it highlights.
- Release the mouse button. The window is placed and resized to that zone.
Activation behavior is configurable in FancyZones. If holding Shift does not display zones, open FancyZones settings and check the activation options rather than assuming the layout was lost.
Use more than one zone for a single window
Hold Ctrl while dragging when you want to select multiple zones for one window. The adjacent-zone behavior is also influenced by the setting that controls how close neighboring zones must be before they highlight or combine. This is useful for temporarily giving one application a wider working area without rebuilding the saved layout.
Rank #4
- Bring virtual worlds to life with WQHD quality: Explore your games' vast, detailed landscapes with WQHD resolution and fluid, responsive visuals in an iconically designed ultrawide gaming monitor.
- Dive into expansive details: Whether you’re exploring open worlds or completing challenges, you’ll never miss a detail thanks to WQHD resolution and a 34” ultrawide panel with a 1500R curve.
- Fluid Performance: Get in the game with a smooth 180Hz refresh rate, 1ms gray to gray response time, AMD FreeSync Premium and VESA Adaptive Sync Technology.
- Sharp visuals: Enjoy vibrant colors with DCI-P3 95% color coverage and VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification.
- Game longer: Lock in for marathon gaming sessions with a dedicated console mode and hardware-based low blue light solution that reduces eye strain while preserving color.
Tune spacing and optional behavior
Most users can create and use a layout without changing advanced settings. These options are worth adjusting when the default behavior does not match the physical spacing or keyboard habits of your desk:
- Space around zones: changes the margin between a window and the zone boundaries, making neighboring windows look separated or more tightly packed.
- Distance to highlight adjacent zones: controls how close you must move a dragged window to neighboring zones before they highlight together.
- Default layouts for orientation: lets you assign different defaults for horizontal and vertical monitor orientations. This matters in mixed-orientation setups; a single landscape ultrawide normally needs only its landscape arrangement.
- Keyboard snapping: FancyZones can use keyboard commands to move windows between zones. Test this setting with your normal shortcuts before relying on it for daily work.
- Quick layout switching: use the available switching controls when you alternate between task-specific arrangements instead of editing one layout every time.
FancyZones can override familiar Windows Snap arrow-key shortcuts when that option is enabled. The documentation describes different behavior for zone-index and relative-position modes, so choose the mode that matches how you think about movement and verify the result with a few windows before adopting it.
Plan an ultrawide layout without guessing the zone count
An ultrawide display does not require a fixed number of zones. The right arrangement depends on the width of your applications, how often you switch focus, and whether a region must remain readable while another window is active. Use this planning sequence:
- List simultaneous tasks. Separate windows you need continuously from those you only open briefly.
- Identify minimum useful widths. A region that is too narrow may cause controls or text to collapse, defeating the purpose of a saved layout.
- Mark primary and secondary areas. Give the main task the broadest region and place references, terminals, communications, or monitoring areas around it only if they need persistent visibility.
- Choose the geometry model. Use Grid for aligned boundaries and Canvas for independent or overlapping rectangles.
- Test with real windows. Snap representative applications, then adjust dividers or zone rectangles based on what is actually readable.
For example, a writing workflow might use one large editor region and narrower reference areas. A development workflow might need a broad code region, a terminal area, and a persistent output or documentation area. These are planning examples, not mandatory zone counts; your applications’ minimum usable widths should decide the boundaries.
Recommended Free Tools
Understand the multi-monitor exception
A single ultrawide monitor does not need the multi-monitor option. The caveat applies when you want FancyZones to treat connected displays as one large surface.
Best Value
- 34 inch Curved 1500R UWQHD(3440 x 1440) @ 200Hz Fast VA Ultrawide Gaming Monitor with AI built-in.
- Performance: Up to 200Hz Refresh Rate | OD 1ms Response Time丨 FastVA | AI Blue light reduction | AI Crosshair | AI PQ | Sniper Scope | Support VRR with HDMI2.1
- Ergonomic Stand: Tilt / Kensington Lock: -5°~15°(+/-2°) / Yes丨VESA Compatible (100 x 100mm) | 178° Wide Viewing Angle | PIP/PBP,21:9
- Input &Output: DP 1.4 (Up to 200)|HDMI2.1 X 2 (Up to 200)|Earphone |No speakers
- Warranty: SANSUI 34-inch Curved gaming computer monitor support money-back and free replacement warranty from order date within 30 days and lifetime technical support.
When zones are enabled across monitors, Microsoft requires the connected monitors to use the same DPI scaling. Microsoft also warns that different monitor orientations can produce unexpected effects. If one screen is portrait and another is landscape, test the arrangement carefully instead of assuming the combined coordinates will behave like one ordinary rectangle.
- For one ultrawide panel, select that panel in the editor and create a layout for it.
- For several displays treated together, match their DPI scaling before troubleshooting zone positions.
- If orientations differ, expect to validate the result with actual windows and consider separate per-display layouts if the combined surface is awkward.
Troubleshoot common problems
The layout editor will not open
Open PowerToys Settings and use FancyZones > Open layout editor instead of relying on the shortcut. If the keyboard shortcut does nothing, it may have been changed from the default Win+Shift+`. Confirm that PowerToys is running and that the Windows version and processor meet the documented requirements.
No zones appear while dragging
Use the default gesture exactly: start on the window title bar, hold Shift, and drag. If the zones still do not appear, inspect FancyZones’ activation settings because the modifier and activation behavior can be configured.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The window will not move into a zone
Some elevated applications may require PowerToys itself to run in administrator mode. Compatibility varies by application, so administrator mode is not a promise that every window will zone perfectly. Test with a normal application first to distinguish a general layout problem from an application-specific limitation.
Keyboard arrows behave differently from Windows Snap
FancyZones may override Windows Snap arrow-key shortcuts when keyboard snapping is enabled. Review the FancyZones keyboard settings and its zone-index or relative-position mode, then choose the behavior you prefer. Disable the override if you need the original Windows shortcut behavior.
The arrangement looks wrong after changing monitors
Reopen the editor and verify that the intended display is selected. Grid layouts are relative and adapt to display dimensions, while Canvas zones retain their independent arrangement; either can appear different after Windows changes resolution, scaling, or monitor orientation. For a combined multi-monitor surface, verify that DPI scaling matches and check whether differing orientations are causing the unexpected result.
A custom layout needs repair
Use the FancyZones editor to adjust, split, merge, move, or resize zones. Custom layouts are saved in %LocalAppData%MicrosoftPowerToysFancyZonescustom-layouts.json, but Microsoft does not recommend manual edits because they may cause other FancyZones issues. Treat that file as a storage location for awareness and backup planning, not as the normal configuration interface.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A repeatable setup checklist
- PowerToys is installed on Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 2004 (20H1/build 19041) or newer.
- The processor is supported x64 or ARM64.
- FancyZones is enabled and the ultrawide display is selected in the editor.
- Create new layout was used to choose Grid or Canvas deliberately.
- Grid dividers are aligned with the applications’ minimum useful widths, or Canvas rectangles have been positioned and sized independently.
- The layout has been applied and tested with representative windows.
- Windows are snapped by dragging from the title bar while holding Shift.
- Ctrl is used when one window needs multiple zones.
- Spacing and adjacent-zone distance have been tuned only if the default behavior is inconvenient.
- Any keyboard-snapping override has been tested against your normal Windows shortcuts.
- For multi-monitor layouts, DPI scaling matches across the displays and orientation effects have been checked.
Bottom line
For most ultrawide owners, the reliable workflow is: select the correct monitor, create a Grid for aligned resizable tiles or a Canvas for independently placed or overlapping regions, apply it, and snap windows with Shift-drag. Keep advanced spacing, keyboard, and multi-monitor options optional until your actual workflow shows that they solve a specific problem.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
