Create and manage zones

A zone is a container placed on the Desktop which displays the contents of a real folder. Everything you put there really exists on your disk, in your user profile. Zones only moves and displays your files: it never modifies their content.

(The titles below are exactly those of the application.)

Create an area

Right click on the Desktop → New zone, or the New zone button in the dock.
New shape... suddenly creates a set of zones arranged in a shape: Frame, 2x2 Grid, Cross, Triangle, 3 Columns or 3 Lines.

Rename, move, resize, lock

Rename: double-click on the title bar.
Move: drag the area by its title bar.
Resize: Drag to an edge or corner.
Lock (do not move): freezes the area in its place (right click).
Pin (keep open): keeps the area visible.
Refresh: reloads the contents of the folder.

Store files

Drag and drop a file, folder or shortcut into the area (this moves it to the corresponding folder).
Ctrl + drag to copy instead of move.
From anywhere in Windows: right click on a file → Send to a zone (see Advanced functions).

Tabs (several folders per zone)

New tab: adds a folder to the area.
Rename tab…, Close tab (the actual folder remains on disk).
A Tab Icon… (emblem) can be added, then Remove the icon.

Sort & store automatically

Sort by: Name, Type, Date or Size, with Descending option.
Sorting rule: automatically classifies the uploaded files according to their type — Images, Videos, Audio, Archives, Executables, Folder — or custom criteria (Name pattern…, Older than…, Shortcut target, Extensions). Activate the rule, then Sort Now applies it to existing content.

Choose display & zoom

Display menu: Icon grid, Compact list or Large tiles. Adjust the density with Ctrl + wheel (zoom), or Reset zoom.

Selection, quick view, actions on a file

Ctrl + click: multiple selection.
Quick preview: select a file and press Space (while hovering over the area) for a preview (type, size, modification date). Space or Esc closes the preview.
Right click on a file: Open (or Open N elements), Open file location, Copy file path, Rename, Pin to top / Detach, Delete.

Fold, freeze, unfolding direction

Fold / unfold an area to keep only its title bar.
Freeze layout: locks the arrangement of icons.
Unfolding direction (vertical zones anchored on an edge): Downwards, Upwards, Towards the left or Towards the right.
Opacity: makes the area more or less translucent.

Merge two zones

Drag one area onto the title bar of another: they merge (their folders become tabs). A “Zone Merge” security snapshot is created so you can roll back.

Show/hide all areas

Show zones / Hide zones (notification icon). If the Hide desktop on double-click option is enabled, a double-click on the Desktop switches the display.

Delete an area

Close this area. If it contains elements, Zones asks: “This zone contains elements. What to do with its content? » — Keep contents, Move to Desktop, Move to Trash, or Cancel. Your files are never lost silently.