Create and manage zones

A zone is a container placed on the Desktop that displays the content of a real folder. Everything you drop inside truly exists on your disk, in your user profile. Zones only moves and displays your files: it never modifies their content.

(The terms below are the exact ones used in the app.)

Create a zone

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

Rename, move, resize, lock

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

Organize files

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

Tabs (multiple folders per zone)

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

Sort & auto-arrange

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

Change view & zoom

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

Selection, quick look, actions on a file

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

Collapse, freeze, unfold direction

Collapse / unfold a zone to keep only its title bar.
Freeze layout: locks the arrangement of icons.
Unfold direction (vertical zones anchored to an edge): Downwards, Upwards, To the left or To the right.
Opacity: makes the zone more or less translucent.

Merge two zones

Drag a zone onto another's title bar: they merge (their folders become tabs). A "Zone merge" snapshot is created so you can undo it safely.

Show / hide all zones

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

Delete a zone

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