Solved Is there any way to make desktops and layouts remember their contents despite reboots?


RhinoCan

RhinoCan

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I've just been taking a fresh look at desktops and layouts in Windows 11 and they seem like they might be useful on occasion, particularly if they remembered what apps were running in each layout and desktop even after a reboot. I decided to give that a try and set up a second desktop which I renamed Games where two different games were launched. After my reboot, I was pleased to see that it remembered the existence of the second desktop but very disappointed that neither desktop had any apps running on them. I think that proves conclusively that it *doesn't* remember what was running in the desktops after a reboot.

Is there a trick I haven't learned yet that would make Windows 11 remember what was running in each desktop despite a reboot?
 

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Win 11 ProAMD Ryzen 7 7735U16GBAMD Radeon™ 680M Graphics
OS
Win 11 Pro
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP Elitebook 665 G11
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 7735U
Memory
16GB
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon™ 680M Graphics
Monitor(s) Displays
1920 x 1200
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512GB SSD
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Brave, Chrome
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Windows version: 24H2
There isn't anything native to Windows that will do this. I had at one point started building an app to do this but never finished it. I just used powertoys fancy zones to quickly snap all my work apps to the part of each screen I was accustomed to having them
 

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Linux Mint
OS
Linux Mint
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
System76 Lemur Pro
I get the impression that there is considerable demand for the ability to save layouts and desktops across reboots and it shouldn't be terribly difficult to add that feature so I'm puzzled why Microsoft hasn't done that. Maybe they're saving it for Windows 12?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win 11 ProAMD Ryzen 7 7735U16GBAMD Radeon™ 680M Graphics
OS
Win 11 Pro
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP Elitebook 665 G11
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 7735U
Memory
16GB
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon™ 680M Graphics
Monitor(s) Displays
1920 x 1200
Hard Drives
512GB SSD
Browser
Brave, Chrome
Other Info
Windows version: 24H2
If you mean to restore the running apps when restarting, like on a smartphone, then don't do a complete shutdown. Use hibernation instead. This saves the RAM contents in the disk before turning off the computer and loads them again when loading Windows. It is like you never restarted. If you want to close it for a few minutes, you can also use the sleep function (aka standby), but if you remove the battery or power supply the contents of RAM will be wiped, unlike hibernation.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (7582), 25H2 (9457)Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz4GBMobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (7582), 25H2 (9457)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    802.11g wireless 54 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, no SSE4.2, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (build 26200.9457)Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generat...2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB...
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (build 26200.9457)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB (GV-N3050WF2OCV2-6GD)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue SA510 2.5 1000GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Deepcool Gamma Archer CPU cooler, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Mouse
    Microsoft Compact Optical Mouse
    Internet Speed
    802.11ac 5GHz wireless 260Mpbs
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
spapakons said:
If you mean to restore the running apps when restarting, like on a smartphone, then don't do a complete shutdown. Use hibernation instead.
Click to expand...
That is what I use. Unless I am installing an update, I don't reboot. My laptop is set up so that, when I am done working, I just close the lid. When I ready to go again, I just open the lid and press the start button. Everything is returned to the screen, just like it was, before I closed the lid.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Home, 25H2, Latest OS BuildIntel(R) Core(TM) i3-8145U CPU @ 2.10GHz 2.30...8GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Home, 25H2, Latest OS Build
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP 15-dw0xx
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-8145U CPU @ 2.10GHz 2.30 GHz
    Memory
    8GB
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    930 GB
    Keyboard
    Built In
    Mouse
    Wireless Logitech M325S
    Browser
    Chrome 139.0.7258.128
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Cygwin64

  • At a glance

    Windows 10 Home, Version 22H2, Build19045.3693AMD E-300 with Radeon HD Graphics 1.30 GHz10GBRadeon HD Graphics 1.30 GHz
    Operating System
    Windows 10 Home, Version 22H2, Build19045.3693
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD E-300 with Radeon HD Graphics 1.30 GHz
    Memory
    10GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Radeon HD Graphics 1.30 GHz
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15"
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Hard Drives
    700 GB
    Keyboard
    Wireless
    Mouse
    Wireless
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    This computer is connected to my IC-735 radio.
K7MEM said:
That is what I use. Unless I am installing an update, I don't reboot. My laptop is set up so that, when I am done working, I just close the lid. When I ready to go again, I just open the lid and press the start button. Everything is returned to the screen, just like it was, before I closed the lid.
Click to expand...
Me too. I have all my laptops set to sleep when I close the lid then, if I don't return to it, hibernate after 20 minutes.

If you have a Modern Standby device you may have to jump through a few hoops first. By default 'Hibernate after' is not in Power Options when Windows 11 is installed on a Modern Standby device. How I got round that is here:

How to disable Modern Standby? I want regular Sleep again! - post #9

@RhinoCan's HP Elitebook 665 G11 is a Modern Standby device.

HP said:
Take on your work with an efficient and reliable AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series processor that provides a highly responsive experience with connected modern standby.
Click to expand...
hp.com | HP EliteBook 665 G11 16” Business Laptop - Ryzen™ 7
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeAMD Athlon Silver 3050U8GBRadeon Graphics
    OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23-R9VY
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD (from April 2026: 250GB EVO 850)
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    UPDATE - 11 April 2026: due to lid hinges starting to break up this laptop has been retired from active duty. The OS with all software and files has been migrated to my System Seven in 'Other systems' to carry on as my general purpose 'main machine'.

    I've now clean installed 25H2 and used Garlin's scripts to update Secure Boot to CA 2023 and revoke the PCA 2011 certificates. It's new role is to test secure boot issues.

    Info for 2021-2026:
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2, and 25H2 on 30th September 2025 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 25H2.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProIntel® Core™ i5-520M8GB(integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround.

    In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround.
    Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.
    In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media.
    Upgraded to 25H2 by Enablement Package.

    Also running Insider Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds and Windows 10 as native boot .vhdx.
  • My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR was a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (1st gen) type 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device. This has now been sold. It has been replaced by my System Eight.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 1TB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro, Hyper-V host machine. Updated to 25H2 on 30th September 2025.

    My SYSTEM SEVEN is a Lenovo Thinkpad T580, 1920x1080 touchscreen, Intel Core i7-8650U, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2nd 512GB NVMe SSD, a supported device for Windows 11. This is my current general purpose 'main machine'. The installed Windows 11 Home from my System One has been migrated to this machine. As its new home has an existing digital licence for Pro I've been able to upgrade the migrated OS from Home to Pro.

    My SYSTEM EIGHT is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (5th gen) type 20LN, Celeron N4120, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, a supported device for Windows 11. Currently running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds as native boot vhdx.
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