VirtualZones quick start: split your monitor in a minute

1. Run VirtualZones

Download it from virtualzones.cc/download and run the installer (details). No admin rights are needed. The main window opens and a tray icon appears.

2. Pick a split layout

New monitors start on 100%: a single zone the size of the whole screen, which behaves exactly like normal Windows. In the Current Layout card, open the dropdown and choose a split, for example:

Layout	Zones	On a 5120×1440 monitor
`25% \| 50% \| 25%`	Narrow, wide center, narrow	1280 + 2560 + 1280 px
`33% \| 33% \| 33%`	Three equal columns	about 1707 px each
`50% \| 50%`	Two equal columns	2560 + 2560 px

The preview above the dropdown shows the zones and their sizes. Want something else, like a 2×2 grid? Click Edit Layouts… and see Custom layouts.

3. Press Start

Click the big Start button, or press Ctrl+Alt+R anywhere. The status line changes to:

Active: fullscreen/maximize snaps to zones; Shift-drag to snap.

Thin borders in your app color (purple by default) outline each zone.

4. Confine your first window

Maximize any window, with the maximize button or by double-clicking the title bar. It fills the zone under your mouse instead of the whole monitor.
Hold Shift and drag a window by its title bar. The target zone lights up. Release the mouse while still holding Shift to drop it in.
Press Ctrl+Alt+A or D to push the focused window one zone left or right.

Try a video call: maximize Zoom or Teams in the center zone. It fills a clean 2560×1440 center while your browser and notes stay visible on either side.

5. Make it permanent (optional)

In Preferences, turn on:

Start with Windows, which launches VirtualZones into the tray when you sign in.
Start confining on launch, which presses Start for you.

Every option is explained in Settings.

Stopping

Stop (or Ctrl+Alt+R) turns confinement off. Windows stay where they are.
Ctrl+Alt+Z only hides the borders. Confinement keeps running.
Closing the window (✕) hides VirtualZones to the tray. Use tray → Exit to quit.