# Layout

> Layout is a macOS workspace app for developers working on multiple projects. Each project has a workspace with its editor, terminals, browser tabs, Claude or Codex chat, and Slack channel. One shortcut switches projects across your displays.

The official website is https://getlayout.app. Developers can move between client work and side projects, leave dev servers running, and return to a project's tools when they need them. Layout can notify them when a connected Claude Code or Codex agent needs attention in another workspace. Each workspace also has its own window layout.

Key capabilities:

- Create workspaces with tiled zones, multiple apps stacked in one zone, and floating windows.
- Switch workspaces from the keyboard and bring their running windows back where you left them.
- Give each display its own layout within a workspace; switching workspaces changes all displays together.
- Launch a workspace's apps with its project folder, terminal commands such as a dev server (in panes or a tmux session), and browser tabs; stop a workspace to end its commands and close its apps.
- Create a workspace from a Claude or Codex project, or any folder, with the editor, terminal, and dev server it needs.
- Return to a project's latest chat in Claude's Code tab or Codex, and open a configured Slack channel or supported app link.
- Get a notification, with a card from the camera housing, when an app's Dock badge grows, a Claude Code or Codex agent asks for you or finishes, or a cmux pane gets a notification in another workspace, and go straight to that session or pane with one shortcut.
- Search windows and workspaces from the Option-Tab and Command-Tab switchers, and reach the General workspace's windows and your wildcard apps from anywhere.
- Keep wildcard apps, such as a password manager or a music player, out of every layout: calling one brings its window to the workspace you're in, and it waits in General once you leave.
- Launch chosen workspaces each time Layout opens, at login too, ending in a default workspace.
- Give each keyboard its own shortcuts, for split and programmable keyboards such as a ZSA Voyager or Moonlander.
- Script workspaces with the layoutctl command line and getlayout:// links.
- Save the current desktop arrangement as a workspace.
- Updates on request: Layout checks every hour, announces a new version with Update available, and installs the newest one when you choose to update.

Requirements and scope:

- macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on Apple silicon or Intel, with one or more displays.
- Accessibility permission is required to manage windows. AeroSpace must not be running when Layout activates.
- Layout's workspaces are separate from macOS Spaces. Independent workspaces per display are not supported.
- After a restart of the Mac, the windows macOS reopens start in the General workspace; launch your workspaces, or turn on Launch at Login for them, to arrange their apps again.
- Layout is a paid app with a free trial and a one-time purchase. See the official pricing and license pages for the current offer and included updates.

## Product

- [Layout homepage](https://getlayout.app/): Product overview, demo, and download.
- [Pricing](https://getlayout.app/#pricing): Current trial, price, license coverage, and purchase options.
- [Installation](https://getlayout.app/docs/getting-started/installation/): System requirements, installation, Homebrew command, and updates.
- [License](https://getlayout.app/docs/license/): Trial, activation, offline use, refunds, and included updates.
- [Changelog](https://getlayout.app/changelog/): What changed in every version, newest first, with the day each one shipped.
- [Discord](https://discord.gg/2kzx8NMrmh): Layout's community server.

## Workspaces and window layouts

- [Documentation](https://getlayout.app/docs/): Introduction to Layout and its core concepts.
- [Your first workspace](https://getlayout.app/docs/getting-started/your-first-workspace/): Create a workspace, assign apps, launch it, and switch.
- [Coming from Spaces](https://getlayout.app/docs/getting-started/coming-from-spaces/): How Mission Control desktops map to workspaces, keeping Control-number shortcuts, and one desktop per display.
- [Layouts and zones](https://getlayout.app/docs/workspaces/layouts-and-zones/): Layout templates, split zones, resizing, and spacing.
- [Stacks and floating apps](https://getlayout.app/docs/workspaces/stacks-and-floating-apps/): Share a zone between apps or position windows outside the zones.
- [Multiple displays](https://getlayout.app/docs/workspaces/multiple-displays/): Per-display layouts, switching, and display disconnection behavior.
- [Save desktop](https://getlayout.app/docs/workspaces/save-desktop/): Capture the current window arrangement as a workspace.
- [Workspaces](https://getlayout.app/docs/workspaces/workspaces/): Sections, General, New Workspace from Project, Launch at Login, stopping a workspace, and what happens when you switch.
- [New windows](https://getlayout.app/docs/workspaces/new-windows/): Where new windows land in each workspace, and floating windows inside the margin.
- [Moving windows](https://getlayout.app/docs/workspaces/moving-windows/): Dragging and resizing, putting a window back in its zone, undo, Move To and Remove from.
- [Wildcard apps](https://getlayout.app/docs/workspaces/wildcard-apps/): Apps that come to whichever workspace calls them, then wait in General once you leave; General's switcher lists them.
- [Keyboard shortcuts](https://getlayout.app/docs/keyboard/shortcuts/): Workspace switching, window actions, and shortcuts per keyboard.
- [Switchers](https://getlayout.app/docs/keyboard/switchers/): Option-Tab for workspaces, General's own switcher, the optional Command-Tab replacement, and search.
- [Command palette and Overview](https://getlayout.app/docs/keyboard/command-palette-and-overview/): Run commands and see every workspace at once.
- [Notifications](https://getlayout.app/docs/keyboard/notifications/): Dock badges, agents and cmux panes from every workspace, the card, ⌃⌥N / ⌃⌥P and the ⌃⌥/ list.
- [Layout bar](https://getlayout.app/docs/layout-bar/): The bar over the menu bar, its menus, and the macOS menus.
- [Settings](https://getlayout.app/docs/settings/): Every option, tab by tab.

## Project context

- [Work context](https://getlayout.app/docs/work-context/overview/): Configure what each app opens for a workspace.
- [Editors and terminals](https://getlayout.app/docs/work-context/editors-and-terminal/): Project folders, several folders per editor, terminal commands and panes, tmux sessions, and a shared Ghostty window.
- [Browser tabs](https://getlayout.app/docs/work-context/browser-tabs/): URLs and browser window reuse.
- [Claude and Codex chats](https://getlayout.app/docs/work-context/claude-and-codex/): Project selection, which chat opens, and integration limitations.
- [Simulator](https://getlayout.app/docs/work-context/simulator/): A device, an app, and a link for each workspace.
- [App links](https://getlayout.app/docs/work-context/app-links/): Slack channels and links for other supported apps.

## Integrations

- [Command line and links](https://getlayout.app/docs/integrations/command-line/): layoutctl commands, exit codes, and getlayout:// links for Raycast, Alfred, or a Stream Deck.
- [Agents waiting for you](https://getlayout.app/docs/integrations/agents/): Connect Claude Code and Codex so their workspace is marked when they ask for you or finish, and get cmux panes' notifications with nothing to set up.

## Optional

- [Known limitations](https://getlayout.app/docs/troubleshooting/known-limitations/): macOS Spaces, full screen, window restrictions, and restart behavior.
- [Privacy](https://getlayout.app/docs/privacy/): Local data, permissions, external requests, and diagnostics.
- [Terms of Service](https://getlayout.app/docs/terms/): The license, refunds, acceptable use, warranty, liability, and governing law.
- [Accessibility permission](https://getlayout.app/docs/getting-started/accessibility-permission/): Why the permission is needed and how to grant it.
- [Recovering windows](https://getlayout.app/docs/troubleshooting/recovering-windows/): Recover windows moved out of sight.
- [Diagnostics](https://getlayout.app/docs/troubleshooting/diagnostics/): Send Layout's state to its developer, with private details replaced by aliases.
- [Feedback](https://getlayout.app/docs/feedback/): Send an idea, a problem or anything else to Layout's developer, or write on Discord or by email.
- [Guided setup](https://getlayout.app/docs/getting-started/guided-setup/): The seven steps of the first launch.