PC customers have a hoarding downside. A tab-hoarding downside, to be extra particular. Our browsers are stuffed to the brim with dozens, if not tons of of tabs, lingering remnants of our net travels that we refuse to let go of in concern of by no means with the ability to discover them once more — although sifting by way of limitless browser tabs cripples productiveness.
OpenWorkspace, a brand new piece of Windows and MacOS software program that was revealed at CES 2026, has a chic resolution to the tab-hoarding dilemma — and it does so by tossing the PC’s conventional application-focused method out the window in favor of one thing that I personally discover a lot extra compelling. In reality, I’ve tried kludging my solution to comparable workflows utilizing a mish-mash of assorted instruments previously and OpenWorkspace does it a lot extra elegantly.
I didn’t anticipate to stumble throughout software program that would fully revolutionize the best way I take advantage of my PC whereas wandering across the CES 2026 present ground, however hey, I suppose I ought to anticipate the surprising in Las Vegas.
How OpenWorkspace reimagines desktop productiveness
OpenWorkspace’s press release calls it “a desktop automation platform that saves and automatically restores complete desktop layouts,” and whereas that’s technically true, if something, it undersells this system’s usefulness a bit.
Let’s stroll by way of this step-by-step, beginning with how the software program really handles earlier than we get into the tab administration bit.
OpenWorkspace
Designed for big displays or multi-monitor setups, OpenWorkspace fully takes over your main desktop with its dual-region “FocalContextual” interface. You’re capable of outline a piece in the midst of the display the place a number of tabs — the core details about the venture you’re presently engaged on — sit entrance and middle. Supplementary tabs will be staged in a secondary holding part across the edges of the show, the place they’re nonetheless obtainable at a look, however don’t dominate your central focus, able to be summoned at a second’s discover. Think of it like doing guide work on a bodily desk; your instant work sits in entrance of you, with supporting papers unfold across the periphery.
This is among the two secret sauces baked into OpenWorkspace, and the idea that flips conventional computing ideas on its head. Windows 11’s present tiling system provides nothing prefer it.
Opening the OpenWorkspaces interface summons it atop the present workspace for straightforward switching.
Willis Lai / Foundry
Think about it: Ever for the reason that PC’s graphical consumer interface debuted in Xerox PARC within the 1970s, it has been targeted on functions, not your precise workflow focus. That’s why tab hoarding occurs; you retain all these websites open in a singular browser window. It’s no solution to dwell. OpenWorkspace makes your focus your focus as a substitute of the general utility itself.
Founder David Adler instructed me it was impressed by his work within the high-frequency buying and selling trade, the place each second of delay can value you actual cash. Setups like this are must-use in that area, Adler instructed me, however there’s nothing prefer it within the client house — OpenWorkspace is his resolution.
How OpenWorkspace kills tab hoarding lifeless
But the FocalContextual interface is simply a part of OpenWorkspace’s secret sauce. The different half is how rapidly it might save and cycle by way of premade tab layouts — a severe time-saver that helps hold you laser-focused on the duty at hand.
Creating a brand new workspace takes mere minutes, aided by keyboard shortcuts and visible cues constructed into the app that makes arranging home windows quick and straightforward. Once you’ve organized a workspace — ideally round a particular focus theme, like “the Johnson project” or “my Nebraska 2026 trip” — it can save you it, after which summon it immediately to choose up the place you left off.
It’s stunningly quick. Flick your fingers over a keyboard shortcut and BOOM! You’re again to the final venture. Do it once more and BOOM! Another workspace seems immediately, with main and secondary home windows organized similar to you left them. Adios, endlessly attempting to find tabs buried deep inside Chrome.
“Research shows that manually restoring the 6 to 12 windows and documents required for a typical task takes 70 to140 seconds, while OpenWorkspace restores the same environments in 2 to 3 seconds for an approximately 40× reduction in time-to-task,” the corporate’s announcement says. “By capturing complete desktop states as workspaces, OpenWorkspace frees the user from this manual overhead and places that responsibility on the system.”
I consider it — OpenWorkspace’s activity switching is that quick.
It’s as a result of the software program saves the structure, window, and setting association as a proprietary file format (domestically — your information by no means touches the cloud). Activating a workspace summonses the entire configuration instantly.
The setup has extra advantages as effectively. OpenWorkspace runs on each Windows PCs and Macs, with Linux help envisioned sooner or later. Since OpenWorkspace saves total workspace layouts, it’s simple to share them with others as effectively — adios, advanced paperwork filled with stodgy hyperlinks. As PCWorld’s supervisor, I may instantly image sharing workspaces to make, say, worker onboarding and venture administration a lot simpler in my group.
Pricing and availability
OpenWorkspace is anticipated to launch in February for $180 as an annual license, with main characteristic updates geared toward a quarterly foundation. Think speech help, the flexibility to make use of Workspace past browser tabs, and so forth.
OpenWorkspace
That’s a steep payment for client software program, which is smart given its business-centric utility. That stated, after utilizing the app at CES 2026, I may completely see myself paying up for OpenWorkspace, particularly if it provides the flexibility to handle different packages like Word, Excel, and Discord.
You see, I’m already a believer in targeted, contextual workspaces. I paid for Stardock’s Groupy 2 app long ago, so I can bundle open packages collectively like browser tabs. When I work on a venture, I create a Groupy window with the Word doc I’m working in, any reference supplies, my Excel spreadsheet information, and so forth. I do the identical for gaming apps, swapping between the “work and play” contexts utilizing Windows 11’s digital desktops characteristic.
My janky little setup works, and helps me keep targeted, nevertheless it’s however a significant kludge — and it’s nonetheless centralized across the long-held concept of manually managing particular person home windows and clicking by way of tabs. (Ugh.) Using OpenWorkspace feels infinitely higher and sooner.
It nonetheless has just a few wrinkles to iron out, however I can not wait to get my palms on OpenWorkspace with my very own system. I may get a lot extra performed a lot sooner.