According to MakeUseOf, GlazeWM is a free, open-source tiling window manager that finally brings a Linux-style, keyboard-driven window management experience to Windows. It automatically tiles every new window you open, eliminating the need for manual dragging and resizing, and includes a minimal status bar called Zebar to replace the Windows taskbar. The app is configured via a single YAML file where you can adjust window gaps, border colors, and, crucially, remap keybindings to your preference. While it has some quirks, like occasional issues with multi-monitor setups or elevated system windows, it uses window rules to let you exclude problematic apps from tiling. It’s installed via its GitHub releases page or the command line with `winget install glzr-io.glazewm`, and development is active with features like animation support planned.
Why Windows needs this
Look, Windows Snap Assist and even PowerToys FancyZones are good. But they’re not *smart*. You open a new app, and it just plops on top of everything else. You close one, and the hole it leaves doesn’t get filled. It’s all manual. You’re still the window janitor. GlazeWM basically says, “I got this,” and starts arranging things on the fly. Open a second app, and bam, screen splits. Open a third, and it adjusts the layout. It’s the difference between having a tool and having an assistant. For anyone who multitasks with more than two apps, this isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a fundamental workflow upgrade.
The power and the pain
Here’s the thing with tools like this: the power is in the keyboard. The default keybindings let you move windows between workspaces, resize them, and shift focus without ever touching the mouse. It’s incredibly fast once you’re fluent. But that’s the catch—you have to become fluent. The out-of-the-box config might not suit you. The gaps between windows were huge on my screen, and some default shortcuts felt odd. That YAML config file is your new best friend and your gatekeeper. You want to tweak it? You’re editing text files. For some, that’s a dealbreaker. For the target user, that’s the whole point.
Not all sunshine and tiles
It’s not perfect. It’s a young, open-source project. You’ll run into glitches. Some windows, especially admin dialogs or certain pop-ups, will freak out if they get tiled. You have to build a list of “window rules” to tell GlazeWM to leave them alone. It hijacks system-wide shortcuts (like Alt+Space, which I also use for a launcher), so you have to remap things. The tray integration is basic. If you want a polished, it-just-works commercial product, this isn’t it. But that’s the trade-off. You get a transformative tool for free, but you have to be willing to get your hands a little dirty in the config to make it truly yours.
Is it worth the hassle?
I think so, if you’re the right person. If you’ve ever been jealous of Linux users with i3 or sway, or if you constantly find yourself arranging windows into a grid, GlazeWM is a revelation. It takes the cognitive load of window management off your plate. The fact that it’s open-source and actively developed on GitHub is a huge plus. It feels like the start of something that could become essential. Windows itself probably won’t offer true auto-tiling anytime soon. So for now, GlazeWM fills that gap. It turns Windows into a platform that can finally keep up with a power user’s demand for efficient screen real estate. Just be ready to learn its language.
