Anchor Apps let you open your most-used app in a Space by double-clicking the Space icon in your sidebar. Once an app is anchored, it becomes the default destination for that Space, helping you get where you want faster.

What are Anchor Apps?

A Space helps you organize your apps into separate areas, such as work, school, or personal projects. An Anchor App is the app that opens when you double-click a Space icon.

For example, if you set Gmail as the Anchor App for your Work Space, double-clicking the Work Space icon opens Gmail automatically.

Anchor Apps help you:

• Open your most-used app with fewer clicks.
• Jump directly into your workflow.
• Navigate between Spaces more quickly.

Set up an Anchor App

Before you begin, make sure you've already added the app to Shift. If you haven't, see how to add an app to Shift Browser if you haven't done that yet.

Option 1: Set an Anchor App when creating a Space

1. Open the Create Space drawer.
2. Scroll to the Anchor App section.
3. Click Select Anchor App.
4. Browse or search for the app you want.
5. Click Select as Anchor App.
6. Review your selection.
7. Click Save.

The selected app is installed (if needed) and becomes the Anchor App for that Space.

Option 2: Set or change an Anchor App from Edit Space

1. Right-click the Space icon in your sidebar.
2. Select Edit Space.
3. Find the Anchor App section.
4. Choose the app you want from the dropdown.
5. Click Save.

Option 3: Set an Anchor App from the app menu

If the app is already in your sidebar:

1. Right-click the app's icon.
2. Select Set as Anchor App.

The next time you double-click the Space icon, Shift opens that app automatically.

How to manage your Anchor Apps in Shift Browser

Change an Anchor App

1. Right-click the Space icon.
2. Select Edit Space.
3. Choose a different app from the Anchor App dropdown.
4. Click Save.

Remove an Anchor App

From Edit Space:

1. Right-click the Space icon.
2. Select Edit Space.
3. Choose None from the Anchor App dropdown.
4. Click Save.

Or:

1. Right-click the Space icon.
2. Select Unset as Anchor App.

Find your current Anchor App

To see which app is currently anchored:

1. Right-click the Space icon.
2. Select Edit Space.

The current Anchor App appears in the Anchor App dropdown, and the app is labeled Anchored in the Apps list.

Related Articles

• How to add an App in Shift
• How to add a Custom App to Shift
• How to remove Apps from Shift
• All About Using Web Apps in Shift
• What to do if you're having an issue with an App in Shift
• What are Spaces

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