# Storing Windows

Storing windows is the first step to using Stay. The process is as simple as moving windows to where you want them, then having Stay store them.

Each set of stored windows is tied to the displays connected to your computer (and the configuration of those displays) at the time the windows were stored. If you use your computer with more than one configuration of displays, you can store a set of windows for each configuration.

Stay keeps a set of identifying attributes for each window that it stores, as well as the window’s current size and position. When windows are subsequently restored, Stay compares the attributes of each open window to the attributes that have previously been stored. If an open window matches a stored window, Stay will set the open window’s size and position to those of the stored window.

When storing windows Stay allows you to store just the active window, store all of the windows belonging to the active application, or store all windows for all running applications. Each of these options is described in detail below.

### Store All Windows for the Active Application

Choose “Store All Windows for …” from Stay’s menu to store all open windows in the active application.

Storing windows for the active application allows you to build up a set of stored windows one application at a time, add an application’s windows to an existing set of stored windows, or replace windows previously stored for an application.

If you select this menu item when there are already windows stored for the active application, you will be prompted to overwrite the existing stored windows. Stored windows for other applications will be unaffected.

The “Store All Windows for …” menu item will be disabled if the active application has no open windows, or if the active application is incompatible with Stay. For a list of applications that are incompatible with Stay, refer to the Stay FAQ.

### Store Active Window

Choose “Store Active Window” from Stay’s menu to store only the active window.

Storing the active window allows you to store single windows without affecting other windows previously stored for the active application. This can be useful for adding windows to a previously stored application or selectively storing windows from an application.

The “Store Active Window” menu item will be disabled if there is no active window, or if the active window belongs to an application that is incompatible with Stay. For a list of applications that are incompatible with Stay, refer to the Stay FAQ.

### Store Windows for All Applications

Choose “Store Windows for All Applications” from Stay’s menu to store all open windows in all running applications.

Storing windows for all applications is most useful when storing windows for the first time for a particular display configuration.

If you choose this option when there are already windows stored for the current display configuration you will be prompted to overwrite the existing stored windows.

### See Also

### Using Stay

### Restoring Windows

### Linking Windows

### Editing Stored Windows