ShowToolWindows — Instant, Stack-Based Tool Window Management

For Visual Studio 2019, 2022, and 2026

Solution Explorer buried again? A dozen tool windows cluttering your screen? You've switched tasks and now need to open the same six debugging panels — again?

ShowToolWindows adds a fast, practical tool window management layer on top of Visual Studio. No named layouts to create and maintain. No layout files to manage. No wrestling with Window → Apply Window Layout.

What's Added to the Tools Menu

The Stash System

Stashes are lightweight snapshots of which tool windows you want open. They live in a stack — push new stashes to the top, and pop or apply from anywhere in the list.

Two Apply Modes — Merge and Absolute

This is the key advantage over Window → Apply Window Layout: you choose whether to add to your workspace or replace it.

Merge Mode (Additive)

• Double-click a stash, or
• Right-click a stash, select Apply (Merge) from the context menu, or
• Use Pop (Merge) for the top stash, or
• Press a digit key (0–9) to select and apply the stash at that index

Result: Tool windows from the stash are added to your current workspace. Existing tool windows remain open.

Absolute Mode (Replacement)

• Right-click a stash, select Apply (Absolute) from the context menu, or
• Use Pop (Abs) for the top stash, or
• Select Tools → Apply Stash and choose a stash from the submenu

Result: Current tool windows are closed, then the stashed tool windows are opened. Tool windows only — code editor tabs are never affected.

Saving a Stash

1. Open the tool windows you want to save via Visual Studio's View menu
2. Click Tools → Stash/Restore Tool Windows
3. Press F5 to refresh the list
4. Tick the windows you want to include
5. Click Stash Checked — your configuration is saved to the top of the stack

Stashes survive session restarts and are stored in Visual Studio's settings. If a stash with the same combination of tool windows already exists, you are prompted for confirmation before a duplicate is created.

Quick Apply Without Opening the Window

The Tools → Apply Stash submenu shows up to 10 of your most recent stashes by name. Click any entry to apply it immediately in absolute mode — no need to open the Stash/Restore window. Perfect for fast task-switching without leaving your current code file.

The Stash/Restore Window

The window gives you full control over your stash stack:

• A refreshable list of all currently open tool windows, with tick boxes for selection
• A stash list with per-stash operations via right-click context menu
• Pop (Merge) and Pop (Abs) buttons that apply and delete a stash in a single action
• Drop All with confirmation for a clean slate

Pop vs Apply

Apply operations open the stash windows but keep the stash in the list. Pop operations do the same in a single action, then remove the stash from the stack.

Context Menu (Right-click Any Stash)

Bulk Operations:

• Drop All — Delete all stashes (confirmation required)

Keyboard Shortcuts

Built into the Stash/Restore Window

Assign Your Own Shortcuts to Menu Commands

1. Open Tools → Options → Environment → Keyboard
2. Filter commands by ScottTunstall
3. Assign shortcuts to any of:
   • Tools.ShowSolutionExplorer
   • Tools.CloseAllToolWindowsExceptSolutionExplorer
   • Tools.CloseAllToolWindows
   • Tools.StashRestoreToolWindows

How It Compares to Built-in Window Layouts

Both can coexist. Use Window → Apply Window Layout for your base workspace arrangement, and this extension for dynamic tool window management within that layout.

Real-World Use Cases

Debugging session Open Output, Watch, Locals, Call Stack, and Diagnostic Tools. Stash them. Apply in merge mode whenever you start a debug session — your existing windows stay open.

Database work Stash SQL Server Object Explorer, Server Explorer, and Data Sources. Apply in absolute mode to get a focused, clean workspace with no distractions.

Lost Solution Explorer Run Tools → Show Solution Explorer — it reappears immediately, even if it has drifted off-screen or is buried under other windows.

Clean slate Run Tools → Close All Tool Windows to reset your workspace without touching a single code editor tab.

Technical Details

• Compatibility: Visual Studio 2019, 2022, and 2026 (x86, amd64, and arm64)
• Architecture: Uses Visual Studio's DTE automation layer for tool window management
• Persistence: Stashes are stored in Visual Studio's settings and survive session restarts
• Scope: Tool windows only — code editor tabs and arrangements are never modified
• Status bar feedback: Every operation posts a result message to the Visual Studio status bar (e.g. number of windows closed, stash applied or dropped)

Source and Licence

Source code: github.com/ScottTunstall/ShowToolWindows

Developed by Scott Tunstall. Forking is permitted; creating a derivative for sale is not.