How to Save Your Entire Workspace Setup on Mac and Restore It Later
Ikuna saves your complete workspace setup on Mac as a named context and restores it in one click. This includes which apps are open, which browser tabs are loaded, where each window is positioned, and which Focus mode is active. When you switch projects, Ikuna closes the current context and reopens everything for the new one exactly as you left it.
This is fundamentally different from Time Machine (which backs up files, not running state), macOS Spaces (which groups windows but doesn't remember what's in them), and window managers like Rectangle (which position windows but don't track which apps or tabs belong to which project). Ikuna is a context manager, not a backup tool or window arranger.
What Does "Saving a Workspace Setup" Actually Mean?
A workspace setup is the complete environment you need for a specific project: the apps you have open, the browser tabs you're working with, the window positions, and the Focus mode settings.
When you save a workspace setup, you're capturing the entire state of your Mac at that moment. When you restore it, everything comes back exactly as it was: Figma opens to the same file, Chrome loads the three tabs you had open, Slack appears in the side panel, and Do Not Disturb turns on.
Most Mac users manually rebuild this environment every time they switch projects. That's the problem Ikuna solves.
How Ikuna Saves and Restores Your Workspace
Ikuna works by creating named contexts. Each context is a saved snapshot of your workspace setup.
Here's how to use it:
Step 1: Set Up Your Workspace
Open the apps, browser tabs, and windows you need for a specific project. Arrange them how you want them. Activate the Focus mode you use for this type of work.
Step 2: Save the Context
Click the Ikuna menu bar icon and select "Save Current Context." Give it a name that matches the project (e.g. "Client A Design Review" or "Writing Mode").
Ikuna captures:
Which apps are open
Which browser tabs are loaded (Chrome, Safari, Arc)
Window positions and sizes
Which Focus mode is active
Which macOS Space you're on
Step 3: Switch to Another Project
When you need to work on something else, click the Ikuna menu bar icon and select a different saved context. Ikuna closes the current workspace and opens the new one.
Everything loads in under three seconds.
Step 4: Return to the Original Workspace
When you're ready to go back, select the original context from the Ikuna menu. Your workspace returns exactly as you left it.
What Ikuna Saves vs. What It Doesn't
Ikuna saves the structure of your workspace, not the content inside each app.
What Ikuna saves:
Which apps are running
Which browser tabs are open (by URL)
Window positions and sizes
Focus mode state
macOS Space assignment
What Ikuna doesn't save:
Unsaved work inside apps (you still need to save your documents)
App-specific state like scroll position or cursor location
System settings or preferences
Files or folders
Think of Ikuna as a workspace launcher, not a backup system. It remembers which tools you need and where they go, but you're still responsible for saving your work.
Ikuna vs. Time Machine vs. macOS Spaces vs. Rectangle
These tools solve different problems. Here's what each one actually does:
| Tool | What it saves | What it restores | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ikuna |
Apps, browser tabs, window positions, Focus Mode |
Complete project environment in one click | Switching between projects without manual setup |
| Time Machine | Files, folders, system state | Previous versions of files or system | Recovering from data loss or failure |
| macOS Spaces | Window groupings across desktops |
Window visibility per Space (not apps or tabs) |
Visual organization of windows |
| Rectangle | Nothing | Nothing | Snap windows with shortcuts |
The key distinction: Ikuna is the only tool that remembers which apps and tabs belong to which project. Time Machine backs up files. Spaces groups windows. Rectangle positions them. None of these tools restore your working environment.
Why This Matters: The Cost of Manual Workspace Reconstruction
Research from Gloria Mark at UC Irvine found it takes an average of 23 minutes to fully regain focus after an interruption. Manual workspace reconstruction is a slower version of this.
Every time you switch projects without a context manager, you spend 5–10 minutes:
Opening the right apps
Finding the correct browser tabs
Repositioning windows
Remembering which Focus mode you use for this work
That's not just wasted time. It's cognitive overhead before the actual work begins.
Ikuna eliminates this step. You click once, and the environment loads. The work starts immediately.
Do You Need Ikuna If You Already Use Rectangle or Spaces?
Yes. Rectangle and Ikuna work together, not as alternatives.
Rectangle is a window manager. It snaps windows to the left half of your screen, or tiles them in a grid. It's excellent at positioning windows, but it has no concept of a project. It doesn't know that "Client A" needs Figma, Chrome with three specific tabs, and Slack in a side panel.
Ikuna is a context manager. It remembers which apps and tabs belong to which project, and restores all of them in one action. It doesn't replace Rectangle's window positioning — it works alongside it.
macOS Spaces groups windows across virtual desktops, but it doesn't remember what's in those windows. If you close an app or restart your Mac, Spaces doesn't bring it back. Ikuna does.
The most effective setup: use Ikuna to load the right apps and tabs for each project, and use Rectangle to position them once they're open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ikuna work with all Mac apps?
Ikuna works with most Mac apps, including Chrome, Safari, Arc, Figma, Slack, VS Code, and Notion. Some apps with restricted automation permissions may not fully restore.
What happens if I restart my Mac?
Ikuna contexts persist across restarts. When you select a saved context after restarting, Ikuna reopens all the apps and tabs that were part of that workspace.
Can I edit a saved context?
Yes. Open the context, make changes (add or remove apps, reposition windows), then save it again with the same name. Ikuna updates the context.
Does Ikuna slow down my Mac?
No. Ikuna runs in the menu bar and uses minimal system resources. Context switching happens in under three seconds on most Macs.
Is Ikuna better than just using macOS Spaces?
Ikuna and Spaces solve different problems. Spaces groups windows visually. Ikuna remembers which apps and tabs belong to which project and restores them automatically. Most users benefit from using both.
Can I use Ikuna and Rectangle together?
Yes. Rectangle positions windows. Ikuna saves and restores which apps and tabs are open. They complement each other.
Does Ikuna save my unsaved work?
No. Ikuna saves the structure of your workspace (which apps, tabs, and windows), not the content inside them. You still need to save your documents before switching contexts.
How many contexts can I save?
There's no practical limit. Most users save 3–10 contexts for different types of work (client projects, writing, research, etc.).
The Bottom Line
If you're manually reopening apps and hunting for browser tabs every time you switch projects, you're spending 5–10 minutes on workspace reconstruction before the actual work begins.
Ikuna saves your complete workspace setup as a named context and restores it in one click. It's not a backup tool, a window manager, or a virtual desktop system. It's a context manager designed specifically for people who switch between projects multiple times a day.
Rectangle positions your windows. Spaces groups them visually. Time Machine backs up your files. Ikuna remembers which apps and tabs belong to which project and brings them back exactly as you left them.
That's the difference.
