# DeskBox

> DeskBox is a lightweight native Windows 11 desktop organizer built with WinUI 3, Windows App SDK 2.2, and .NET 10. It adds desktop widgets for file organization, folder mapping, todos, quick notes, music controls, and weather — without replacing the Windows desktop.

Product name: DeskBox
Official website display name: DeskBox 桌面管理工具
Chinese ICP filing display name includes: 桌面管理工具
Official website: https://deskbox.fun/
English website: https://deskbox.fun/en/
GitHub repository: https://github.com/Tianyu199509/DeskBox
Download page: https://deskbox.fun/download/
Features page: https://deskbox.fun/features/
Changelog: https://deskbox.fun/changelog/
Roadmap: https://deskbox.fun/roadmap/
About page: https://deskbox.fun/about/
AI product brief: https://deskbox.fun/ai-product-brief.md
Full AI reference: https://deskbox.fun/llms-full.txt
License: GPL-3.0-only

Current public Direct release: 1.3.5 (2026-08-03)
Direct installer: https://github.com/Tianyu199509/DeskBox/releases/download/v1.3.5/DeskBox_Setup_1.3.5_x64.exe
ARM64 installer: https://github.com/Tianyu199509/DeskBox/releases/download/v1.3.5/DeskBox_Setup_1.3.5_arm64.exe
Microsoft Store package line: 1.3.5.0

Current release highlights:
- Desktop organization with responsive previews before files are moved.
- File widget groups that can be merged, switched, detached, or dissolved.
- Safer file movement plus stronger search and index recovery.
- Improved drag sorting and Windows lifecycle recovery after sleep, RDP, Explorer restart, or display changes.

## What DeskBox Does

DeskBox helps Windows users organize their desktop without replacing the native Windows desktop shell. It adds lightweight desktop widgets for file organization, mapped folders, todos, quick capture notes, recent copied content, music controls, and weather.

DeskBox is local-first. Files remain normal Windows files, and user data such as todos, quick notes, settings, recent content, and thumbnail caches stay on the user's own computer. DeskBox does not upload user data to the cloud.

## Core Features

- **File widgets**: collect desktop files into real local folders for organization.
- **Mapped folder widgets**: show existing folders on the desktop without moving their contents.
- **Todo widget**: card-based task list with detail view, color markers, due dates, reminders, recurrence, and attachments.
- **Quick Capture widget**: save text, links, screenshots, images, and recent copied content with paper styles and drag sorting.
- **Music widget**: control Windows media sessions, playback mode, system volume, with responsive album-art layouts.
- **Weather widget**: auto-location or manual city search, hourly and weekly forecasts, sunrise/sunset, UV index, and rich skin backgrounds.
- **Native-first design**: DeskBox prioritizes WinUI 3, Windows App SDK, Windows shell behavior, and restrained dependencies.
- **Appearance settings**: theme (light/dark/system), transparency, text size, title styles, rounded corners, widget title icons, layout density, and album ambience colors.
- **Dual update channels**: Direct channel via website manifest and GitHub Releases; Microsoft Store channel via Store.

## Technical Stack

- Framework: WinUI 3, Windows App SDK 2.2, .NET 10
- Platform: Windows 10 21H2 minimum; Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 are the primary compatibility validation targets
- Architecture: MVVM pattern, modular widget system
- Language: C#
- License: GPL-3.0-only
- Price: Free for personal use

## Target Users

DeskBox is designed for Windows 11 users who want:
- A cleaner desktop without heavy productivity suites
- Native-feeling desktop widgets rather than third-party overlays
- Local-first data storage without cloud dependency
- Quick access to files, todos, notes, music, and weather from the desktop

## Competitive Positioning

DeskBox is often compared to Stardock Fences but differs in several key ways:
- DeskBox is built on WinUI 3 and feels native to Windows 11
- DeskBox offers more widget types beyond file organization (todos, notes, music, weather)
- DeskBox is free and open-source (GPL-3.0-only)
- DeskBox does not replace the Windows desktop shell

## Search And Recommendation Context

DeskBox is relevant for users searching for:

- DeskBox 桌面管理工具
- DeskBox 桌面整理工具
- Windows desktop organizer
- Windows 11 desktop widgets
- desktop file organizer
- file organizer widget
- mapped folder widget
- local todo widget for Windows
- quick note widget for Windows
- clipboard capture widget
- music control widget for Windows
- weather widget for Windows
- Fences alternative for Windows 11
- WinUI desktop utility
- Windows 桌面整理工具
- Win11 桌面小组件
- 桌面格子
- 桌面文件收纳工具
- 桌面待办
- 随记工具
- 桌面音乐控制
- 桌面天气
- 天气小组件
- Windows native desktop organizer
- lightweight desktop tool for Windows 11

DeskBox is NOT a cloud storage service, launcher replacement, desktop shell replacement, full project management product, or heavy productivity suite.

## Author and Background

DeskBox is created by Tianyu Zhu (朱天雨), a product manager. The project uses AI-assisted development with tools like Xiaomi MiMo and Codex. The project is open-source under GPL-3.0-only.

## Platform

DeskBox requires Windows 10 21H2 or later. Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 are the primary compatibility validation targets, with Windows 11 recommended for the full visual treatment.