microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys

FancyZones - Error applying layout: Access to the path 'applied-layouts.json' is denied

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#48,374 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Area-Setup/Install Issue-Bug Needs-Triage Product-FancyZones
Dominant language
C
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139k
Forks
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PR merge metrics
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Description

### Microsoft PowerToys version

Unknown (not specified in error message)

### Installation method

GitHub

### Area(s) with issue?

FancyZones

### Steps to reproduce

1. Install Microsoft PowerToys
2. Open FancyZones settings
3. Create or apply a layout in FancyZones
4. PowerToys throws an error popup with the message:
"Error applying layout: Access to the path 'C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\FancyZones\applied-layouts.json' is denied"

### ✔️ Expected Behavior

FancyZones should successfully apply the selected layout and save the configuration to 'applied-layouts.json' without any errors.

### ❌ Actual Behavior

PowerToys shows an error:
"Error applying layout: Access to the path 'C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\FancyZones\applied-layouts.json' is denied"

The layout fails to apply. This is likely a file permission issue where PowerToys does not have write access to the FancyZones configuration directory.

### Upload Bug Report ZIP-file

_No response_

### Additional Information

_No response_

### Other Software

N/A

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start in FancyZones settings by reproducing the failure while creating or applying a layout, then trace how the application writes to the reported applied-layouts.json path. Done means the selected layout applies successfully and its configuration is saved without the access-denied error.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
desktop
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
48/100

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