# Automatically loading window arrangements on startup
**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/automatically-loading-window-arrangements-on-startup/16331
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Created:** [March 14, 2025, 6:27am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/automatically-loading-window-arrangements-on-startup/16331 "2025-03-14T06:27:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@learex](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/learex)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2025, 6:27am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/automatically-loading-window-arrangements-on-startup/16331/1 "2025-03-14T06:27:59Z")
When starting paraview, it is not possible to automatically load a `.pwin` file. Detached panels do not load “as last used layout” (using Ubuntu), hence manually opening the arrangement is necessary every time when opening. Even using the terminal, there is no way to load the arrangement file, only states or data.
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### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2025, 8:49am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/automatically-loading-window-arrangements-on-startup/16331/2 "2025-03-14T08:49:49Z")
I’ve never heard of a .pwin file, especially in the context of a Qt application.
ParaView supports loading with a specific layout of widgets as this is a feature of Qt.
This automatically saved and reload in the .ini settings file of ParaView.
> Even using the terminal, there is no way to load the arrangement file, only states or data.
You can’t specify a specific arrangement but if you modify the settings, it will have an impact on the default arrangements of widgets.
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### Author:  [@learex](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/learex)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2025, 9:11am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/automatically-loading-window-arrangements-on-startup/16331/3 "2025-03-14T09:11:49Z")
In ParaView you can go to `File -> Save Window Arrangement`. This will produce a `.pwin` file. I use this to restore my multi-monitor setup I have for ParaView. I detached all panels and have them on a separate screen so I can have a nice large 3D view. ParaView does not remember where I put my detached windows (and hence does not load them on startup), the `.pwin` file does though, which is why I use it.
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### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2025, 10:08am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/automatically-loading-window-arrangements-on-startup/16331/4 "2025-03-14T10:08:10Z")
Indeed! Its a feature I somehow never stumbled upon, it actually save a part of the settings file I mentionned above.
It doesnt seem supported from the command line indeed, it should be fairly easy to add imo.
@cory.quammen what do you think ?
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### Author:  [@cory.quammen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/cory.quammen)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2025, 12:19pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/automatically-loading-window-arrangements-on-startup/16331/5 "2025-03-14T12:19:54Z")
> [@mwestphal](#):
>
> @cory.quammen what do you think ?
Sounds reasonable.