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SPECIFICTION
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Paddock

github.com

Free plan Windows
Visit github.com
Spec score 7.3 #26 of 47 in Desktop Organization Software

What it is

Paddock is a free, open-source Windows desktop icon organizer that groups icons into styled zones. Users can create resizable areas and set each zone’s transparency, background color, corner radius, and title visibility. Icons can be sorted by name, modification date, file type, or file size, in either direction. Zones can be hidden or shown from the tray icon or with the default Ctrl+F12 shortcut, then rolled up to their title strips. Named layout profiles can be saved, switched, and exported as .paddock files for sharing. Paddock adds native Windows context menus such as Open, Open With, and Properties. Items moved into zones are stored in hidden folders under the Desktop; removing a zone or dragging an item out returns them without deleting or overwriting files. It requires Windows 10 version 1903 or later, or Windows 11.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Paddock is a free, open-source desktop icon organizer for Windows that groups icons into styled zones.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Distribution
The README describes publishing a self-contained single Paddock.exe that does not require the .NET runtime on the target machine.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
File handling
Desktop items moved into zones are stored in hidden folders under the user's Desktop, and Paddock says removing a zone or dragging an item out returns it to the desktop without deleting or overwriting files.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Known limitation
Icons underneath a newly created zone are not collected automatically; users can instead draw zones on free space and use Fill from Desktop or drag icons into them.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Layout profiles
Users can save named layout profiles, switch between them, and export them as .paddock files to share.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Other locations
Items dragged in from outside the desktop are referenced in place rather than relocated.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Quick controls
Users can hide or show zones from the tray icon or with the Ctrl+F12 hotkey by default, and can roll zones up to their title strips.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Requirements
Paddock requires Windows 10 version 1903 or later, or Windows 11; the README lists the .NET 8 SDK for building.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security and privacy
The README describes local file and settings locations but does not state security certifications or compliance claims.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Sorting
Icons can be sorted by name, date modified, file type, or file size, in ascending or descending order.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support and diagnostics
The README says settings and paddock.log are stored in %AppData%/Paddock and can be reached through the tray menu's Open Settings Folder option.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Windows shell integration
Paddock provides native Windows context menus for icons, including Open, Open With, and Properties.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Zones and styling
Users can create resizable zones and set per-zone transparency, background color, corner radius, and title visibility.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Free and open source · MIT license · Windows desktop app Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every Paddock plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open source under an MIT license
  • Zones support per-area visual styling
  • Sort by name, date, type, or size
  • Layouts can be exported and shared
  • Native Windows context menus are included

Limits

  • Windows only
  • No multi-monitor support
  • New zones do not collect underlying icons automatically

Who it suits

It suits Windows users who want to organize desktop icons into customizable areas and reusable layouts. It is intended for local desktop organization rather than multi-monitor setups.

Verdict

Paddock offers detailed zone styling, sorting, and shareable layouts for Windows desktops. Plan around its manual handling of icons already beneath a new zone.

Where Specifiction places it

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