This was my question to ChatGPT-Instant & Thinking
I wanted to share the response knowing how it has helped me. I have set up 2 responses to my topic so you can add to this topic.
- Work
- Not Work
I live and breathe by StarDock-Groupy. I hope StarDock views my topic as beneficial to this topic.
.
Question submitted to ChatGPT on 12/13/25 regarding what programs are likely to work with StarDock-Groupy Version 2025
Why can't I add Snagit Version 2025 to my StarDock- Goupy group? I can easly drag Opus over the top and it gets added to the group. I believe Groupy is dependent on the program to have certain elements.
From – ChatGPT-5 12/15/25 3:14PM CT — Apps That Will NOT Group in StarDock Groupy
Bob, glad that helped 👍
Below is a practical, real-world list based on how apps are built, not guesses. This will save you a lot of frustration.
1. Apps that almost always FAIL in Groupy
These use Electron / Chromium / hybrid UI frameworks or overlay windows.
• Snagit 2024–2025
• Camtasia 2024–2025
• Microsoft Teams (new)
• Microsoft Outlook (new / simplified UI mode)
• Discord
• Slack
• Spotify
• WhatsApp Desktop
• Signal Desktop
• Zoom (main window)
• Notion
• Obsidian
• Visual Studio Code
• Postman
• Figma Desktop
Reason (common to all):
Non-standard window host, no persistent Win32 parent window.
2. Apps that sometimes work, sometimes don’t
Depends on mode, version, or which window is open.
• Chrome / Edge / Firefox
– Main browser window → ✅ works
– Pop-outs / app windows → ❌ fail
• Adobe apps (Photoshop, Acrobat, Illustrator)
– Main window → usually ✅
– Tool palettes / floating panels → ❌
• Snagit (older versions)
– Editor only → sometimes ✅
• Zoom
– Main meeting window → ❌
– Settings window → sometimes ✅
3. Apps that always work well (your “safe list”)
These use classic Win32 windowing.
• Directory Opus
• OneNote Desktop (Microsoft 365)
• Microsoft Word / Excel / PowerPoint (Desktop)
• File Explorer
• Notepad / Notepad++
• Paint / Paint.NET
• Total Commander
• 7-Zip File Manager
• PuTTY
• WinSCP
• Classic Control Panel windows
4. Special case: UWP / Store apps (usually fail)
• OneNote (Store version)
• Windows Mail / Calendar
• Photos (new version)
• Xbox App
• Settings app
Groupy cannot group UWP apps reliably by design.
5. Rule of thumb (easy to remember)
If an app:
• Uses Electron / Chromium
• Has custom title bars
• Uses floating overlays
• Feels like a “web app in a box”
→ ❌ It will not group in Groupy.
If it:
• Looks like classic Windows
• Has a real title bar
• Has menus like File / Edit / View
→ ✅ It will group.
6. Your workflow takeaway (important)
You are already doing the right thing:
• Group Opus + OneNote + Word
• Leave Snagit / Camtasia standalone
• Trigger capture tools via hotkeys or Dragon
• Use Groupy for content windows, not tools
That is exactly how power users run Groupy.
If you want next, I can:
• Build you a “Groupy-Safe Apps” reference card for OneNote
• Help you define Group Types that auto-group only compatible apps
• Show how to visually align Snagit beside a Groupy group for speed
Just say the word, Bob.
Same request to ChatGPT-Thinking
From – ChatGPT-5 12/15/25 3:16PM CT — Groupy “Will Not Work” List: Added Differences Only
- Correction (important)
• My prior “almost always FAIL” list was too broad for Electron apps.
• Many Electron/Chromium apps actually DO group (they still present a normal Win32 top-level window).
• The apps that truly fail are usually UWP/Store apps, overlay-only tools, windows that are “cloaked” by Windows, or apps that don’t expose a stable tab-eligible main window.
- More accurate “usually won’t group” categories (the real rule)
• UWP / Microsoft Store apps (most of them)
• Overlay / widget / floating-toolbar windows (not true main windows)
• Cloaked windows (Windows hides them from normal tabbing)
• Apps that split UI into multiple owned windows (no single stable parent)
- Added examples that commonly fail (beyond my earlier list)
• Windows Settings (always its own special app window)
• Microsoft Store
• Phone Link
• Xbox app
• Windows Security
• Widget panel / Copilot panels (overlay-style)
• Start menu / Task View / Snap Layout UI (not real “app windows”)
• Snipping Tool overlay / Game Bar overlay (overlay windows)
- Refinement for items I listed earlier
• Visual Studio Code: often does group (depends on version + how Groupy hooks it)
• Slack / Discord: often does group (but pop-out panels and calls windows may not)
• Chrome / Edge: main window usually does group; pop-outs / app-mode windows may not
• Zoom: some windows group; meeting window frequently does not behave like a normal tab candidate
- Fast “proof test” you can do (no guessing)
• If Groupy can’t tab it:
• Try only the main window (not toolbars/palettes)
• If it still won’t tab, it’s usually UWP/overlay/cloaked
• If you tell me 3 apps that won’t tab for you, I’ll classify each one (UWP vs overlay vs cloaked) and give the best workaround for each.