Second Desk is a modern Windows desktop file management tool built with the Rust + Tauri 2.x + Vue 3 tech stack. Designed with a drawer-style concept, it can be quickly summoned by hovering the mouse at the screen edge or using a global shortcut key, making desktop file access instantly available.
Unlike traditional desktop icon management, Second Desk organizes frequently used files into an easily accessible drawer panel. This approach keeps your desktop tidy while preserving quick file access. Whether launching applications, opening documents, or managing downloads, simply move your mouse to the screen edge or press the shortcut key to complete tasks within 1 second.
Why Choose Second Desk?
- Clean Desktop – Store frequently used files in the drawer and say goodbye to cluttered desktop icons
- Instant Access – Trigger via screen edge or shortcut key; automatically hides when not in use, saving screen space
- Smart Categorization – Automatically identifies file types and supports custom categories and virtual folders
- Highly Customizable – Fully adjustable, from trigger methods to theme colors
- Performance Driven – Powered by Rust backend for extreme performance, with cold start time under 1 second
Core Features
- 🚀 Lightning-fast Launch – Cold start <1 second, file scanning <100ms
- 🪟 Smart Triggering – Supports edge triggering from all 4 directions plus global shortcut keys
- 🎨 Beautiful Themes – 5 color schemes × light/dark modes × frosted glass effect
- 📁 Virtual Groups – Drag and drop icons to create folders, just like on iPhone
- ✅ Batch Operations – Long-press to enter batch selection mode for quick multi-file actions
- 🔧 Fully Configurable – Customize window position, size, trigger delay, and auto-hide behavior
- 💾 Lightweight & Efficient – Memory usage <120MB, binary size <50MB
- 🛡️ Smart Protection – Full-screen detection, shortcut protection period, and drag detection
Publisher’s description
What is Second Desk?
Second Desk by SecondDesk is open-source Windows software in the notes & to-do category. It is written in Vue.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) and MSI installers for 64-bit Windows. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches. An MSI package is available for deployment with Group Policy, Intune or Configuration Manager.
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.3.3, released on June 29, 2026. The version history goes back to January 30, 2026: 6 releases, all linked to the official files.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (Ryanisgood/SecondDesk) has 54 stars. Similar programs include Obsidian, Logseq and QOwnNotes.
Project description on GitHub: “Second Desk 是一款现代化的 Windows 桌面文件管理工具，采用 Rust + Tauri 2.x + Vue 3 技术栈构建。它以抽屉式设计理念，通过屏幕边缘触发或全局快捷键快速呼出，让桌面文件访问变得触手可及”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- MSI package for managed deployment
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: Second Desk is an open-source notes & to-do tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is Second Desk safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
2C1ACAE452F6332147BCD92BB4D0F209323A52AAFF37CB2E0C88BC5AF335A1AA· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 6 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3.3Latest | June 29, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.3.2 | June 24, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.3.1 | June 24, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.3.0 | February 10, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.2.0 | February 5, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.0.0 | January 30, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Ryanisgood.SecondDesk -eSecondDesk-v1.3.3-Windows-Setup.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- SecondDesk
- Category
- Notes & to-do
- Licence
- GPL-3.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/Ryanisgood/SecondDesk
- Written in
- Vue
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS), MSI
- Version
- 1.3.3
- Released
- June 29, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- February 11, 2026
- Versions listed
- 6
- GitHub stars
- 54
- GitHub forks
- 5
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- Ryanisgood.SecondDesk
- MSI product code
- {680A4F7E-4A5B-4AB1-9A3B-90869CE1D150}
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Second Desk free?
Yes. Second Desk is open-source software under the GPL-3.0 licence.
Is Second Desk safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Second Desk with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Second Desk be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer, including msiexec for the MSI package.
Does Second Desk run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Second Desk?
The versions page lists all 6 versions with links to their official installer files, back to January 30, 2026.
Can I use Second Desk without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to Second Desk?
Obsidian, Logseq, QOwnNotes, Evernote and TagSpaces. The alternatives page compares them.
