Pin groups
Organize screen references by task, create and switch pin groups, move pins individually or together, and understand counts, clearing, and deletion.
When working on several tasks, keep design references, work materials, and study notes in separate pin groups. Switching groups replaces the pins on screen with that group's unclosed pins. Switch back to continue using your earlier references.
Create a pin group
New pins join the current group. Before you create any groups, all pins belong to “Default group.”
Open the PixPin icon menu: right-click the tray icon on Windows, or click the menu bar icon on macOS.
Choose “Pin groups” → “Create new group” and enter a recognizable name, such as “Design references.” The name cannot be empty or duplicate an existing group.
Optionally check “Set group color” and choose a color to help identify the group.
To use it immediately, check “Switch to new group,” then click “Create.” Pins you create next will join the new group.
Creating a group does not move existing pins into it automatically. Move them using the methods below.
Switch between tasks
Click a group name under “Pin groups” in the icon menu. You can also use the default global shortcut Ctrl+`⌃ Control+`. The backtick key is usually to the left of the number 1.
Hold the modifier key and press the backtick repeatedly to advance the selection to the next group. Release the modifier to switch, or press EscEsc while choosing to cancel.
Switching groups puts away the previous group's pins and displays the target group's unclosed pins. Closed pins remain in that group's history; restore them as described in History.
Window pins on Windows are not saved in history and cannot be reloaded after switching groups. To keep the current image, convert it to an image pin first.
Move existing pins into a group
Right-click a pin and choose “Move to group” → the target group. The pin disappears from the current screen and appears when you switch to that group.
If you need a new group, choose “Move to new group” in the submenu, or press GG on the pin to create a group and move it there.
There are two ways to organize several pins together:
- Move selected pins: Hold Ctrl⌘ Command and click each pin, then right-click one of them and use “Move to group.”
- Move all unclosed pins in the current group: In the icon menu, open the submenu labeled with the existing pin count, then choose “Move to group.” Choose “Move to new group” to collect the current task's materials together.
Moving existing pins in bulk does not transfer closed history records. To merge an entire old group into another, use “Delete a group and keep its pins” below.
Change names, colors, and order
Open “Pin groups” → “Manage groups,” select a group on the left, and edit its name and color on the right. Click “Apply changes” afterward.
Drag groups on the left to reorder them and put frequently used groups first. The switching shortcut follows this order too.
You can rename, recolor, and reorder “Default group,” but cannot delete it.
What do the numbers beside a group name mean?
Counts are shown as “unclosed / total.” For example, 2/5 means two unclosed pins and three closed history records.
Unclosed pins may be hidden or belong to a group you have not switched to. The first number therefore does not equal the number of pins currently visible on screen.
Clear or delete a group
Select a group in “Manage groups,” then choose the operation that fits your goal:
| Goal | Operation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Keep the group but delete its materials | Click “Clear group pins” and confirm | Deletes unclosed pins and history, keeping the name and color |
| Merge the entire group into another | Click “Delete group,” check “Move all pins in this group to,” select the target, and confirm | Transfers unclosed pins and history together, then deletes the old group |
| Remove the group and its materials | Click “Delete group,” leave the move option unchecked, and confirm | Deletes the group, its pins, and its history |
Clearing group pins or deleting a group without transferring its pins also deletes that group's history. The restore shortcut cannot recover it. To put materials away temporarily, switch groups or hide pins.