Fences 6 Public Beta 2 Feedback

With the Fences 6 Public Beta 2 release today, we are creating this thread so that users can report any observed issues.  

Obtaining the product

Object Desktop members can get the release from within Object Desktop Manager 

Individual purchases (as well as Object Desktop Members) can also be obtained from your account page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products

For guest check-out purchase (no account), from this link: http://www.stardock.com/support/productkeyretrieval

Reporting an issue

Please include the following for anything found:

  • Exact Windows version \ build (winver.exe)

  • Detailed steps to recreate the issue seen

  • Screenshots and videos are very helpful.  Videos can be uploaded to a cloud drive service (GoogleDrive, DropBox, OneDrive, YouTube), with a shared link included in your post.  Images can be copied and pasted directly into a post.

  • If there are specific apps that the app does not work (well) with, please note what apps and their exact versions.  If any app is not common, a link to a trial version would be appreciated.

64,538 views 36 replies
Reply #1 Top

Fences 6 Public Beta 2 Changelog (Released 05/07/2025)

05/07/2025

Version

Fences ‘About': Version 6 (Beta 2)

Fences.exe: 5.9.9.3

Changes

  • New: Added ability to drag & drop directly onto a tab

  • New: New option "Exclude all icons that are outside of Fence groups from quick-hide"

  • New: Tabs now appear in different colors when a Fence is assigned a custom color

  • Fix: Fix for tabs spontaneously undocking at startup

  • Fixed: Can now switch tabs when desktop is locked (via legacy option)

  • Fixed: Tabbed Fences could momentarily show the previously selected tab showing during Page switching

  • Fixed: Improvements to RTL language support

Reply #2 Top

Known issues

While we appreciate all feedback, please remember that we offer no official support for beta \ preview \ developer channel versions of Windows. If you report issues while in any of those early release channels, you should not expect them to be addressed unless it still exists in a retail version of Windows.

  • tbd
Reply #3 Top

***Reserved***

Reply #4 Top

Awesome.

  • New: Tabs now appear in different colors when a Fence is assigned a custom color

Love it! :grin:  <3  

+1 Loading…
Reply #6 Top

I can't find the link to download the beta release?

The links below just take me to my existing version downloads...

Thanks


With the Fences 6 Public Beta 2 release today, we are creating this thread so that users can report any observed issues.  

Obtaining the product

Object Desktop members can get the release from within Object Desktop Manager 
Individual purchases (as well as Object Desktop Members) can also be obtained from your account page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products
For guest check-out purchase (no account), from this link: http://www.stardock.com/support/productkeyretrieval

 

Reply #7 Top

Quoting btm52487, reply 6

I can't find the link to download the beta release?

+1 Loading…
Reply #8 Top

That's not intuitive!

And no, that does not work for me because I do not have Object Desktop, so I'm not shown that download list...

🤔

What is a direct link to the beta release that is open to the public or to existing Fences users?

Reply #9 Top

Quoting btm52487, reply 8

What is a direct link to the beta release that is open to the public or to existing Fences users?

Since you do not own Fences 6, the trial (in the case of this being a 'Public Beta') will get you this release:

https://www.stardock.com/products/fences/download-trial

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

+1 Loading…
Reply #10 Top

Thanks. And yes, I have been using an old version for a very long time.  It's served me well and generally I don't think the feature enhancement race is worth it (i.e Windows 11).  But I decided to try out the new version. 

However, I absolutely despise subscriptions so I'm trying to decide if it's worth a lifetime purchase.

I miss the days when Fences wes about $7 for a lifetime licence.

Alas, the entire software market is pushing for "annual recurring revenue" so the days of lifetime licences are limited.

And it's not easy to track all the subscriptions I already have. I manage because I'm a computer guy and know how to make spreadsheets, but for the average user they are being taken to the cleaners by all the subscriptions they have, and don't even know about.... 😳

The other part of this I hate are auto-renewals which gives manufacturers a way to charge whatever they want at renewal time. Magazine subscriptions are the worst.

Ah well, it's a new world, and capitalism will always try to charge more.

It won't be long before life itself is an annual subscription.... 😳

Reply #11 Top

I sent this issue to the Fences 6 Public Beta 1 Feedback and received no reply.

I installed Fences Beta 6.2 for Windows 11.  I have the most recent windows update installed. 

I love the Tabs, but when reorganized my numerous Icon, I'm unable to keep the Fence Groups in the middle top group, of the screen. I can get the tabs to the line up with the Fences on either side of the Grouped Tabs as you will see in attached image.  But the TAB names for the middle group will not line up to the top of the Fence and they move to the bottom.  I tried rebuilding the group, but it did the same this.  As you can see, it does not line up?

Not sure if this is a bug?  I can move other of the TABBED groups into the same space to the top with no issue.

 

Reply #12 Top

Excellent enhancements, Sean. No bugs I can discover. 5*  5*  :thumbsup:  

Reply #13 Top

New bug

Any Fence portal linked to "my downloads" has a bigger scale then all my other fence portals and fences. That is the thumbnail images and font size is bigger in any of "my downloads" folder portals compared to the rest of my fences

 

Edit - I was able to fix this by changing "view" back to "medium icons". After the update it just slipped out (nothing was selected at all somehow)

Reply #14 Top

Quoting sdRohan, reply 1

Fixed: Tabbed Fences could momentarily show the previously selected tab showing during Page switching

This bug is fixed for me. much better:thumbsup:  

Reply #15 Top

Quoting PhoenixRising1, reply 13

New bug

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 12

Excellent enhancements, Sean. No bugs I can discover.       

Nope, DrJBHL said there are not any, sorry Phoenix ;)

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

+2 Loading…
Reply #16 Top

Quoting PhoenixRising1, reply 13

Any Fence portal linked to "my downloads" has a bigger scale then all my other fence portals and fences. That is the thumbnail images and font size is bigger in any of "my downloads" folder portals compared to the rest of my fences

Edit - I was able to fix this by changing "view" back to "medium icons". After the update it just slipped out (nothing was selected at all somehow)

You can also Ctrl + Scroll Mouse wheel in \ out to scale them independently:

https://stardockcorporation-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/sdrohan_stardock_com/EaH4vYvGRRJJnkSKt7ifRvMBIMLYhj3K5lRBhbqKJvxZFg

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

+1 Loading…
Reply #17 Top

Quoting sdRohan, reply 15

Nope, DrJBHL said there are not any, sorry Phoenix

Nope. I said, "No bugs I can discover."

"Dammit, Sean! I'm a Doctor, not a QA dude." ;)  

Reply #20 Top

Quoting Geovanesou, reply 18

Malware warning after update!


No doubt, that would have been just after you installed and before a reboot.  The 'suf' file is temp file that will replace what it could not during the install (a locked file). At reboot, it will be removed by Windows itself. 

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

+1 Loading…
Reply #21 Top

Quoting sdRohan, reply 15

Nope, DrJBHL said there are not any, sorry Phoenix

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager
+1

You just make me look harder now :grin:  

new bug

when using the legacy lock. While tab clicking is now fixed, double clicking no longer rolls up a fence

Reply #22 Top

Quoting sdRohan, reply 16

You can also Ctrl + Scroll Mouse wheel in \ out to scale them independently:

https://stardockcorporation-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/sdrohan_stardock_com/EaH4vYvGRRJJnkSKt7ifRvMBIMLYhj3K5lRBhbqKJvxZFg

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

I never knew this feature existed. Thanks for pointing it out as it is very useful

+1 Loading…
Reply #23 Top

Quoting mikeannetta, reply 11

love the Tabs, but when reorganized my numerous Icon, I'm unable to keep the Fence Groups in the middle top group, of the screen. I can get the tabs to the line up with the Fences on either side of the Grouped Tabs as you will see in attached image. But the TAB names for the middle group will not line up to the top of the Fence and they move to the bottom. I tried rebuilding the group, but it did the same this. As you can see, it does not line up?

Not sure if this is a bug? I can move other of the TABBED groups into the same space to the top with no issue.

I have tested this and it is working as expected for me

So first off we are testing this. Right click the header and select "view" > "tittle bar position" > "Move tittle bar to bottom when near the top of the screen"

when it is clicked ON the tittle bar immediately moves to the bottom of the screen

when it is turned OFF the tittle bar remains at the bottom of the screen until you pull the fence away and then reposition it.

Reply #25 Top

Quoting Rabymer, reply 24


See responses 19 and 20 above.