Cove

What is Cove?

Cove is a macOS app that saves and restores full workspace sessions. It captures the state of open apps, windows, browser tabs, files, Focus Mode, and linked items such as Reminders, Notes, project docs, or URLs, then brings that context back with one click.

The product is designed for people who move between projects often and want to avoid rebuilding their desktop each time. Cove stores sessions locally on the Mac, supports named sessions and templates, and can park the current workspace before switching to another one.

Key Features

• Captures a named session with open apps, windows, browser tabs, files, Focus Mode, and linked items so a workspace can be restored as a unit.
• Parks the current session before switching, saving the existing state and closing apps that are not part of the next session.
• Supports one-click restore from the menu bar, the ⌘1 shortcut, or auto-detection that suggests a matching session based on the apps currently open.
• Includes native browser adapters for Safari, Chrome, Brave, Edge, and Arc, with tab order and active tab state preserved on restore.
• Handles Terminal and iTerm sessions by keeping the working directory for each window, which helps return to the right project folder quickly.
• Lets users save templates, trigger a macOS Focus Mode through Shortcuts, and attach supporting items like Reminders, Notes, docs, or URLs to a session.
• Stores data locally on the Mac and offers iCloud sync between Macs as an optional feature.

How to Use Cove

Install Cove on a Mac running macOS 15 or later, then grant the Accessibility and Automation permissions it needs to read and restore app state. Create a session by opening the apps, tabs, files, and supporting items you want for a task, then save that workspace under a name.

When it is time to switch, let Cove park the current session and choose another saved session to restore. Users can also rely on auto-detect or use the menu bar and keyboard shortcut for faster switching.

Use Cases

• Switching between client projects without manually reopening the same browser tabs, files, and terminal windows each time.
• Saving a repeatable deep-work setup that opens a specific set of apps, triggers Focus Mode, and brings in the right notes or reference docs.
• Preserving a terminal-based coding context so each project returns to the correct working directory and related windows.
• Creating reusable templates for recurring routines such as weekly reviews, planning sessions, or standard meeting prep.
• Parking an in-progress workspace before moving to a different task, then restoring the original setup later without rebuilding it from scratch.

FAQ

• What platforms does Cove support? Cove runs on macOS 15 and later, on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
• Does Cove store data online? The source says sessions are stored locally on the Mac by default, with no backend, and that optional iCloud sync is coming for Macs that opt in.
• What permissions are needed? Cove works best with Accessibility and Automation permissions so it can capture window positions and ask apps to reopen content during restore.
• Can it restore browser tabs and terminal state? Yes. The source specifically mentions browser adapters for Safari, Chrome, Brave, Edge, and Arc, plus Terminal and iTerm support for working directories.
• Is this a subscription? No. The page describes Cove as a one-time purchase with lifetime updates.

Alternatives

• Manual window management: Reopen apps and tabs by hand, which gives full control but does not preserve a workspace as a reusable session.
• General launcher or window manager tools: These can speed up app switching or window positioning, but they usually do not capture a complete project context with tabs, files, and linked items.
• Browser session restore features: Useful for reopening tabs, but they do not cover the rest of the macOS workspace such as terminal windows, Focus Mode, or supporting documents.
• Task- or project-based note systems: Good for organizing work references, but they do not restore the live application state of a desktop session.