Welcome back to My Shift Setup, the series where real users show how they’ve customized Shift to fit their lives. In each episode, VP of Product Michael Foucher sits down with Shift users to explore the unique ways they’ve set up their Shift browsers.
This time, we’re talking to two students who also happen to be developers: Andrew Mao and Georgia Guirguis. This means their browsers aren’t just for casual browsing—they’re command centers for school projects, assignments, clubs, personal projects, and work. Shift helps each of them manage that load, but in very different ways.
Andrew’s setup: taming tab chaos
Andrew describes himself as “a chronic tab hoarder” (a Shift-considered curse word). His top bar is always full, but instead of letting the clutter spiral, he built a Shift layout that works with his (hoarding) habits.
I want to maximize the vertical screen space I can have, which is something that Shift lets me do.
To achieve that, he moved bookmarks and tabs to the left-hand side, freeing the top of his screen and making long tab titles easier to read. This resembles one of Shift’s pre-built browser templates called The Creative.
His world is divided into four Spaces: one for work, one for school, one for personal projects, and one for a school club he’s a part of. Each holds the apps for that context, keeping different parts of his life separated but only a shortcut away. It’s a system designed for focus, but also for survival when the tabs inevitably multiply.
Georgia’s setup: clarity first
Where Andrew thrives in volume, Georgia prefers calm.
Since I was a kid, I always liked to have my desk very organized, no clutter. Now that everything is on screens, why shouldn’t it be the same for your browser?
Her Shift reflects that tidy approach. One Space is reserved for work with GitHub, Jira, Mixpanel, and Google Calendar. Another is set up for school, complete with Brightspace, notes, and multiple email accounts. In her personal Space, she added a clever touch—her home tab opens directly to ChatGPT. “I was going there constantly for school, so I set it as my default. It saves me that extra step every time.”
Small screen, smart layout
Georgia also customized her layout in a way that mirrors how she already works. Spaces and apps sit along the bottom of her screen, close to the system toolbar.
“It feels sleek and efficient—similar to how I’d navigate between apps on my computer.”
On her 13-inch laptop, that decision makes every pixel count.
Traditional Browsers Weren't Made for Students. *Cue Shift Browser*
Shift isn’t built for the “average user.” It’s built for people who organize their digital lives intentionally, people like students.
Read MoreFavorite underrated feature
When it comes to features that don’t get enough attention, Georgia pointed to Shift’s Carbon Meter.
We don’t realize how much our browsing contributes to carbon emissions—but Shift offsets it. I can go through my day and feel like I’m not being a climate criminal.
For Georgia, it’s not just about productivity but peace of mind, knowing her daily work online comes with less environmental guilt. Michael added that the internet produces as much carbon as the airline industry worldwide, and with AI driving more data centers, that impact is only going to increase. In that context, the Carbon Meter is more than a browser feature—it’s a statement about how we use technology responsibly.
Andrew’s answer went in a different direction: pure efficiency. His favorite underrated feature is Shift’s keyboard shortcuts, especially for switching Spaces.
“I can hit Control + Alt + [ or Control + Alt + ] to jump instantly between Spaces. “When I’m reviewing code in one and comparing it with another, that saves me from breaking focus.”
For someone juggling multiple projects and dozens of open tabs, that small shortcut is a major timesaver.
And that’s the theme both answers share—whether it’s reducing digital clutter, cutting wasted time, or even offsetting environmental impact, these underrated features quietly make a big difference in how people work.
Students get free Shift Advanced
To make going back to school easier, we’re giving students Shift Advanced for free for 1 year with the code backtoschool2025. The offer ends on September 19 at 11:59 PM PST. Learn more at shift.com/backtoschool.
