PowerToys

Utilities to customize Windows

PowerToys is a set of freeware system utilities designed for power users developed by Microsoft for use on the Windows operating system. These programs add or change features to maximize productivity or add more customization. PowerToys are available for Windows 95, Windows XP, Windows 10 and Windows 11.

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Microsoft PowerToys is a dynamic and versatile set of utilities designed to enhance the Windows user experience, offering a range of features and tools to boost productivity and efficiency. It’s a set of free, open-source software tools created by Microsoft for Windows users, particularly those seeking to streamline their computing environment for greater productivity.

PowerToys is designed for both tech-savvy individuals who want to optimize their workflows and casual users looking for more convenience and customization in their daily computer use. It’s user-friendly, with a focus on ease of use and practicality.

The concept of PowerToys isn’t new. It dates back to the Windows 95 era, where it offered similar enhancements, albeit with tools suitable for that period, such as the MS-DOS Mode Configuration Wizard and the Time Zone Editor. Over the years, with each Windows iteration, PowerToys has evolved, adding more relevant and sophisticated tools, like the Alt-Tab Replacement in Windows XP and the varied suite available for Windows 10 and 11.

Being open-source, PowerToys invites contributions from developers worldwide. This community-driven approach ensures that the toolset continuously evolves, with new features added and existing ones improved based on user feedback and contributions.

PowerToys is easily installable on Windows 10 and 11 and is available for download from the Microsoft Store or GitHub. Its open-source nature means it’s not only free to use but also transparent, with its code accessible for review and modification.

Key Features

Microsoft PowerToys, as a software suite, has several key features that define its framework and usability, beyond the individual tools it offers:

Open Source Nature: PowerToys is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. This means the source code is freely available for anyone to view, modify, and contribute to. This approach encourages community involvement and collaborative development, leading to a diverse range of features and regular updates.
Modular Design: The software is designed modularly, allowing users to install and use only the utilities they need. This modular approach makes it lightweight and customizable according to individual user needs.
Integration with Windows: PowerToys is designed to integrate seamlessly with the Windows operating system, enhancing and extending its capabilities without disrupting the core user experience. It’s designed to feel like a natural extension of the Windows environment.
Ease of Installation and Updates: PowerToys can be easily installed and updated through various means, including the Microsoft Store and direct downloads from GitHub. This ease of installation ensures that users can quickly get started with the tools and stay updated with the latest features and bug fixes.
User-Friendly Interface: Despite being targeted towards power users, PowerToys features a user-friendly interface that makes it accessible even to less tech-savvy users. The settings and configurations are designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate.
Customization and Personalization: One of the core appeals of PowerToys is the high degree of customization it offers. Users can tailor the behavior of tools to fit their workflow, enhancing their productivity and user experience.
Community-Driven Development: Being open-source, PowerToys’ development and feature enhancements are significantly driven by community feedback and contributions. This ensures that the tools evolve in a direction that is beneficial to a broad user base.
Regular Updates and Improvements: The PowerToys team regularly releases updates, which include new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements. These updates ensure that the tools remain relevant and efficient over time.
Compatibility with Latest Windows Versions: PowerToys is consistently updated to be compatible with the latest versions of Windows, ensuring that users on the newest systems can benefit from its features.
Diverse User Base: While PowerToys is particularly popular among power users, its range of tools and ease of use make it suitable for a diverse user base, from professionals looking to streamline their workflow to casual users seeking to enhance their computing experience.

These features make Microsoft PowerToys a unique and powerful toolset for Windows users, offering a combination of customization, ease of use, and powerful utilities designed to enhance the overall computing experience.

PowerToys Utilities

Microsoft PowerToys is an ever-evolving suite of tools that cater to enhancing the Windows experience. Whether you’re a professional seeking efficiency or a regular user looking for more control and customization, PowerToys offers a range of tools to suit various needs, contributing significantly to a more productive and personalized computing experience

Always on Top

Always on Top enables you to pin windows above other windows with a quick key shortcut (⊞ Win+Ctrl+T).

PowerToys Awake

PowerToys Awake is designed to keep a computer awake without having to manage its power & sleep settings.

Color Picker

ColorPicker is a system-wide color picking utility activated with Win+Shift+C. Pick colors from anywhere on the screen.

Command Not Found

Command Not Found is a PowerShell 7 module that detects an error thrown by a command and suggests a relevant WinGet package to install.

Crop And Lock

Crop And Lock is a utility that creates a new window that’s a crop or a thumbnail of another window.

Environment Variables

Environment Variables offers an easy and convenient way to manage environment variables.

FancyZones

FancyZones is a window manager that makes it easy to create complex window layouts and quickly position windows into those layouts.

File Explorer add-ons

File Explorer add-ons enable Preview pane and thumbnail rendering in File Explorer to display a variety of file types.

File Locksmith

File Locksmith is a Windows shell extension to check which files are in use and by which processes.

Hosts file editor

Hosts file editor is a convenient way to edit the ‘Hosts’ file that contains domain names and matching IP addresses, acting as a map to identify and locate hosts on IP networks.

Keyboard Manager

Keyboard Manager allows you to customize the keyboard to be more productive by remapping keys and creating your own keyboard shortcuts.

Mouse utilities

Mouse Without Borders enables you to interact with multiple computers from the same keyboard and mouse, sharing clipboard contents and files between the machines seamlessly.

Paste as Plain Text

Paste as Plain Text allows you to paste text from your clipboard, excluding text-formatting, with a quick key shortcut (Ctrl+⊞ Win+V).

Peek

Peek allows you to preview file content without the need to open multiple applications or interrupt your workflow.

PowerRename

PowerRename enables you to perform bulk renaming, searching and replacing file names. I

Quick Accent

Quick Accent is an alternative way to type accented characters, useful for when a keyboard doesn’t support that specific accent with a quick key combo.

Registry Preview

Registry Preview is a utility to visualize and edit Windows Registry files.

PowerToys Run

PowerToys Run can help you search and launch your app instantly. To open, use the shortcut Alt+Space and start typing.

Screen Ruler

Screen Ruler allows you to quickly measure pixels on your screen based with image edge detection. To activate, use the shortcut ⊞ Win+Shift+M. This was inspired by Pete Blois’s Rooler.

Shortcut Guide

Windows key shortcut guide appears when you press ⊞ Win+Shift+/ (or as we like to think, ⊞ Win+?) and shows the available shortcuts for the current state of the desktop.

Text Extractor

Text Extractor is a convenient way to copy text from anywhere on your screen. To activate, use the shortcut ⊞ Win+Shift+T.

Video Conference Mute

Video Conference Mute is a quick way to globally “mute” both your microphone and camera using ⊞ Win+Shift+Q while on a conference call.

FAQs

Here are some commonly asked questions by users of powertoys and we tried to address them.

What is the Windows key Shortcut Guide?

This feature displays all available keyboard shortcuts for the current Windows desktop. It’s activated by holding the Windows key for a specified time.

How does PowerRename work?

PowerRename provides advanced tools for bulk renaming files, extending the Windows Shell Context Menu in File Explorer. It supports simple search and replace or regular expression matching.

Can I preview files in File Explorer with PowerToys?

Yes, PowerToys expands the Preview Pane feature in File Explorer, allowing previews of various file types like .svg and .md without opening them.

What is the Window Walker feature?

Window Walker is an alternative to the Alt-Tab feature in Windows, allowing users to search open apps and screens with a keyword search box.

How does the Color Picker utility work?

Color Picker identifies colors on your screen by their HEX or RGB code, saving this information to the clipboard for later use.

What is the Video Conference Mute tool?

This tool allows you to mute audio and video with a key combination, working across different applications.

How does the Always on Top feature function?

It lets users keep a selected application window always visible on top of others with a keyboard shortcut toggle.

What is the Screen Ruler utility for?

Screen Ruler helps measure pixel dimensions on your screen, useful for screen captures or aligning objects in documents.

Can I type accented characters with PowerToys?

Yes, Quick Accent allows typing accented characters that might not be directly supported by your keyboard.

What does the Text Extractor utility do?

It copies text from anywhere on your screen using optical character recognition.

How does File Locksmith help?

This utility checks which files are in use and by which processes, accessed via the context menu in File Explorer.

What is the Hosts File Editor?

It provides a simple way to edit the local hosts file on your computer.

What is Mouse Jump?

Mouse Jump allows quick movement of the mouse pointer over large distances or between screens.

How does Paste as Text work?

It enables pasting clipboard contents as unformatted text with a keyboard shortcut.