No substance however galore features Microsoft crams into its operating system, determination volition ever beryllium users looking for a faster, amended oregon antithetic mode of doing things — 1 illustration of Microsoft’s acknowledgment of this behaviour is Microsoft PowerToys. This escaped download tin negociate exertion windows, rename files successful bulk, preview record contents and more.
This TechRepublic cheat expanse describes each disposable instrumentality oregon diagnostic provided by Microsoft PowerToys and describes what each strategy inferior tin do.
When was Microsoft PowerToys archetypal made available?
This acceptable of somewhat antithetic escaped Windows tools has been a portion of the Windows operating strategy scenery since Windows 95. That archetypal acceptable of 15 escaped utilities were published and endorsed by Microsoft and made disposable successful a escaped download. Their availability was noticeably absent for Windows 10 and Windows 11 — astatine slightest until September 2019.
With the wide merchandise of Microsoft Windows 11, developers present notation to this task arsenic Microsoft PowerToys alternatively than Windows 10 PowerToys.
From the beginning, PowerToys were designed for “power users” who were seeking ways to tweak however the operating strategy functions. In immoderate cases, inexperienced users were capable to marque a careless alteration portion utilizing a PowerToys utility, which could wreak havoc wrong the Windows operating system; arsenic such, novice users person often been encouraged to usage caution.
For the astir part, though, PowerToys has allowed users — whether they considered themselves powerfulness users oregon not — to much easy marque tweaks to the look and consciousness of Windows without a heavy dive into configuration screens oregon the dreaded and unsafe edit of the Windows Registry file.
Even successful the earliest iterations of PowerToys, Microsoft offered users galore invaluable functionalities. Windows 95 PowerToys included:
- TweakUI was utilized for tweaking obscure Windows settings.
- CD Autoplay allowed each CDs to autoplay, not conscionable audio CDs.
- Command Prompt Here opened a bid punctual successful the existent directory.
- Explore from Here opened File Explorer successful the existent directory.
- FlexiCD allowed users to power audio CDs from the Taskbar.
- Xmouse 1.2 allowed users to alteration model absorption by moving the rodent cursor, nary click needed.
Through the years and assorted Windows versions, idiosyncratic PowerToys person travel and gone. Each Windows mentation inspired a caller acceptable of tools based connected what developers perceived was needed to amended and heighten that version.
Why are Microsoft PowerToys important?
Microsoft PowerToys supply tools and features that tin marque users of the Windows operating strategy much productive and, by extension, happier. Over the years, galore users person travel to beryllium connected 1 oregon much of these PowerToys for their regular machine productivity. For galore powerfulness users, PowerToys amended their prime of enactment and life.
SEE: Secure Windows 11 systems with this checklist from TechRepublic Premium.
Beyond making users much productive, PowerToys person besides provided a glimpse into what features and tools could and should go an integral portion of the Windows operating strategy successful the future. Many of these once-separate tools person go conscionable different portion of the operating strategy during its adjacent iteration.
How tin I get Microsoft PowerToys?
Traditionally, each of the Microsoft PowerToys has been offered arsenic a abstracted executable file, disposable arsenic a escaped download from a circumstantial Microsoft website.
For Windows 10 and Windows 11, Microsoft has taken a somewhat antithetic approach. All Windows 10 and Windows 11 PowerToys are present included arsenic portion of a escaped downloadable strategy that users tin configure. Figure A shows you what the Microsoft PowerToys strategy looks like.
Figure A
The PowerToys system. This representation represents an older version, but the basal functioning remains the same. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicThe newest mentation of Microsoft PowerToys is v0.79.0, disposable connected GitHub now. Release 0.79.0 adds caller features to Keyboard Manager, a Modernized Color Picker with Fluent UX, stableness and different improvements. The caller merchandise adds File Locksmith arsenic an introduction successful the Windows 11 tier 1 discourse paper and upgrades Peek to beryllium capable to preview drives.
These PowerToys are presently available:
- Always On Top.
- Awake.
- Color Picker.
- Command Not Found.
- Crop and Lock.
- Environment Variables.
- FancyZones.
- Preview pane and thumbnail rendering for File Explorer.
- File Locksmith.
- Hosts File Editor.
- Image Resizer.
- Keyboard Manager.
- Mouse utilities.
- Mouse Without Borders.
- Paste arsenic Plain Text.
- Peek.
- PowerRename.
- PowerToys Run.
- Quick Accent.
- Registry Preview.
- Screen Ruler.
- Shortcut Guide.
- Text Extractor.
- Video Conference Mute.
SEE: All of TechRepublic’s cheat sheets and astute person’s guides
What tin Microsoft PowerToys do?
Here is simply a database of disposable Microsoft PowerToys with a little statement of what each artifact does.
FancyZones
FancyZones allows users to negociate wherever and however each exertion model that is unfastened connected a Windows desktop volition display.
SEE: Windows 11 brings the Copilot AI adjunct along with it. (TechRepublic)
For example, you could usage FancyZones to acceptable up a Windows 10 desktop wherever Outlook ever displays connected the right-hand broadside of the desktop, Twitter oregon different societal media ever displays connected the left-hand broadside of the desktop, and Word oregon Excel ever displays successful the mediate betwixt the different two. There would beryllium 3 chiseled and perpetual zones displayed astatine each times (Figure B).
Figure B
The FancyZones paper shows layout options. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicWindows cardinal Shortcut Guide
The Windows cardinal Shortcut Guide displays each of the disposable keyboard shortcuts for the existent Windows desktop (Figure C). This PowerToy is activated by holding the Windows cardinal down for the magnitude of clip specified successful the tool’s configuration settings. The default is 900ms.
With this feature, users don’t person to retrieve truthful galore Windows key-related shortcut combinations.
Figure C
The Shortcut Guide conveniently displays utile cardinal combinations. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicPowerRename
The PowerRename Windows PowerToy provides users with precocious tools for bulk renaming of files. The artifact extends the Windows Shell Context Menu to adhd an introduction for PowerRename to File Explorer (Figure D).
Figure D
The PowerRename paper allows for bulk renaming of files. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicWith PowerRename enabled, elemental hunt and regenerate oregon much almighty regular look matching are added to your toolset for the bulk renaming process. A preview country is displayed arsenic you execute hunt and regenerate procedures, truthful you tin spot however record names volition alteration earlier initiating the action.
SEE: How to batch rename files successful Windows 10 with the PowerToys PowerRename tool
Preview Pane add-ons for File Explorer
This Windows PowerToy expands connected the Preview Pane feature already disposable successful the modular File Explorer exertion by adding further record types. Preview Pane add-ons for File Explorer let users to preview the contents of a record aft clicking it successful File Explorer without really opening the record (Figure E).
Figure E
PowerPane shows a preview of a file. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicVersion 0.16.0 adds preview enactment for Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg) and Markdown (.md) files. Subsequent PowerToys releases person added much record types including root codification files and geometric code.
Image Resizer
The Image Resizer Windows PowerToy adds much functionality to File Explorer by allowing users to use bulk representation resizing. Users tin prime images successful File Explorer and past prime the caller Resize Pictures point connected the discourse menu, revealed with a right-click connected immoderate representation (Figure F).
Figure F
The Image Resizer paper shows options for bulk resizing. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicWindow Walker
The Window Walker Windows PowerToy is designed to beryllium an alternate to the modular Alt-Tab diagnostic successful Windows 10 and Windows 11. Users property the CTRL-Windows cardinal operation alternatively of Alt-Tab to propulsion up a hunt container (Figure G). Users past participate keywords into the hunt container to constrictive down the presently unfastened apps and screens connected their desktop.
Figure G
Window Walker adds a hunt container to the Alt-Tab feature. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicSEE: How to find unfastened apps with the Window Walker instrumentality successful Windows 10 PowerToys
PowerToys Run
PowerToys Run acts arsenic a speedy launcher connected Windows. It is different hold of the ALT-Tab conception and taps into the Windows record indexing system. To activate the tool, usage the keyboard operation ALT-Space and commencement typing the sanction of your desired exertion (Figure H).
Figure H
The PowerToys Run paper lets users motorboat applications quickly. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicPowerToys Run volition hunt the strategy and commencement listing imaginable applications based connected your hunt phrase. When the exertion you tendency appears, click oregon pat to run.
SEE: How to usage Windows 10 PowerToys Run to unfastened applications, folders, and files
Keyboard Manager
The Keyboard Manager exertion successful Microsoft PowerToys is simply a elemental keyboard remapper. Run the exertion from the PowerToys paper (Figure I) and either remap a azygous cardinal connected your keyboard oregon remap a shortcut keyboard combination. Whatever you remap volition stay progressive arsenic agelong arsenic Keyboard Manager is enabled and PowerToys is moving successful the background.
Figure I
The Keyboard Manager paper shows keyboard remapping options. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicColor Picker
Color Picker was contributed to the Microsoft PowerToys task by Martin Chrzan. The inferior allows you to place immoderate colour connected your surface by either its HEX oregon RGB codification and past prevention that accusation to the Windows clipboard for aboriginal usage (Figure J). It is simply a elemental tool, but it tin prevention clip and forestall vexation for developers and contented creators moving connected colour design.
Figure J
The Color Picker paper allows users to place and prevention colors from immoderate representation connected their screen. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicVideo Conference Mute
As a fig of organizations shifted to distant enactment structures during the COVID-19 pandemic, galore of america present trust connected video teleconferencing for enactment and schoolhouse interactions and collaboration. The Video Conference Mute instrumentality successful Microsoft PowerToys allows you to mute the audio and video connected your PC with a azygous cardinal operation (Figure K).
Figure K
The Video Conference PowerToy paper lets users customize microphone and mute hotkeys. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicYou whitethorn mute some audio and video astatine the aforesaid clip oregon independently. The aforesaid cardinal operation volition toggle the audio and video backmost to the connected position. The Video Conference Mute instrumentality works careless of what app you are utilizing oregon what app is presently successful the foreground.
Awake
The Microsoft PowerToys instrumentality Awake was contributed to the PowerToys task by the community, with attribution fixed to Den Delimarsky. Awake allows users to support their machine awake on-demand without having to negociate its powerfulness settings (Figure L).
Figure L
The Awake PowerToy provides ways to alteration the PC’s behaviour successful presumption of erstwhile the PC stays awake. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicMouse utilities
Mouse utilities were contributed to the Microsoft PowerToys task by Raymond Chen. Mouse utilities see a postulation of features that heighten the rodent and cursor functionality connected Windows systems.
With 2 consecutive presses of the Left CTRL key, Find My Mouse volition find your rodent cursor and item its existent presumption with a halo (Figure M). Pressing the Esc cardinal volition disregard the highlight. The Find My Mouse diagnostic is utile for presentations connected ample displays erstwhile you privation to gully the audience’s attraction to a circumstantial country of the screen.
Figure M
Mouse Utilities allows the idiosyncratic to crook connected Find My Mouse. There is besides a enactment for whether oregon not to support Find My Mouse connected during Game Mode. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicAlways connected Top
Always connected Top allows users to designate the exertion model presently successful absorption arsenic “always connected top” with a keyboard shortcut toggle (Figure N).
Figure N
The Always On Top PowerToy opens up a paper with a fewer options: enabling Always On Top, customizing the shortcut and specifying whether oregon not to usage Always On Top during Game Mode. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicRegardless of what commands, rodent clicks oregon different inputs are made from that constituent on, the designated model volition stay astatine the forefront, superseding immoderate different unfastened windows until Always connected Top is toggled off. The default keyboard shortcut for the Always connected Top toggle is Windows Key + CTRL + T.
Screen Ruler
The Microsoft PowerToys inferior Screen Ruler is simply a speedy and casual mode to measurement the pixels represented connected your show surface (Figure O). The instrumentality is cleanable for determining the pixel size of a imaginable surface seizure oregon for lining up objects successful a document.
Figure O
The Screen Rules paper and shortcut options tin beryllium recovered successful the PowerToys mounting menu. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicQuick Accent
Quick Accent is an alternate mode to benignant accented characters, which is utile for erstwhile a keyboard doesn’t enactment that circumstantial accent with a speedy cardinal combo (Figure P). Use this inferior to make accented characters, particularly for penning successful languages different than English.
Figure P
If you privation to benignant accented characters without a circumstantial keyboard that contains them, unfastened the Quick Accent paper successful PowerToys. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicText Extractor
The Microsoft PowerToys inferior Text Extractor is simply a convenient mode to transcript substance from anyplace connected your surface (Figure Q). This codification is based connected Joe Finney’s Text Grab. Text Extractor uses optical quality designation to work the substance connected the screen, truthful it whitethorn necessitate editing oregon proofreading.
Figure Q
The Text Extractor paper allows users to activate the instrumentality to item and transcript substance from immoderate source. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicFile Locksmith
The Microsoft PowerToys inferior File Locksmith is simply a Windows ammunition hold for checking what files are successful usage and by which processes (Figure R). After installing, right-click connected 1 oregon much selected files successful File Explorer, and past prime “What’s utilizing this file?” from the discourse menu.
Figure R
The accusation successful File Locksmith is accessed by close clicking a record successful File Explorer. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicHosts File Editor
The Window PowerToys inferior Hosts File Editor is simply a speedy and elemental inferior for editing a section hosts record (Figure S). Note that the exertion volition lone enactment if a hosts record exists.
Figure S
Explore Hosts File Editor successful the PowerToys paper if you enactment with section hosts files. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicMouse Jump
The Microsoft PowerToys inferior Mouse Jump is simply a caller diagnostic for the existing acceptable of rodent utilities (Figure T). Mouse Jump allows you to instantly determination the rodent pointer large distances connected the aforesaid surface and adjacent leap from 1 surface to another, if you wish.
Figure T
The reddish container successful this representation spotlights the Mouse Jump menu, including the activation shortcut. Image: Mark W. Kaelin/TechRepublicPaste arsenic Text
The Window PowerToys inferior Paste arsenic Text is simply a keyboard operation shortcut that allows users to paste formatted clipboard contents arsenic plain, unformatted substance (Figure U). Using this instrumentality volition besides regenerate the formatted substance with plain substance successful the clipboard, truthful users tin ever paste arsenic text.
Figure U
The Paste arsenic Plain Text paper clears up immoderate formatting problems that whitethorn travel from carrying font formats crossed applications. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicRegistry Preview
PowerToys Registry Preview, released successful Version 0.69.0, is designed to simplify the process of visualizing and editing Windows Registry files (Figure V). The inferior app besides allows you to constitute registry changes straight to the Windows Registry record without utilizing the modular Regedit app that comes built into the Windows operating system.
Figure V
Open the Registry Preview inferior from the PowerToys menu. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicMouse Without Borders
PowerToys Mouse Without Borders, released successful Version 0.70.0, gives users the quality to interact with different computers utilizing the aforesaid keyboard and rodent they are utilizing for their existent PC (Figure W). With Mouse Without Borders, users tin besides stock clipboards and files betwixt the machines. Control of the different computers is granted utilizing an encryption key.
Figure W
Note the options successful the Mouse Without Borders paper for selecting antithetic devices to determination the cursor across. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicPeek
Peek, released successful Version 0.70.0, allows users to spot a speedy preview of files they prime successful File Explorer erstwhile they property a specified keyboard shortcut (Figure X). The keyboard shortcut tin beryllium modified to a user’s preference.
Figure X
Peek into the PowerToys menu. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicCrop And Lock
PowerToys Crop And Lock, released successful Version 0.73.0, allows users to harvest a existent exertion into a smaller model oregon make a thumbnail (Figure Y). The inferior allows you to absorption attraction connected a circumstantial conception of an exertion model without shutting down the application’s moving functions. Essentially, from the application’s perspective, the model is normal, but from the user’s perspective, the model is smaller oregon thumbnail size.
Figure Y
In the Crop and Lock paper you tin find immoderate shortcut options to customize a shortcut for the PowerToy. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicEnvironment Variables
PowerToys Environment Variables, released successful Version 0.75.0, allows users to add, alteration and use profiles, idiosyncratic accusation and Windows strategy mounting variables (Figure Z). The instrumentality is peculiarly utile for bundle engineers, programmers and different IT professionals erstwhile investigating and iterating applications, platforms and systems during the improvement process.
Figure Z
The PowerToys Environment Variables settings screen. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicAre much Microsoft PowerToys coming soon?
New Microsoft PowerToys are periodically added to the Windows room to code caller idiosyncratic expectations and requirements. As caller PowerToys are released, this database of disposable tools volition beryllium updated to bespeak that expansion.
Does Microsoft PowerToys interaction performance?
PowerToys tin interaction performance. In general, the magnitude of RAM required by PowerToys apps is important capable that you should activate lone the tools you are really using. If you find an app is not thing you usage connected a regular basis, it whitethorn beryllium advantageous to acceptable it to the “off” position; you tin ever crook it connected again erstwhile you request it.
The magnitude of RAM Microsoft PowerToys uses is wholly babelike connected however galore tools and apps you person decided to tally successful the background. The PowerToys Settings app, which runs successful the inheritance and tin beryllium accessed from the Windows 11 strategy tray, requires astir 104 MB of RAM. Each further moving app requires much RAM to enactment it, which you tin gauge for yourself successful Windows Task Manager (Figure AA).
Figure AA
The Task Manager reveals the magnitude of RAM utilized by PowerToys. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublicIn general, the magnitude of RAM required by PowerToys apps is important capable that you should activate lone the tools you are really using. If you find an app is not thing you usage connected a regular basis, it whitethorn beryllium advantageous to acceptable it to the “off” position. You tin ever crook it connected again erstwhile you request it.
Editor’s note: This nonfiction was updated to bespeak the latest mentation of Microsoft PowerToys.
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