Irrespective of what number of options Microsoft crams into its working system, there’ll at all times be customers in search of a quicker, higher or totally different approach of doing issues — one instance of Microsoft’s acknowledgment of this conduct is Microsoft PowerToys. This free obtain can handle utility home windows, rename information in bulk, preview file contents and extra.
This TechRepublic cheat sheet describes every accessible device or function supplied by Microsoft PowerToys and describes what every system utility can do.
When was Microsoft PowerToys first made accessible?
This set of barely uncommon free Home windows instruments has been part of the Home windows working system panorama since Home windows 95. That first set of 15 free utilities had been printed and endorsed by Microsoft and made accessible in a free obtain. Their availability was noticeably absent for Home windows 10 and Home windows 11 — at the least till September 2019.
With the final launch of Microsoft Home windows 11, builders now check with this venture as Microsoft PowerToys reasonably than Home windows 10 PowerToys.
From the start, PowerToys had been designed for “power users” who had been looking for methods to tweak how the working system capabilities. In some circumstances, inexperienced customers had been capable of make a careless change whereas utilizing a PowerToys utility, which may wreak havoc throughout the Home windows working system; as such, novice customers have usually been inspired to make use of warning.
For essentially the most half, although, PowerToys has allowed customers — whether or not they thought-about themselves energy customers or not — to extra simply make tweaks to the feel and appear of Home windows with no deep dive into configuration screens or the dreaded and harmful edit of the Home windows Registry file.
Even within the earliest iterations of PowerToys, Microsoft supplied customers many precious functionalities. Home windows 95 PowerToys included:
- TweakUI was used for tweaking obscure Home windows settings.
- CD Autoplay allowed all CDs to autoplay, not simply audio CDs.
- Command Immediate Right here opened a command immediate within the present listing.
- Discover from Right here opened File Explorer within the present listing.
- FlexiCD allowed customers to manage audio CDs from the Taskbar.
- Xmouse 1.2 allowed customers to alter window focus by shifting the mouse cursor, no click on wanted.
By the years and numerous Home windows variations, particular person PowerToys have come and gone. Every Home windows model impressed a brand new set of instruments based mostly on what builders perceived was wanted to enhance and improve that model.
Why are Microsoft PowerToys essential?
Microsoft PowerToys present instruments and options that may make customers of the Home windows working system extra productive and, by extension, happier. Over time, many customers have come to rely on a number of of those PowerToys for his or her each day pc productiveness. For a lot of energy customers, PowerToys enhance their high quality of labor and life.
SEE: Safe Home windows 11 techniques with this guidelines from TechRepublic Premium.
Past making customers extra productive, PowerToys have additionally supplied a glimpse into what options and instruments may and may turn out to be an integral a part of the Home windows working system sooner or later. Many of those once-separate instruments have turn out to be simply one other a part of the working system throughout its subsequent iteration.
How can I get Microsoft PowerToys?
Historically, every of the Microsoft PowerToys has been supplied as a separate executable file, accessible as a free obtain from a selected Microsoft web site.
For Home windows 10 and Home windows 11, Microsoft has taken a barely totally different method. All Home windows 10 and Home windows 11 PowerToys at the moment are included as a part of a free downloadable system that customers can configure. Determine A exhibits you what the Microsoft PowerToys system appears to be like like.
Determine A
The latest model of Microsoft PowerToys is v0.79.0, accessible on GitHub now. Launch 0.79.0 provides new options to Keyboard Supervisor, a Modernized Coloration Picker with Fluent UX, stability and different enhancements. The brand new launch provides File Locksmith as an entry within the Home windows 11 tier 1 context menu and upgrades Peek to have the ability to preview drives.
These PowerToys are presently accessible:
- At all times On High.
- Awake.
- Coloration Picker.
- Command Not Discovered.
- Crop and Lock.
- Setting Variables.
- FancyZones.
- Preview pane and thumbnail rendering for File Explorer.
- File Locksmith.
- Hosts File Editor.
- Picture Resizer.
- Keyboard Supervisor.
- Mouse utilities.
- Mouse With out Borders.
- Paste as Plain Textual content.
- Peek.
- PowerRename.
- PowerToys Run.
- Fast Accent.
- Registry Preview.
- Display screen Ruler.
- Shortcut Information.
- Textual content Extractor.
- Video Convention Mute.
SEE: All of TechRepublic’s cheat sheets and good individual’s guides
What can Microsoft PowerToys do?
Here’s a listing of obtainable Microsoft PowerToys with a short description of what every toy does.
FancyZones
FancyZones permits customers to handle the place and the way every utility window that’s open on a Home windows desktop will show.
SEE: Home windows 11 brings the Copilot AI assistant together with it. (TechRepublic)
For instance, you would use FancyZones to arrange a Home windows 10 desktop the place Outlook at all times shows on the right-hand facet of the desktop, Twitter or different social media at all times shows on the left-hand facet of the desktop, and Phrase or Excel at all times shows within the center between the opposite two. There can be three distinct and perpetual zones displayed always (Determine B).
Determine B
Home windows key Shortcut Information
The Home windows key Shortcut Information shows the entire accessible keyboard shortcuts for the present Home windows desktop (Determine C). This PowerToy is activated by holding the Home windows key down for the size of time specified within the device’s configuration settings. The default is 900ms.
With this function, customers don’t have to recollect so many Home windows key-related shortcut mixtures.
Determine C
PowerRename
The PowerRename Home windows PowerToy supplies customers with superior instruments for bulk renaming of information. The toy extends the Home windows Shell Context Menu so as to add an entry for PowerRename to File Explorer (Determine D).
Determine D
With PowerRename enabled, easy search and substitute or extra highly effective common expression matching are added to your toolset for the majority renaming course of. A preview space is displayed as you carry out search and substitute procedures, so you’ll be able to see how file names will change earlier than initiating the motion.
SEE: Methods to batch rename information in Home windows 10 with the PowerToys PowerRename device
Preview Pane add-ons for File Explorer
This Home windows PowerToy expands on the Preview Pane function already accessible in the usual File Explorer utility by including extra file sorts. Preview Pane add-ons for File Explorer permit customers to preview the contents of a file after clicking it in File Explorer with out truly opening the file (Determine E).
Determine E
Model 0.16.0 provides preview assist for Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg) and Markdown (.md) information. Subsequent PowerToys releases have added extra file sorts together with supply code information and geometric code.
Picture Resizer
The Picture Resizer Home windows PowerToy provides extra performance to File Explorer by permitting customers to use bulk picture resizing. Customers can choose photographs in File Explorer after which choose the brand new Resize Photos merchandise on the context menu, revealed with a right-click on any picture (Determine F).
Determine F
Window Walker
The Window Walker Home windows PowerToy is designed to be a substitute for the usual Alt-Tab function in Home windows 10 and Home windows 11. Customers press the CTRL-Home windows key mixture as a substitute of Alt-Tab to drag up a search field (Determine G). Customers then enter key phrases into the search field to slim down the presently open apps and screens on their desktop.
Determine G
SEE: Methods to discover open apps with the Window Walker device in Home windows 10 PowerToys
PowerToys Run
PowerToys Run acts as a fast launcher on Home windows. It’s one other extension of the ALT-Tab idea and faucets into the Home windows file indexing system. To activate the device, use the keyboard mixture ALT-House and begin typing the title of your required utility (Determine H).
Determine H
PowerToys Run will search the system and begin itemizing attainable purposes based mostly in your search phrase. When the appliance you want seems, click on or faucet to run.
SEE: Methods to use Home windows 10 PowerToys Run to open purposes, folders, and information
Keyboard Supervisor
The Keyboard Supervisor utility in Microsoft PowerToys is an easy keyboard remapper. Run the appliance from the PowerToys menu (Determine I) and both remap a single key in your keyboard or remap a shortcut keyboard mixture. No matter you remap will stay energetic so long as Keyboard Supervisor is enabled and PowerToys is working within the background.
Determine I
Coloration Picker
Coloration Picker was contributed to the Microsoft PowerToys venture by Martin Chrzan. The utility permits you to determine any shade in your display by both its HEX or RGB code after which save that info to the Home windows clipboard for later use (Determine J). It’s a easy device, however it could possibly save time and forestall frustration for builders and content material creators engaged on shade design.
Determine J
Video Convention Mute
As various organizations shifted to distant work constructions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many people now depend on video teleconferencing for work and college interactions and collaboration. The Video Convention Mute device in Microsoft PowerToys permits you to mute the audio and video in your PC with a single key mixture (Determine Okay).
Determine Okay
Chances are you’ll mute each audio and video on the similar time or independently. The identical key mixture will toggle the audio and video again to the on place. The Video Convention Mute device works no matter what app you’re utilizing or what app is presently within the foreground.
Awake
The Microsoft PowerToys device Awake was contributed to the PowerToys venture by the group, with attribution given to Den Delimarsky. Awake permits customers to maintain their pc awake on-demand with out having to handle its energy settings (Determine L).
Determine L
Mouse utilities
Mouse utilities had been contributed to the Microsoft PowerToys venture by Raymond Chen. Mouse utilities embody a group of options that improve the mouse and cursor performance on Home windows techniques.
With two consecutive presses of the Left CTRL key, Discover My Mouse will find your mouse cursor and spotlight its present place with a halo (Determine M). Urgent the Esc key will dismiss the spotlight. The Discover My Mouse function is helpful for displays on giant shows whenever you wish to draw the viewers’s consideration to a selected space of the display.
Determine M
At all times on High
At all times on High permits customers to designate the appliance window presently in focus as “always on top” with a keyboard shortcut toggle (Determine N).
Determine N
No matter what instructions, mouse clicks or different inputs are comprised of that time on, the designated window will stay on the forefront, superseding every other open home windows till At all times on High is toggled off. The default keyboard shortcut for the At all times on High toggle is Home windows Key + CTRL + T.
Display screen Ruler
The Microsoft PowerToys utility Display screen Ruler is a fast and simple strategy to measure the pixels represented in your show display (Determine O). The device is ideal for figuring out the pixel measurement of a possible display seize or for lining up objects in a doc.
Determine O
Fast Accent
Fast Accent is an alternate strategy to sort accented characters, which is helpful for when a keyboard doesn’t assist that particular accent with a fast key combo (Determine P). Use this utility to create accented characters, particularly for writing in languages aside from English.
Determine P
Textual content Extractor
The Microsoft PowerToys utility Textual content Extractor is a handy strategy to copy textual content from wherever in your display (Determine Q). This code relies on Joe Finney’s Textual content Seize. Textual content Extractor makes use of optical character recognition to learn the textual content on the display, so it could require enhancing or proofreading.
Determine Q
File Locksmith
The Microsoft PowerToys utility File Locksmith is a Home windows shell extension for checking what information are in use and by which processes (Determine R). After putting in, right-click on a number of chosen information in File Explorer, after which choose “What’s using this file?” from the context menu.
Determine R
Hosts File Editor
The Window PowerToys utility Hosts File Editor is a fast and easy utility for enhancing a neighborhood hosts file (Determine S). Notice that the appliance will solely work if a hosts file exists.
Determine S
Mouse Bounce
The Microsoft PowerToys utility Mouse Bounce is a brand new function for the present set of mouse utilities (Determine T). Mouse Bounce permits you to immediately transfer the mouse pointer nice distances on the identical display and even leap from one display to a different, if you want.
Determine T
Paste as Textual content
The Window PowerToys utility Paste as Textual content is a keyboard mixture shortcut that enables customers to stick formatted clipboard contents as plain, unformatted textual content (Determine U). Utilizing this device may also substitute the formatted textual content with plain textual content within the clipboard, so customers can at all times paste as textual content.
Determine U
Registry Preview
PowerToys Registry Preview, launched in Model 0.69.0, is designed to simplify the method of visualizing and enhancing Home windows Registry information (Determine V). The utility app additionally permits you to write registry adjustments on to the Home windows Registry file with out utilizing the usual Regedit app that comes constructed into the Home windows working system.
Determine V
Mouse With out Borders
PowerToys Mouse With out Borders, launched in Model 0.70.0, provides customers the power to work together with different computer systems utilizing the identical keyboard and mouse they’re utilizing for his or her present PC (Determine W). With Mouse With out Borders, customers also can share clipboards and information between the machines. Management of the opposite computer systems is granted utilizing an encryption key.
Determine W
Peek
Peek, launched in Model 0.70.0, permits customers to see a fast preview of information they choose in File Explorer after they press a specified keyboard shortcut (Determine X). The keyboard shortcut will be modified to a consumer’s choice.
Determine X
Crop And Lock
PowerToys Crop And Lock, launched in Model 0.73.0, permits customers to crop a present utility right into a smaller window or create a thumbnail (Determine Y). The utility permits you to focus consideration on a selected part of an utility window with out shutting down the appliance’s working capabilities. Primarily, from the appliance’s perspective, the window is regular, however from the consumer’s perspective, the window is smaller or thumbnail measurement.
Determine Y
Setting Variables
PowerToys Setting Variables, launched in Model 0.75.0, permits customers so as to add, change and apply profiles, consumer info and Home windows system setting variables (Determine Z). The device is especially helpful for software program engineers, programmers and different IT professionals when testing and iterating purposes, platforms and techniques throughout the improvement course of.
Determine Z
Are extra Microsoft PowerToys coming quickly?
New Microsoft PowerToys are periodically added to the Home windows library to handle new consumer expectations and necessities. As new PowerToys are launched, this listing of obtainable instruments might be up to date to replicate that growth.
Does Microsoft PowerToys impression efficiency?
PowerToys can impression efficiency. Normally, the quantity of RAM required by PowerToys apps is important sufficient that you need to activate solely the instruments you’re truly utilizing. When you decide an app is just not one thing you employ frequently, it could be advantageous to set it to the “off” place; you’ll be able to at all times flip it on once more whenever you want it.
The quantity of RAM Microsoft PowerToys makes use of is fully depending on what number of instruments and apps you may have determined to run within the background. The PowerToys Settings app, which runs within the background and will be accessed from the Home windows 11 system tray, requires about 104 MB of RAM. Every extra working app requires extra RAM to assist it, which you’ll gauge for your self in Home windows Process Supervisor (Determine AA).
Determine AA
Normally, the quantity of RAM required by PowerToys apps is important sufficient that you need to activate solely the instruments you’re truly utilizing. When you decide an app is just not one thing you employ frequently, it could be advantageous to set it to the “off” place. You possibly can at all times flip it on once more whenever you want it.
Editor’s observe: This text was up to date to replicate the most recent model of Microsoft PowerToys.
