Microsoft PowerToys: A cheat sheet

Image: PhotoGranary/Adobe Stock No matter the number of functions Microsoft stuffs into its Windows 10 operating system, there will constantly be users looking for a faster, much better or– at the minimum– different method of doing things. The version of an operating system, no matter how well it works, is simply part of human nature, and it can not be reduced. So, why not accept it?

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Microsoft’s acknowledgment of this force of humanity is the Microsoft PowerToys download. (With the general release of Microsoft Windows 11, developers are now referring to this job as Microsoft PowerToys instead of Windows 10 PowerToys.) A set of a little unusual complimentary Windows tools has belonged of the Windows os landscape given that Windows 95, but their accessibility was visibly missing for Windows 10 and Windows 11– a minimum of up until September 2019.

In 2019, Microsoft partnered with Janea Systems and released the very first 2 PowerToys for Windows 10, accompanied by a guarantee of more releases in the near future. This TechRepublic cheat sheet describes each available tool or feature supplied by Microsoft’s main Microsoft PowerToys and describes what each system energy can do.

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When was Microsoft PowerToys initially offered?

The very first set of Microsoft PowerToys were very first offered for Windows 95. That first set of 15 free utilities were published and backed by Microsoft and made available in a free download.

From the beginning, PowerToys were created for “power users” who were seeking ways to modify how the operating system functions. Sometimes, inexperienced users were able to make a negligent change while utilizing a PowerToys utility, which might wreak havoc within the Windows operating system; as such, beginner users have actually typically been motivated to use caution.

For the most part, however, PowerToys have permitted users– whether they considered themselves power users or not– to more easily make tweaks to the look and feel of Windows without a deep dive into configuration screens or the feared and hazardous edit of the Windows Computer registry file.

Even in the earliest models of PowerToys, Microsoft offered users lots of important functionalities. Windows 95 PowerToys consisted of the following:

• TweakUI was utilized for tweaking unknown Windows settings.
• CD Autoplay allowed all CDs to autoplay, not simply audio CDs.
• Command Prompt Here opened a command timely in the present directory.
• Explore from Here opened File Explorer in the current directory site.
• FlexiCD allowed users to manage audio CDs from the Taskbar.
• Xmouse 1.2 allowed users to change window focus by moving the mouse cursor, no click required.

Through the years and numerous Windows variations, private PowerToys have reoccured. Each Windows variation motivated a brand-new set of tools based on what developers perceived was required to improve and enhance that variation. Windows 10 influenced a totally new set of PowerToys.

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How can I get Microsoft PowerToys?

Typically, each of the Microsoft PowerToys has actually been provided as a different executable file, offered as a free download from a particular Microsoft website.

For Windows 10 and Windows 11, Microsoft has taken a slightly various technique. All Windows 10 PowerToys are now included as part of a complimentary downloadable system that users can configure. Figure A reveals you what the Microsoft PowerToys system looks like.

Figure A

Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Windows PowerToys Variation 0.69.0 is offered on GitHub today. Release v0.69.0 adds the Registry Sneak peek energy to the toolset already readily available in PowerToys, as well as making some quality-of-life enhancements and bug fixes. Windows registry Sneak peek permits users to visualize and edit Windows Pc registry files.

These PowerToys are currently readily available:

SEE: All of TechRepublic’s cheat sheets and clever individual’s guides

What can Microsoft PowerToys do?

Here is a list of offered Microsoft PowerToys with a brief description of what each toy does.

FancyZones

FancyZones enables users to handle where and how each separate application window that is open on a Windows desktop will display.

For example, you could use FancyZones to establish a Windows 10 desktop where Outlook constantly shows on the right-hand side of the desktop, Twitter or other social media constantly displays on the left-hand side of the desktop, and Word or Excel always shows in the middle in between the other 2. There would be three distinct and perpetual zones displayed at all times. Figure B shows how you choose that configuration.

Figure B

Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic

Windows essential Faster way Guide The Windows key Faster way Guide screens all of the readily available keyboard shortcuts for the present Windows desktop(Figure C). This PowerToy is activated by holding the Windows key down for the length of time defined in the tool’s configuration settings. The default is 900ms. With this function, users don’t need to keep in mind a lot of Windows key-related faster way mixes. Figure C Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic PowerRename The PowerRename Windows PowerToy provides users with innovative tools for bulk renaming of files. The toy extends the

Windows Shell Context Menu to add an entry for PowerRename to File Explorer (Figure D). With PowerRename allowed, basic search and change or more effective routine expression matching are added to your toolset for the bulk renaming process. A preview area is shown as you carry out search and change treatments so users can see how file names will change prior to starting the action. Figure D Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Sneak peek Pane addons for File Explorer This Windows PowerToy broadens on the Sneak peek Pane function currently offered in the basic File Explorer application by adding extra file types. Preview Pane permits users to preview the contents of a file after clicking it in File Explorer

without in fact opening the file(Figure E ). Variation 0.16.0 adds preview support for Scalable Vector Graphics(. svg)and Markdown(. md)files. Additional file types remain in advancement. Figure E Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Image Resizer The

Image Resizer Windows PowerToy includes more functionality to File Explorer by allowing users to use bulk image resizing. Users can select images in File Explorer and then pick the brand-new Resize Pictures item on the context menu (Figure F), revealed with a right-click on any image. Figure F Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Windows Walker The Windows Walker Windows PowerToy is created to be an alternative to the basic Alt-Tab feature in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Users press the CTRL-Windows key combination rather of Alt-Tab to pull up a search box(Figure G). The user then goes into keywords into the search box to limit the presently open apps and screens on their desktop. Figure G Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic PowerToys Run PowerToys Run serve as a quick launcher in Windows. It is another extension of the ALT-Tab idea and use the Windows file indexing system

. To activate the tool, use the keyboard mix ALT-Space and start typing the name of your preferred application( Figure H). PowerToys Run will search the system and begin noting possible applications based on your search phrase. When the application you desire appears

The Keyboard Manager application in Microsoft PowerToys is an easy keyboard re-mapper. Run the application from the PowerToys menu (Figure I) and either remap a single secret on your keyboard or remap a faster way keyboard combination. Whatever you remap will stay active as long as Keyboard Manager is allowed and PowerToys is running in the background.

Figure I

Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Color Picker Color Picker was added to the Microsoft PowerToys project by Martin Chrzan. The utility allows you to identify any color on your screen by either its HEX or RGB code and then conserve that details to the Windows clipboard for later use (Figure J). It is an easy tool, however it can save time and prevent disappointment for designers and content creators dealing with color design.

Figure J

Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Video Conference Mute As a variety of organizations moved to remote work structures during the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of us now count on video teleconferencing for work and school interactions and cooperation. The Video Conference Mute tool in Microsoft PowerToys (Figure K) permits you to mute the audio and video on your PC with a single essential mix.

You might mute both audio and video at the same time or individually. The exact same crucial mix will toggle the audio and video back to the on position. The Video Conference Mute tool works despite what app you are utilizing or what app is currently in the foreground.

Figure K

Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Awake The Microsoft PowerToys tool Awake was contributed to the PowerToys job by the community with attribution given to Den Delimarsky. Awake enables users to keep their computer awake on-demand without needing to handle its power settings. The simple configuration screen for Awake is shown in Figure L.

Figure L

Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Mouse energies Mouse utilities was contributed to the Microsoft PowerToys job by Raymond Chen. Mouse utilities is a collection of features that enhance the mouse and cursor functionality on Windows systems. With 2 successive presses of the Left CTRL key, Find My Mouse will locate your mouse cursor and highlight its present position with a halo( Figure M). Pushing the Esc secret will dismiss the emphasize. The Discover My Mouse function is useful for presentations on large screens when you wish to draw the audience’s attention to a particular area of the screen. Figure M Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Always on Top Constantly on Top allows users to designate the application window currently in focus as” always on the top” with a keyboard shortcut toggle(Figure N).

Despite what commands, mouse clicks or other inputs are made from that point on, the designated window will remain at the leading edge, superseding any other open windows till Always on Top is toggled off. The default keyboard shortcut for the Always on Top toggle is Windows Key +CTRL+T. Figure N Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Screen Ruler The Microsoft PowerToys energy, Screen Ruler

for when a keyboard does not support that specific accent with a fast key combo. Use this utility to develop accented characters, especially for composing in languages aside from English. Figure P Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Text Extractor The Microsoft PowerToys utility, Text Extractor, displayed in Figure Q, is a hassle-free method to copy text from anywhere on your screen. This code is based on Joe Finney’s Text Get. Text Extractor utilizes optical character acknowledgment to check out the text on the screen, so it might need editing or checking.

Figure Q

Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic File Locksmith The Microsoft PowerToys utility, File Locksmith professional, displayed in Figure R, is a Windows shell extension for examining what files are in use and by which processes. After installing, right-click on several picked files in File Explorer, and after that choose “What’s using this file?” from the context menu.

Figure R

Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Hosts File Editor The Window PowerToys utility, Hosts File Editor, displayed in Figure S, is a quick and basic utility for editing a local hosts file. Note, the application will just work if a hosts submit exists.

Figure S

Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Mouse Jump The Microsoft PowerToys energy Mouse Dive, displayed in Figure T, is a brand-new function for the existing set of mouse utilities. Mouse Dive permits you to instantly move the mouse pointer great distances on the very same screen and even jump from one screen to another, if you wish.

Figure T

Image: Mark W. Kaelin/TechRepublic Paste as Text The Window PowerToys utility Paste as Text, shown in Figure U, is a keyboard combination faster way that allows users to paste formatted clipboard contents as plain unformatted text. Utilizing this tool will likewise replace the formatted text with plain text in the clipboard, so users can constantly paste as text.

Figure U

Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Windows Registry Sneak Peek PowerToys Computer registry Sneak peek, launched in Version 0.69.0, is created to streamline the procedure of imagining and editing Windows registry files (Figure V). The energy app likewise allows you to compose pc registry modifications directly to the Windows Computer registry file without using the basic Regedit app that comes developed into the Windows os.

Figure V

Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Are more Microsoft PowerToys coming soon?

New Microsoft PowerToys are regularly added to the Windows library to attend to new user expectations and requirements. As new PowerToys are launched, this list of offered tools will be updated to reflect that expansion.

Extra resources

Why are Microsoft PowerToys important?

Microsoft PowerToys provide tools and features that can make users of the Windows operating system more productive and, by extension, better. For many years, numerous users have pertained to depend on several of these PowerToys for their everyday computer system efficiency. For many power users, PowerToys enhance their quality of work and life.

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Beyond making users more efficient, PowerToys have likewise supplied a glance into what features and tools could (and should) end up being an important part of the Windows os in the future. A lot of these once-separate tools have become just another part of the os during its next model.

Editor’s note: This post was updated to reflect the current variation of Microsoft PowerToys.

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