PowerToys

Microsoft PowerToys is a collection of utilities that supercharge productivity and customization on Windows. It provides over 25 tools for window management, file operations, system tweaks, and workflow optimization.

Key Features

• FancyZones - Advanced window snapping and layout management
• PowerToys Run - Application launcher and command palette (Alt+Space)
• PowerRename - Bulk file renaming with regex support
• Color Picker - System-wide color picker tool
• Always on Top - Pin any window to stay on top
• File Locksmith - Identify which processes are using files
• Image Resizer - Bulk image resizing from context menu
• Keyboard Manager - Remap keys and create custom shortcuts
• Text Extractor - OCR tool to extract text from images
• Advanced Paste - Enhanced clipboard with formatting options

Installation

Download the installer from GitHub releases or use package managers:

# User scope (recommended)
winget install Microsoft.PowerToys -s winget

# Machine-wide scope
winget install --scope machine Microsoft.PowerToys -s winget

Basic Usage

After installation, PowerToys runs in the system tray. Access settings through the tray icon or run individual utilities:

• PowerToys Run: Press Alt + Space to open the launcher
• FancyZones: Hold Shift while dragging windows to snap to zones
• Color Picker: Use the configured hotkey (default Win + Shift + C)
• PowerRename: Right-click files/folders → "PowerRename"

Notable Details

• License: MIT
• Language: C#
• Community: 130k+ GitHub stars
• Platform: Windows 10/11 only
• Updates: Active development by Microsoft with regular releases