I've always heard people talk about PowerToys on Windows, and I consider myself a computing enthusiast in every sense of the word. I do most of my work on my MacBook and use my Windows PC for recreational activities like gaming. However, despite using Alfred on my Mac and using other tools on my MacBook, for some reason, I just never really tried to use PowerToys. Now, though, I'm a convert, and I should have started using it years ago.

What is PowerToys?

It dates back to Windows 95

PowerToys is a set of free utilities developed by Microsoft that improves your Windows experience by adding practical tools and customization options. Originally, PowerToys dates back to Windows 95, where it provided additional features aimed at advanced users.

The modern version of PowerToys is built specifically for Windows 10 and Windows 11. It includes a ton of handy features such as tools for bulk renaming files, quickly resizing images, and snapping application windows into customizable layouts. Each utility is designed to streamline common tasks or simplify repetitive actions. Some of the utilities include:

  • FancyZones: Create custom window layouts to quickly organize apps on your desktop.
  • PowerRename: Bulk rename multiple files easily with advanced find-and-replace features.
  • Image Resizer: Quickly resize images by right-clicking files directly in File Explorer.
  • PowerToys Run: A fast launcher to open apps, files, or perform quick calculations.
  • Keyboard Manager: Remap keys or create custom shortcuts to improve productivity.
  • Color Picker: Instantly identify and copy color codes from any part of your screen.
  • Mouse Utilities: Easily find your mouse pointer or highlight mouse clicks during presentations.
  • Text Extractor: Quickly copy text from images or screenshots using optical character recognition (OCR).
  • Always On Top: Pin any application window to remain visible above all others.

While PowerToys targets power users who prefer more control over their operating system, the tools are straightforward enough that anyone can benefit from using them. All utilities within PowerToys integrate smoothly with Windows, making them feel like native extensions of the operating system rather than third-party add-ons. I just never really got around to trying it out, but since I have I can't live without it.

PowerToys Run is the best feature of the lot

I use it everyday

PowerToys Run is my favorite feature of all of the utilities that you get, and that's because of how good it simply is. I use Alfred on my Mac as a Spotlight replacement, and Run has been one of the most like-for-like features that I've been able to find on Windows. You invoke it by pressing Alt and the spacebar, and you can use it to launch applications, search for files, and more.

For example, you can install plugins to integrate with Everything for file search, you can integrate WinGet (though that's coming soon officially), and you can even query local LLMs with Ollama. Most power users will find at least one extension that catches their eye in this list, and it's just a much nicer way to access programs and files instead of using the Start Menu.

PowerToys Run also comes with features to execute commands, run calculations, and convert units. It's entirely replaced the Start Menu for me, and I can't go back to not using it. Yeah, PowerToys has other features too, but Run has been my favorite by far.

Workspaces are a must-have, too

Quickly define window layouts

If you use your PC for different tasks throughout the day, you might like what Workspaces can do. You can define a set of applications and their position on the screen, and then activate a workspace at any given moment. It will then launch those applications in the layout to defined, so that they are placed consistently in the way that you want to work.

For example, you can make it so that a specific browser you only use for work pops up, alongside Slack and a Notepad. You can also use it for development contexts, where maybe your development IDE will launch along with a file manager. It's a pretty simple feature to use, but it can be a gamechanger if you want to improve your productivity and work more efficiently.

Finally, you can pair Workspaces with a feature like FancyZones so that you can lock window layouts in a way that makes sense to you. There are plenty of pre-defined layouts, or you can create your own, and a Window will snap and resize itself to fit the defined area that you've made.

PowerToys has lots of other features too

Run is my favorite, though

Third-party Svgl plugin in PowerToys for Windows

I know that I'm merely scratching the surface when it comes to the features I use with PowerToys, and I'm sure I'll come around to integrating the others into my workflow too. For now, it's been a slow transition, but I'm already really happy with what I've got out of it and what more I'll be able to get out of it in the future, too.

If you've been on the fence about PowerToys like I was in the past, this is your sign to start using it. I don't know why it took me so long, and really, it shouldn't have. I can't recommend it enough, and if you want to make the most of your Windows PC, I can't imagine going without it, especially given that it's so well-integrated into Windows.