Microsoft PowerToys: Superpowers for Your Windows Computer
If you’ve ever found yourself wishing Windows could do just a little more to make your computer life easier, trust me, you’re not alone. But you’re in luck. Microsoft PowerToys is like a Swiss Army knife for your PC. It’s free, open-source, and packed with clever little tools that make everyday tasks smoother, faster, and way more customizable.
Originally a cult favorite back in the Windows 95 days, PowerToys has been reborn for Windows 10 and 11. And let me tell you—it’s not just for power users or techies. If you love tweaking your PC your way, or just want to work smarter, PowerToys is for you!
PowerToys Has Some Cool Features You’ll Actually Use
1. FancyZones: Window Management Wizardry
Forget the default Snap Layouts—FancyZones is like Snap Layouts on steroids. You can design your own grid layouts and snap windows into place with a simple Shift + drag. If you’ve got a big monitor or multiple screens, this will make your workspace feel so much more organized.
2. PowerToys Run: Your Keyboard’s Best Friend
Hit Alt + Space and boom—a cool search bar pops up. It’s fast, it’s smart, and it does way more than just launch apps. You can run commands, do math, convert units, and even peek at running processes. It’s like Spotlight for Windows, but with a little extra pizazz!
3. Image Resizer: No Image Editors Needed
Right-click an image (or a bunch of them), choose your size, and you’re done. Whether you need thumbnails or full-size banners, this tool saves you from opening a bulky editor just to shrink a photo. Great for resizing images for email and social media. You’ll love it.
4. Keyboard Manager: Customize Your Keys
Ever wanted to turn Caps Lock into something useful? Now you can. Remap any key or shortcut to whatever suits your workflow. It’s perfect for fixing annoying key placements or creating your own shortcuts.
5. Color Picker: Eyedropper for the Entire Screen
Designers and creatives, rejoice. Hit Win + Shift + C and grab any color from anywhere on your screen. You’ll get the HEX, RGB, and HSL codes instantly—and it even remembers your recent picks.
6. Text Extractor: Copy Text from Anything
This one works like magic. Use Win + Shift + T, draw a box around any text—even if it’s in an image or locked PDF—and it’s copied to your clipboard. OCR for the win.
7. File Explorer Add-ons & Peek: Preview Like a Pro
Want to preview Markdown or SVG files without opening them? Done. Just select the file and hit Ctrl + Space to get a quick full-screen preview. It’s fast, clean, and super handy.
8. Always On Top: Keep What Matters in View
Do you need your calculator or notes app to stay visible while you work? Press Win + Ctrl + T and pin that window above all other windows. No more digging through layers of open apps.
PowerToys is one of those rare free tools that feels like it should be built into Windows. I wonder why it’s not. Anyway, it gives you control over things you didn’t even realize you wanted to tweak. Whether you’re a techie, power user, or just an average Windows user, PowerToys is worth the download. So go ahead—give your PC a little superpower boost.
You can download Microsoft PowerToys from the Microsoft Store here.
It’s 100% free.