Microsoft PowerToys allows you to customize your Windows experience for greater productivity. With Microsoft PowerToys you can remap keyboard shortcuts, set FancyZones, or pin specific windows to always be on top of other windows. In this article you will learn how to install Microsoft PowerToys via the Microsoft Store or via GitHub.
How to install Microsoft PowerToys from the Microsoft Store
- Type Store in the Windows search box and select Microsoft Store to launch the store.
- Type PowerToys in the search box to search for the PowerToys app.
- Select PowerToys, then click Install to download and install the app.
- Click on the Open button to launch the software.
How to install Microsoft PowerToys from GitHub
- Download PowerToys from the official GitHub repository: Microsoft PowerToys GitHub.
- Select the version of PowerToys you want to install.
- Once downloaded, run the installer to install the PowerToys suite.
What apps are included in Microsoft PowerToys?
Microsoft PowerToys currently includes the following apps:
- Always on Top - Enables you to pin windows above other windows with a quick key shortcut (Win+Ctrl+T).
- PowerToys Awake - keeps a computer awake without having to manage its power & sleep settings.
- Color Picker - A system-wide color picking utility activated with Win+Shift+C. Pick colors from anywhere on the screen, the picker automatically copies the color into your clipboard in a set format.
- Crop And Lock - Creates a new window that is a crop or a thumbnail of another window.
- Environment Variables - offers an easy and convenient way to manage environment variables. It also allows you to create profiles for managing a set of variables together.
- FancyZones - A window manager that makes it easy to create complex window layouts and quickly position windows into those layouts.
- File Explorer add-ons - Enable Preview pane and thumbnail rendering in File Explorer to display a variety of file types. To enable the Preview pane, select the "View" tab in File Explorer, then select "Preview Pane".
- File Locksmith - A Windows shell extension to check which files are in use and by which processes. Right-click on one or more selected files in File Explorer, and then select What's using this file?.
- Hosts file editor - A convenient way to edit the 'Hosts' file that contains domain names and matching IP addresses, acting as a map to identify and locate hosts on IP networks.
- Image Resizer - A Windows Shell extension for quickly resizing images. With a simple right click from File Explorer, resize one or many images instantly. This code is based on Brice Lambson's Image Resizer.
- Keyboard Manager - allows you to customize the keyboard to be more productive by remapping keys and creating your own keyboard shortcuts.
- Mouse utilities - Add functionality to enhance your mouse and cursor. With Find My Mouse, quickly locate your mouse's position with a spotlight that focuses on your cursor.
- Mouse Without Borders - Enables you to interact with multiple computers from the same keyboard and mouse, sharing clipboard contents and files between the machines seamlessly.
- Paste as Plain Text - Allows you to paste text from your clipboard, excluding text-formatting, with a quick key shortcut (Ctrl+⊞ Win+V).
- Peek - Allows you to preview file content without the need to open multiple applications or interrupt your workflow. Simply select the file and use the shortcut (Ctrl + Space)
- PowerRename - Enables you to perform bulk renaming, searching and replacing file names. It includes advanced features, such as using regular expressions, targeting specific file types, previewing expected results, and the ability to undo changes. This code is based on Chris Davis's SmartRename.
- Quick Accent - An alternative way to type accented characters, useful for when a keyboard doesn't support that specific accent with a quick key combo.
- Registry Preview - A utility to visualize and edit Windows Registry files.
- PowerToys Run - Helps you search and launch your app instantly. To open, use the shortcut Alt+Space and start typing. It is open source and modular for additional plugins.
- Screen Ruler - Allows you to quickly measure pixels on your screen based with image edge detection. To activate, use the shortcut ⊞ Win+Shift+M. This was inspired by Pete Blois's Rooler.
- Shortcut Guide - Appears when you press ⊞ Win+Shift+/ (or as we like to think, ⊞ Win+?) and shows the available shortcuts for the current state of the desktop. You can also change this setting and press and hold ⊞ Win.
- Text Extractor - A convenient way to copy text from anywhere on your screen. To activate, use the shortcut Win ⊞ +Shift+T. This code is based on Joe Finney's Text Grab.
- Video Conference Mute - a quick way to globally "mute" both your microphone and camera using Win ⊞ + Shift + Q while on a conference call, regardless of the application that currently has focus.
