Microsoft PowerToys for Windows 11

The name has been around since the days of Windows 95, but today’s PowerToys has little to do with that package: it is an open project, updated every few weeks, which now features more than thirty different tools. At the time of writing, the latest stable version is 0.101 (build 0.101.2362.0), released on August 25, 2026: it introduced Window Hopper, Stable and Insider update channels, and the compact mode for the Command Palette, which has become the access point for almost everything else in the suite.

I’ll start with installation and then review the tools grouped by their function, including default shortcuts and differences from versions from a few years ago, as several key combinations have changed in the meantime. Some modules, however, are no longer included: Video Conference Mute, which muted your microphone and webcam with Win + Shift + Q, was removed in 2025; today, Windows 11 does the same thing via the taskbar or within your meeting app controls.

Requirements and installation #

The minimum requirements are low but not insignificant: PowerToys no longer runs on 32-bit systems.

• Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later
• 64-bit processor, x64 or ARM64
• Microsoft Edge WebView2 runtime, which the installer will download automatically if it is missing

Three ways to install it #

Microsoft recommends the Microsoft Store or GitHub; winget is convenient if you are already used to the command line.

1. Microsoft Store. Open the PowerToys page on the Microsoft Store and click Get. This is the easiest way, and updates arrive automatically.

2. GitHub. Go to the official release page, open Assets, and download the file that matches your PC: PowerToysUserSetup-...-x64.exe for the vast majority of computers, and the arm64 variant for laptops with ARM processors.

3. winget. Open PowerShell or Terminal and paste:

   winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys --source winget
   

Once installation is complete, a welcome screen appears followed by the settings home page: from there, you can enable or disable individual modules using a toggle switch.

Updates: Stable and Insider channels #

Starting from version 0.101, update management has its own dedicated page. In Settings → General → Update channel, you can choose between Stable, which is the default setting, and Insider, which also installs Preview builds released between stable versions. Previews are released frequently—sometimes two or three a week—and are meant for testing new features early; on a work computer, it’s best to stay on Stable.

Command Palette: the command center #

If you used PowerToys a few years ago, the search bar you knew was PowerToys Run. Today, the main tool is the Command Palette: it opens with Win + Alt + Space and, in addition to launching programs, acts as an interface for much of the system.

The trick lies in prefixes: the first character you type determines where to search.

From there, you can also access clipboard history, Windows services, Terminal profiles, Remote Desktop connections, WinGet package searches, and the PowerToys modules themselves.

Dock, bookmarks, and extensions #

Three features make the Palette more than just a launcher:

• Dock: a fixed bar on the edge of your screen with the commands you use most often, allowing you to access them with one click without opening the window. It can remain visible or hide until you hover over it, and every monitor has its own on multi-monitor setups.
• Bookmarks: files, folders, URLs, or commands saved with a custom name. They can contain a {query} placeholder, so the Palette will prompt you for the value when used.
• Extensions: an integrated gallery where you can install and update community extensions that add new commands and integrations.

With version 0.101, compact mode was also introduced: the Palette opens as a small search box positioned vertically wherever you want, expanding only when there are results to show. It is not active by default; it must be enabled in the module settings.

Manage windows #

FancyZones #

It’s the classic highlight: it allows you to design custom grids on your desktop and snap windows into them. The layout editor opens with Win + Shift + ` (the backtick key), not the old combination without Shift that still circulates in many guides. To snap a window, drag it while holding down Shift; if you assign a shortcut to a layout, you can recall it with Win + Ctrl + Alt + a number.

Window Hopper #

New in version 0.101. It works like Alt + Tab, but stays inside the application you are using: by pressing Alt + `, you only cycle through windows of that program. With six File Explorer tabs or four browser windows open, it saves quite a few steps.

Always on Top, Crop and Lock, Mouse Without Borders (Note: Input says “Afferra e sposta” which is Mouse Jump/Grab and Move context, but I will translate the text provided) -> Grab and Move #

• Always on Top pins a window above all others with Win + Ctrl + T.
• Crop and Lock creates a small window containing only a portion of another window, which remains interactive: useful for keeping an eye on a chart or a counter.
• Grab and Move allows you to move and resize a window by dragging it from any point while holding down a modifier key, without having to aim for the title bar or the edges.

Workspaces #

Workspaces save a group of applications with their screen positions and reopen them with a single click. This is the most useful feature if you always open the same five windows in the same order every morning.

Files and File Explorer #

Peek: instant preview #

Peek shows the content of a file without opening the application used to manage it. Select the file in File Explorer and press the shortcut: since version 0.95, the default is the Spacebar, much like Mac’s Quick Look. Use the arrow keys to scroll through other files in the folder; press Enter to open the current one in its default program; and use Delete to send it to the Recycle Bin. It reads images, Office documents, videos, Markdown, source code, and, as of recent builds, even SQLite databases in read-only mode.

PowerRename and Image Resizer #

PowerRename renames files in bulk from the context menu: it supports search and replace, numbering, changing extensions, and regular expressions, with a preview of the result before you confirm. Image Resizer does the same thing for pixel dimensions: select your photos, right-click, and choose a format or enter your own measurement. By default, it creates copies, but it can also overwrite the originals.

New+, File Locksmith, and Previews #

• New+ adds your file and folder templates to the File Explorer New menu, so you can create a project structure in one click.
• File Locksmith tells you which process is holding a file hostage that you can’t move or delete, and allows you to close it. Keep in mind that closing a program this way will result in the loss of unsaved work.
• File Explorer add-ons enable previews (Alt + P) for formats that Windows doesn’t natively handle: SVG, Markdown, PDF, G-code, and source code with syntax highlighting.

Clipboard, text, and artificial intelligence #

Advanced Paste #

Advanced Paste opens with Win + Shift + V and converts what you have in your clipboard: plain text, Markdown, JSON, files .txt, .html or .png. It also includes text extraction from images via OCR and audio and video conversion into .mp3 or .mp4. The direct shortcut to paste without formatting, without opening the window, is Ctrl + Win + Alt + V.

All these operations happen on your computer. The part involving artificial intelligence (summarizing, translating, rewriting, checking spelling and grammar) is separate and is disabled by default: it must be turned on and linked to a provider.

Text Extractor and Quick Accent #

Text Extractor copies text from anywhere on your screen, even within an image or a video: press Win + Shift + T, drag a rectangle, and the recognized text ends up in your clipboard. For languages other than your system language, you’ll need the corresponding OCR package, which can be installed via Windows Settings.

Quick Accent is used to type accented characters on keyboards that don’t have them: hold down the letter and then use the spacebar or arrow keys to choose the character. In recent versions, it has been rebuilt in WinUI 3 and now features a long-press activation mode with adjustable duration.

Screen, mouse, and keyboard #

• Color Picker (Win + Shift + C) captures the hex or RGB code of any pixel on your screen and copies it to the clipboard.
• Screen Ruler (Win + Shift + M) measures distances and boxes in pixels, automatically detecting element edges.
• ZoomIt is the classic Sysinternals tool now included in the suite: it zooms into a portion of your screen, allows you to draw on top of it, and records your desktop. It’s designed for technical presentations and video tutorials.
• Mouse Utilities bundles five functions: Find My Mouse (double-tap Ctrl, or shake the mouse) which dims the screen and highlights the cursor; Mouse Highlighter (Win + Shift + H) that marks clicks; Mouse Jump to jump from one monitor to another; a crosshair for those who need precision or have visual impairments; and CursorWrap, which makes the cursor reappear on the opposite side when it hits an edge.
• Keyboard Manager remaps individual keys and shortcuts, even just for a specific application. The changes remain active as long as PowerToys is running, so they do not permanently alter your system settings.
• Light Switch automatically switches from light to dark theme at sunrise and sunset in your location, at fixed times, or by following Windows Night Light. You can decide whether the change applies only to apps, only to the system, or both.
• PowerToys adjusts brightness, contrast, volume, input source, and color temperature of external monitors from a single menu, with the ability to sync the brightness across multiple screens.
• Awake keeps your PC awake for as long as you need, with an icon in the notification area and without changing your power settings.
• The Shortcut Guide (Win + Shift + ?) shows the available shortcuts for the active program, complete with a built-in search box.

Tools for developers or power users #

Part of the suite is aimed at a more technical audience, replacing operations that would otherwise require opening Notepad as an administrator:

• Hosts File Editor modifies hoststhe hosts file with a real interface, instead of doing it manually.
• Registry Preview shows what a .regregistry file will change before you run it.
• Environment Variables manages variables by grouping them into profiles that can be toggled on and off on the fly.
• Command Not Found is a module for PowerShell 7 that, when you make a typo or enter an unknown command, suggests the WinGet package to install.
• Mouse Without Borders allows you to control up to four computers with a single keyboard and mouse, even moving files between machines.

Shortcuts to remember #

All of these are customizable in the settings for each individual module; here you will find the default shortcuts for the utilities used every day.

Tips before you start #

Don’t turn everything on at once. Every active module stays in memory: enable the three or four that you actually use and leave the others off; just turn them back on when you need them. Resource consumption remains low, but the real issue with an “all on” installation is shortcut conflicts.

Watch out for conflicts. Several PowerToys combinations overlap with those used by other programs, such as screen capture software, game overlays, and remote assistance tools. If a shortcut doesn’t respond, check if another app is using it before assuming something is broken, then change it in the module settings.

Some things require administrator permissions. To snap windows of programs running as an administrator (like Task Manager or an elevated Terminal) into FancyZones, you must run PowerToys with the same permissions.

FAQ #

Is PowerToys free? #

Yes, completely. It is an open-source project published by Microsoft under the MIT license: there are no paid versions, subscriptions, or unlockable features. Any potential costs would relate to external services, such as an online AI provider connected to Advanced Paste.

Does PowerToys work on Windows 10? #

Yes, provided you have version 2004 (build 19041) or later and a 64-bit processor. The modules are the same, though some features related to the Windows 11 interface may behave slightly differently.

Does Command Palette replace PowerToys Run? #

It doesn’t replace it, but rather evolves from it: the Palette does everything Run did and adds management for system commands, extensions, bookmarks, and the Dock. PowerToys Run remains available for those who have built a workflow around its plugins.

Do AI features send my data online? #

Only if you choose to. AI transformations are disabled by default and, when you enable them, you can connect them to a local model like Ollama or Phi Silica, which processes everything on your computer. Other Advanced Paste conversions and OCR still work locally.

Does PowerToys slow down my computer? #

In normal use, the impact is marginal: modules stay in standby waiting for a shortcut and consume very little memory. If you have a PC with low RAM, disabling the modules you don’t use is still a sensible move.

How do I update PowerToys? #

If you installed it from the Microsoft Store, updates are automatic. With the GitHub executable or via winget, PowerToys will automatically check for new versions and notify you; manual checking can be found in Settings → General, on the same page where you choose between the Stable and Insider channels.

Where can I find the official documentation? #

On the Microsoft website: the PowerToys documentation in Italian has a page for each module, while the release notes for each version are published on the GitHub release page.