Despite the myriad features Microsoft includes in its operating system, there will always be users seeking alternative, faster, or better ways of doing things. One example of Microsoft recognizing this is the availability of Microsoft PowerToys, a free download that offers various functionalities such as managing application windows, bulk file renaming, and file previewing.
Microsoft PowerToys, originally introduced with Windows 95, was absent in Windows 10 and 11 until September 2019. Aimed at power users, PowerToys were designed to allow users to tweak the operating system’s functionality without delving into configuration screens or the Windows Registry file. Over the years, PowerToys have provided many users with valuable tools to enhance their productivity and improve their quality of work and life.
Each version of Windows has inspired a new set of tools in PowerToys, customized to enhance that particular version. As of now, the latest version of Microsoft PowerToys is v0.82.0, available on GitHub. It includes various tools such as FancyZones, PowerRename, and Preview Pane add-ons for File Explorer.
Users can access PowerToys as a free downloadable system that can be configured based on individual preferences. While PowerToys can impact performance due to the significant amount of RAM they require to run, users can choose to activate only the tools they are using to optimize performance. As new PowerToys are periodically added to the Windows library, users can expect further expansion of available tools.
