Unleashing Productivity – A Deep Dive into Microsoft PowerToys

Microsoft PowerToys is a set of free tools that let you do more with your Windows 10 PC. Whether you want to quickly resize images, rename files, launch apps, or manage windows, PowerToys has something for you. In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into the features of PowerToys and show you how they can boost your productivity.

What are PowerToys?

PowerToys are a collection of utilities that were originally developed by Microsoft engineers for their own use. They were first released for Windows 95 and later for Windows XP, offering users some extra functionality and customization options. In 2019, Microsoft revived the project and released a new version of PowerToys for Windows 10, with the help of the open source community.

PowerToys for Windows 10 currently includes nine tools:

– Color Picker: A handy tool that lets you pick any color from your screen and copy its HEX or RGB code.

– FancyZones: A window manager that lets you create custom layouts for your desktop and snap windows into them.

– File Explorer Add-ons: A set of enhancements for the File Explorer, such as adding a preview pane for SVG and Markdown files, and adding new file types to the rename menu.

– Image Resizer: A tool that lets you resize one or more images by right-clicking on them and choosing a preset or custom size.

– Keyboard Manager: A tool that lets you remap any key or shortcut on your keyboard to another key or shortcut.

– PowerRename: A tool that lets you rename multiple files at once using search and replace or regular expressions.

– PowerToys Run: A launcher that lets you quickly find and run any app, file, folder, or web search by pressing Alt+Space.

– Shortcut Guide: A tool that shows you a cheat sheet of all the available keyboard shortcuts when you press and hold the Windows key.

– Video Conference Mute: A tool that lets you mute your microphone and camera with a single keystroke or mouse click, regardless of what app you’re using.

How to install PowerToys?

Installing PowerToys is very easy. Just go to the GitHub page and download the latest release. Run the installer and follow the instructions. Once installed, you’ll see a PowerToys icon in your system tray. You can click on it to open the settings window, where you can enable or disable each tool, and customize its options.

How to use PowerToys?

Each tool in PowerToys has its own way of working, but they all share some common features. For example, most tools have a keyboard shortcut that you can use to activate them. You can also change these shortcuts in the settings window.

Some tools also have a context menu option that you can access by right-clicking on an item. For example, you can right-click on an image file and choose “Resize pictures” to launch the Image Resizer tool.

Here are some examples of how you can use PowerToys to enhance your productivity:

– Use Color Picker to find the perfect color for your design or presentation. Just press Win+Shift+C and hover over any color on your screen. You’ll see a magnified view of the color and its code. You can then copy it to your clipboard or adjust it using a color picker wheel.

– Use FancyZones to organize your windows into custom layouts. Just press Win+` (or whatever shortcut you set) and drag a window to one of the zones on your screen. You can create different layouts for different scenarios, such as work, gaming, or multitasking.

– Use File Explorer Add-ons to preview and edit different file types in the File Explorer. For example, you can preview SVG and Markdown files without opening them in another app. You can also batch rename files using PowerRename, which supports advanced features like regular expressions and case sensitivity.

– Use Image Resizer to quickly resize one or more images without opening an image editor. Just right-click on an image file or a selection of files and choose “Resize pictures”. You can then choose from several preset sizes or enter a custom size. You can also choose the output format and quality of the resized images.

– Use Keyboard Manager to customize your keyboard layout and shortcuts. For example, you can swap the Caps Lock and Escape keys, or assign a shortcut like Ctrl+Shift+T to open a new tab in your browser. You can also create profiles for different keyboards or apps.

– Use PowerToys Run to launch anything on your PC with just a few keystrokes. Just press Alt+Space (or whatever shortcut you set) and start typing what you’re looking for. You’ll see a list of matching results from various sources, such as apps, files, folders, settings, web searches, and more. You can then use the arrow keys or the mouse to select the result you want and press Enter to run it.

– Use Shortcut Guide to learn and master the keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10. Just press and hold the Windows key (or whatever shortcut you set) and you’ll see a overlay of all the available shortcuts for the current context. You can also see the shortcuts for specific features, such as virtual desktops, snap assist, or emoji panel.

– Use Video Conference Mute to mute your microphone and camera with one click or keystroke. Just press Win+N (or whatever shortcut you set) and you’ll see a notification that your microphone and camera are muted. You can also click on the notification to unmute them. This works with any app that uses your microphone and camera, such as Skype, Zoom, Teams, or Discord.

PowerToys is a powerful and versatile set of tools that can help you get more out of your Windows 10 PC. Whether you want to improve your workflow, optimize your screen space, or customize your system, PowerToys has something for you. You can download PowerToys for free from GitHub and start using it today. You can also contribute to the project by reporting issues, suggesting features, or submitting code. PowerToys is an open source project that welcomes feedback and participation from the community.

We hope you enjoyed this deep dive into PowerToys and learned something new. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And don’t forget to share this article with your friends and colleagues who might find it useful.