Inspired by the Windows 95 period PowerToys mission, this reboot gives energy customers with utilities to squeeze extra effectivity out of the Windows 10 shell and customise it for particular person workflows. Check out this nice overview of the Windows 95 PowerToys.
The first preview launch of PowerToys accommodates two utilities with all of the code for the mission on GitHub. The repo additionally accommodates the knowledge and instruments it’s essential perceive how the PowerToys’ utilities work collectively and easy methods to create your personal utilities.
Getting began
To kick the tires on the primary two utilities, obtain the installer right here. The foremost PowerToys service runs when Windows begins and a person logs in. When the service is working, a PowerToys icon seems within the system tray. Selecting the icon launches the PowerToys settings UI. The settings UI allows you to allow and disable particular person utilities and gives settings for every utility. There can be a hyperlink to the assistance doc for every utility. You can proper click on the tray icon to stop the Power Toys service.
PowerToys settings UI.Note that some PowerToys performance requires working in an elevated course of. Elevation is required to work together with and manipulate home windows from processes which have a better set of rights than the present person. This is why the PowerToys.exe requests elevation when launched.
If you discover bugs or have solutions, please open a difficulty within the Power Toys GitHub repo. The backlog for creating new utilities is right here. You can present suggestions on the backlog to counsel new concepts or a special precedence order by becoming a member of the backlog dialogue on this situation.
Current PowerToy utilities
The presently out there utilities embrace:
Always on Top
Always on Top allows you to pin home windows on prime of all different home windows with a fast key shortcut (⊞ Win+Ctrl+T).
PowerToys Awake
PowerToys Awake is designed to maintain a pc awake with out having to handle its energy & sleep settings. This conduct will be useful when working time-consuming duties, making certain that the pc doesn’t fall asleep or turns off its screens.
Color Picker
ColorPicker is a system-wide colour choosing utility activated with Win+Shift+C. Pick colours from any presently working utility, the picker mechanically copies the colour into your clipboard in a set format. Color Picker additionally accommodates an editor that reveals a historical past of beforehand picked colours, means that you can fine-tune the chosen colour and to repeat completely different string representations. This code relies on Martin Chrzan’s Color Picker.
FancyZones
FancyZones is a window supervisor that makes it straightforward to create advanced window layouts and shortly place home windows into these layouts.
File Explorer add-ons
File Explorer add-ons allow preview pane rendering in File Explorer to show SVG icons (.svg), Markdown (.md) and PDF file previews. To allow the preview pane, choose the “View” tab in File Explorer, then choose “Preview Pane”.
Image Resizer
Image Resizer is a Windows Shell extension for shortly resizing pictures. With a easy proper click on from File Explorer, resize one or many pictures immediately. This code relies on Brice Lambson’s Image Resizer.
Keyboard Manager
Keyboard Manager means that you can customise the keyboard to be extra productive by remapping keys and creating your personal keyboard shortcuts. This PowerToy requires Windows 10 1903 (construct 18362) or later.
Mouse utilities
Mouse utilities add performance to reinforce your mouse and cursor. With Find My Mouse, shortly find your mouse’s place with a highlight that focuses in your cursor. This function relies on supply code developed by Raymond Chen.
PowerRename
PowerRename allows you to carry out bulk renaming, looking out and changing file names. It consists of superior options, corresponding to utilizing common expressions, focusing on particular file sorts, previewing anticipated outcomes, and the flexibility to undo adjustments. This code relies on Chris Davis’s SensibleRename.
PowerToys Run
PowerToys Run may help you search and launch your app immediately – simply press the shortcut Alt+Space and begin typing. It is open supply and modular for extra plugins. Window Walker is now included as properly. This PowerToy requires Windows 10 1903 (construct 18362) or later.
Shortcut Guide
Windows key shortcut information seems when a person presses ⊞ Win+Shift+/ (or as we prefer to suppose, ⊞ Win+?) and reveals the out there shortcuts for the present state of the desktop. You can even change this setting and press and maintain ⊞ Win.
Video Conference Mute
Video Conference Mute is a fast technique to globally “mute” each your microphone and digicam utilizing ⊞ Win+Shift+Q whereas on a convention name, whatever the utility that presently has focus. This requires Windows 10 1903 (construct 18362) or later.
Languages
Currently, PowerToys is accessible within the following languages: Chinese (simplified), Chinese (conventional), Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Turkish.
Community led and developed within the open
Our aim for the PowerToys mission is for it to be an extension of the Windows energy person group and for it to supply the performance these customers discover most beneficial. Our backlog of utilities is on GitHub, and we encourage the group to supply suggestions on the backlog on this situation. Each utility has its personal function backlog. You can even contribute to the Windows shortcut information backlog and the FancyZones backlog. For new utility solutions, please create a brand new situation to debate the concept.
Creating your personal PowerToys utilities
While opening bug experiences, function solutions, and suggestions on the backlog are all extremely useful for this mission, should you’re one of many many energy customers which are additionally builders, you possibly can contribute on to the product.
When the PowerToys mission was first introduced this spring, we did not suppose the reception can be as enthusiastic because it has been. The mission began with simply an empty repo, with a roadmap and a spot for energy customers to supply solutions and concepts. However, over 4000 customers starred the repo, displaying a robust curiosity within the mission. Given this enthusiasm, we’re anticipating many builders will need to contribute to PowerToys, and we have made positive that the documentation, mission structure, and instruments are prepared for the group to dive in.
Before getting began, it is worthwhile to learn the contribution tips for the mission. After that, it’s best to learn the “Developer Guidance” part of the PowerToys readme, which has a hyperlink to the brand new PowerToys utility Visual Studio template. Each utility is a .dll, which is loaded by the PowerToys runtime and every utility can present settings to the PowerToys settings framework with a JSON blob. The settings UI takes this JSON and mechanically creates a settings UI for the utility. More data on the settings format will be discovered within the Settings spec.
What’s New
The v0.59 launch cycle we centered on wrapping up constructing for native ARM64 and releasing the primary experimental construct. Below are a number of the highlights!
Installer Hashes
x64 Installer Hash
A6742F3C9A477FF50BF3E6F8521FCDC4B7524A81659D0F5C5D850716EFF3D8B8
ARM64 Installer Hash
B7125697BDBF4A6F835757B4CFB9F71A5A5C6E08C073777112A3D212DC04B170
Highlights
- The work for working natively on ARM64 has been wrapped up and a construct is launched. Thanks @snickler!
- Power Rename now could be working on WinUI 3.
- Keyboard Manager now permits as much as 4 modifier keys for shortcuts and has obtained some high quality fixes.
- Upgraded the Windows App SDK runtimes to 1.1.0, fixing a difficulty the place Settings would not begin with UAC off and bettering efficiency.
- The Windows App SDK runtime binaries are being shipped with PowerToys which ought to resolve the installations points reported with WinAppSDK.
Known points
- There are experiences of customers who’re unable to open the Settings window. This is being attributable to incompatibilities with some functions (RTSS RivaTuner Statistics Server and MSI AfterBurner are recognized examples of this). If you are affected by this, please examine the linked situation to confirm if any of the offered options works for you.
General
- Some typos have been fastened. Thanks @eltociear, @rcmaehl and @ShyPixie!
ARM64
- ARM64 help now absolutely added!
- Fixed PowerRename to work on ARM64.
- Fixed File Explorer instruments to work on ARM64.
- Made adjustments for the installer tasks to construct ARM64 installers.
- Configured the CI and Release pipelines to construct for ARM64.
- Added ARM64 construct standing to the README.
Always on Top
- Fixed a difficulty the place the borders the place sticking round when a window was minimized with Win+D.
FancyZones
- Fixed a bug that was consuming CPU cycles when the default structure was set.
- Fixed a bug the place apps weren’t opened of their final recognized zones resulting from Virtual Desktop ID adjustments.
- Fixed a bug that was snapping popup menus opened by functions.
- Fixed a bug inflicting home windows to not be snapped underneath some configurations.
Image Resizer
- No longer tries to alter metadata on information that weren’t truly resized. Thanks @adamchilders!
File explorer add-ons
- Fixed a bug the place modules relying on WebView2 can be restricted to opening information smaller than 2 MB. Now the ensuing html is generated into a short lived file earlier than presenting it.
- Add a viewBox attribute to svg information that do not have one in order that the preview tries to indicate the entire picture.
- Remove scrollbar that was displaying when rendering svg thumbnails.
Keyboard Manager
- Now as much as 4 modifier keys can be utilized in shortcuts. This will assist you to use the Office key (which sends Win+Ctrl+Shift+Alt), for instance.
- Fixed a bug locking Keyboard Manager when two shortcut mapping have been pressed on the similar time.
- Removed occasion spam for sure telemetry occasions.
PowerRename
- Ported to make use of WinUI 3 as an alternative of WinUI 2.
PowerToys Run
- The Services plugin is ready to seek for components of the identify, show identify or the service kind or state. Thanks @htcfreek!
- The Services plugin now helps the startup kind ‘Automatic (Delayed Autostart)’. Thanks @htcfreek!
- The Services plugin now has tooltips for giant service names and different UI enhancements. Thanks @htcfreek!
- The TimeDate plugin gave outcomes for queries containing simply numbers on international queries. This has been fastened. Thanks @htcfreek!
- We’ve launched a throttle earlier than a question is completed to make sure typing is completed to extend efficiency. Thanks @shandsj!
- Fixed a crash in WebSearch when there’s an empty sample setup for the system’s default browser.
- Fixed a bug the place VSCodeWorkspaces was not discovering transportable installations of VSCode. Thanks @harvastum!
- The Calculator plugin reacts higher to invalid enter and inside errors. Thanks @htcfreek!
- The Calculator plugin can now be configured to make use of the US quantity format as an alternative of the system one. Thanks @htcfreek!
- The Folder plugin helps paths containing ” Thanks @davidegiacometti!
Settings
- Now the UI for including excluded apps for FindMyMouse is disabled when the module is disabled. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
- Text was improved within the Settings UI for File Explorer. Thanks @Jay-o-Way!
- Settings will not attempt to launch if the whole lot runs elevated within the machine, and a warning message is proven as an alternative.
- Some minor UI fixes. Thanks @niels9001!
- The Settings display ought to now open appropriately if the OOBE display was opened first.
- The rounded nook settings for FancyZones now solely present on Windows 11. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
- Fixed a UI freeze when getting into the Keyboard Manager web page with clear settings.
- Fixed a UI glitch the place a message was being proven that each one PowerToys Run plugins have been disabled when utilizing the search perform. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
- Upgraded the Windows App SDK runtimes to 1.1.0, fixing a difficulty the place Settings would not begin with UAC off and bettering efficiency.
Runner
- Auto-update takes under consideration if it is working on x64 or arm64 to obtain the suitable installer.
Installer
- Updated the .NET dependency to six.0.5.
- The installer is now constructed utilizing a beta model of Wix 3.14 for arm64 help.
- Added the VC++ Redistributable binary as a requirement.
- The Windows App SDK runtime binaries are being shipped with PowerToys as an alternative of working its installer. This ought to repair a lot of the set up points with 0.58.
Development
- New motion added to GitHub to publish the winget bundle to PowerToys.
- New motion added to GitHub to publish for the Microsoft Store. Thanks azchohfi!
- Documentation for putting in the Windows App SDK dependencies and constructing the installer was up to date.
- FxCop faraway from the PowerToys Run TimeZone plugin and was changed with NetAnalyzers. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
- In this launch, we centered on upgrading to new dependencies and constructing for native ARM64. Below are a number of the highlights!
Previous Notes:
Highlights
- Most of the work for working natively on ARM64 has been included within the repo. Thanks @snickler!
- Uses of the out of date WebBrowser management have been changed with WebView 2.
- All makes use of of .NET Core 3.1 have been eliminated. PowerToys now runs on .NET 6.
- Settings now not runs on XAML Islands and is now working on WinUI 3, fixing many bugs associated to XAML islands.
General
- Spell checking fixes within the code. Thanks @jsoref!
- Fix for a CI error associated to spell checking resulting from a GitHub API change. Thanks @jsoref!
- Fixed the documentation references to GitHub. Thanks @Cyl18!
ARM64
- Prepare resolution and property information for ARM64 port. Thanks @snickler!
- Port unhandled exception handler to ARM64. Thanks @snickler!
- Port of the Settings tasks to ARM64. Thanks @snickler!
- Port of a lot of the PowerToys to ARM64. Thanks @snickler!
- Port of the debug utilities to ARM64.
Always on Top
- Fix for topmost state of the window resetting for some functions. (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
ColorPicker
- The CIEXYZ format is now correctly present in higher case.
FancyZones
- Restore rounded corners on Windows 11 and add a setting to manage this conduct. (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Fixed an edge case the place the Windows Terminal window would not be snapped when opened. (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Improved narrator help within the Grid Editor. (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Fixed a bug when restoring rounded corners on Windows 11. (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Fix for home windows not being resized appropriately on completely different dpi settings. (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Removed decision from the display identifier so zones aren’t reset when decision adjustments.
- Scale the canvas structure when enhancing in accordance with new scaling/decision.
- Shipping a brand new software to assist debug home windows interactions with FancyZones.
File explorer
- Fix for a crash in dev file preview if the settings file hadn’t been created but. (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- New file sorts have been added to dev file preview (“.reg”, “.xslt”, “.xsd”, “.wsdl”, “.ino”, “.pde”, “.razor”). Thanks @Aaron-Junker!
- Fix an current “file nonetheless in use” situation in dev file preview. Thanks @Aaron-Junker!
- Dev file preview is now capable of interpret file extensions in a case-insensitive means. Thanks @Aaron-Junker!
- SVG and markdown viewers now not use WebBrowser and use WebView2 as an alternative.
- Markdown preview now respects the darkish mode settings on Windows. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
Mouse utility
- Fix for the bug inflicting shortcuts set on icons to not activate when a mouse utility was lively on particular monitor configurations.
PowerToys Run
- Fix for PowerToys Run utilizing excessive CPU and reminiscence when updating its settings. (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Add the “Run as completely different person” function to the Program, Shell, and Search plugins. Thanks @htcfreek! (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Fix for a WindowWalker crash when a Virtual Desktop registry key just isn’t set. Thanks @htcfreek! (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Fix for VS Code Workspaces not utilizing the person’s path variable proper after an set up or replace. Thanks @ricardosantos9521! (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Fix for the System plugin inflicting PowerToys Run to be gradual when many community interfaces exist. Thanks @htcfreek! (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Fix for the Program plugin not displaying particular shortcuts with empty targets, like Control Panel. (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Additional logging for the Terminal plugin. Thanks @davidegiacometti! (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Web Search and URI plugins have higher code for detecting the default browser now.
- Fix for the Services plugin not manipulating service names with areas appropriately. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
- Fix for the Terminal plugin not recognizing profiles appropriately. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
- Fix for up to date VSCode insiders construct not displaying up within the VSCode Workspaces plugin. Thanks @JacobDeuchert!
- Increased floating quantity precision within the Unit Converter plugin.
- VSCode Workspaces now finds transportable installations of VS Code. Thanks @harvastum
- Fixed a difficulty beginning PowerToys Run when the desktop just isn’t initialized. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
Settings
- Settings now runs on WinUI3 as an alternative of XAML islands.
- Settings now not runs as an administrator when runner is began as an administrator.
Runner
- Use smart default occasions for rechecking for an replace, to keep away from writing to the logs in a loop. (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Runner cleans up the replace listing if the set up is updated. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
Installer
- Distribute a signed .msi contained in the .exe installer bootstrapper. (This was a hotfix for 0.57)
- Removed the .NET core dependency from the installer.
- Partial help for an ARM64 installer.
- Updated the .NET to six.0.4.
- Force replace all information on reinstall/replace, to try to repair set up points.
Development
- PowerToys now not takes a dependency on .NET core.
- WinUI3 is a brand new dependency. Settings now targets win10-x64 and win10-arm64 resulting from this.
Previous Notes:
This is a patch launch to repair points in v0.56.1 to repair a couple of bugs we deemed vital for stability primarily based on incoming charges. See v0.56.1 for full launch notes.
- #16252: We now cross in /norestart flag to .NET runtime installer for our installer
- #16155: FancyZones Template structure reset bug is fastened
- #16699: Dev File Preview handler information in use bug is fastened
- #16669: Added Find my mouse setting for shake distance to permit for adjustability
- #16712: PowerToys Run’s Windows Terminal plugin did not have localization setup appropriately and is now right.
0.56.1 Release Notes:
- Upgrade notes! An enormous suggestions gadgets for brand spanking new variations was improve notes. We have the discharge notes on GitHub as properly.
- FancyZones zone restrict has been elevated to 128 zones. Before the restrict was 40.
- Timezone conversion plugin for PowerToys Run! Thanks @TobiasSekan
- Child and Popup window help for FancyZones. To allow, go to Settings→FancyZones→Windows. These have been bugs we fastened that with out realizing it was a helpful function to most.
- Find my mouse will now activate by way of shaking the mouse with a settings change!
Always on Top
- Fixed extra GPU / CPU utilization when enabled
- If border has focus, not closable by way of F4
- Changing border sizes ought to resize appropriately for current home windows
- Border goes away with Outlook modal home windows
ColorPicker
- No longer crashes throughout theme change
FancyZones
- Increased zone restrict from 40 to 128.
- Child and Popup window help for FancyZones. To allow, go to Settings→FancyZones→Windows. These have been bugs we fastened that with out realizing it was a helpful function to most.
File explorer
- Fixes for Dev file preview: (Thanks @Aaron-Junker)
- Fix repair for object reference not set.
- Fix for encoding UTF-8.
- Fix for file is in use.
- Fix for saying the file is simply too massive.
- Image Resizer
- Fix for invalid operation error. @ClearCodeDeveloper!
Mouse utility
- Find my mouse will now activate by way of shaking the mouse with a settings change!
- Find my mouse now can excludes apps.
- Fix for crosshair thickness trying odd resulting from anti-aliasing
- Fix for a tough crash on crosshair (This was a hotfix for 0.55)
- PowerRename
- Will not spells examine file names anymore. Thanks @niels9001
- Autocomplete end result field to not obscure apply button. Thanks @niels9001
Regex repair
- PowerToys Run
- Timezone conversion plugin for PowerToys Run! Thanks @TobiasSekan
- Hexadecimal and binary numbers now are supported within the calculator plugin. This was added a bit in the past and we would like to increase a belated due to @gsuberland
- Terminal plugin efficiency increase. Thanks @htcfreek!
- Terminal will now be discovered by way of the Program plugin once more.
- Shutdown command is now utilizing hybrid quick argument for shutting down
- Support for VSCodium with VS Code office plugin. Thanks @makeProjectGreatAgain
- Video convention mute
- nVidia Broadcast software program will not crash anymore
Settings
- Upgrade notes in OOBE
- Fix for settings being misplaced (This was a hotfix for 0.55)
- UX enhancements. Thanks @niels9001
Installer
- Believe we now have a repair for the lengthy hated “app.darkish.png is lacking” error. Thanks to @robmen for having an excellent weblog!
- Installer will launch PowerToys underneath applicable elevation versus Admin solely resulting from UAC immediate for set up (This was a hotfix for 0.55)
- PowerToys will now begin if put in underneath completely different person
Development
- ARM64 – We eliminated the final .NET Framework dependency. Thanks @snickler for serving to get this throughout the end line!
- .NET 6 improve, now on the latest and hottest .NET runtime
- Code analyzers have been upgraded! Thanks @ClearCodeDeveloper!
- Symbols are again!
- Code refactoring, thanks @ClearCodeDeveloper and @cyberrex5 for serving to right here!
- We are actually on VS 2022 with the .NET 6 improve.
Previous Notes:
The v0.55 launch cycle continued our progress towards getting PowerToys ARM64 prepared, repair some prime points and new utilities. Work from final month helped us allow us to improve the code base to .NET 5 and subsequent month onward to .NET 6. This will present stability and pace enhancements.
We’re additionally extraordinarily excited to deliver on 3 new PowerToy utilities.
- File Explorer add-on: Developer information for preview pane. This ought to add about 150 file extensions whole. We are utilizing the Monaco Editor to energy this expertise. Thanks @aaron-junker!
- File Explorer add-on: STL file format thumbnail and preview pane era! Since STL is a typical 3D file format, this permits a fast visible examine. Thanks @pedrolamas!
- Mouse Utility: Crosshair over pointer by way of Ctrl+Alt+P. This function was co-developed with the accessibility crew at Microsoft. When the crew advised us concerning the thought and described looking for your cursor by trying via a straw, we knew we may leverage code from the opposite mouse utilities to shortly allow this function. Below is a quote from one of many testers with a tough validation construct:
“This will change my life and permit me to make use of any PC with out consistently dropping the pointer. This is large! I can work at my regular pace once more. It is a complete recreation changer for folks with visible discipline impairments!” – Joanna A.
Change log
General
- .NET runtime is now on 5, our subsequent launch can be upgraded to .NET 6. Moving to .NET 5 after which 6 helped scale back our shifting components in a single launch so we went this route. Why that is vital is that this is without doubt one of the main work gadgets wanted for ARM64 help. In addition, this could assist present a pace boosts as soon as we’re on .NET 6.
- @jsoref’s spelling plugin assist
Always on Top
- Fixed one among two borders displaying incorrectly bugs.
- Border defaults to OS accent colour now. Thanks @davidegiacometti
- Reduced CPU / GPU exercise. Not executed bettering, we all know we will do higher.
FancyZones
- Bug fastened to not lose zones after replace
- Fixed editor margin situation for Chinese language. Thanks @niels9001
File explorer add-ons
- GCode thumbnails now have transparency. Thanks @pedrolamas
- New Utility – Developer information for File Explorer preview pane. This ought to add about 150 file extensions whole. We are utilizing the Monaco Editor to energy this expertise. Thanks @aaron-junker!
New Utility – STL thumbnail and preview panes added! Thanks @pedrolamas!
Image Resizer
- Fixed bug with an excessive amount of meta information. Thanks @ClearCodeDeveloper
- Fixed bug resizing bug for fixed peak whereas sustaining side ratio. Thanks @ClearCodeDeveloper
Mouse utilities
- New Utility – Crosshair over pointer by way of Ctrl+Alt+P. This function was co-developed with the accessibility crew at Microsoft. Thanks @niels9001 for serving to with the icon!
PowerRename
- Files are sorted now how File Explorer kinds.
PowerToys Run
- Improved pace and stuck bugs with Window walker plugin. Thanks @htcfreek
- Window Walker will now present path of elevated apps. Thanks @davidegiacometti
- Added UEFI command to system instructions. Thanks @htcfreek
- Fixed crashing bug in EnvironmentHelper class. Thanks @htcfreek
- Fix URI plugin bug with ^:. Thanks @franky920920
- VS Code plugin not displaying workspaces with newest Code model was corrected. Thanks @ricardosantos9521
- Fixed bug that prompted plugins to not load. Thanks @davidegiacometti
- Fixed crash in Uri plugin and Web search plugin. Thanks @cyberrex5!
Settings
- Fixed a regression with settings being reset when shifting from admin to non-admin
Video Conference Mute
- Fixed crashing bug with Zoom and different purchasers. We discovered somebody we may remotely debug with and determine the precise crashing half.
- Change of conduct: When leaving a gathering, VCM will now go away your microphone within the state it was. This mimics conduct of functions if VCM was not current.
- Change of conduct: When you exit PowerToys, your present microphone state will stay.
Community contributions
- We’d prefer to instantly point out sure contributors (in alphabetical order) for his or her continued group help this month and serving to instantly make PowerToys a greater piece of software program.
- @Aaron-Junker, @bdoserror, @ClearCodeDeveloper, @cyberrex5, @davidegiacometti, @edwinzap, @franky920920, @jay-o-way, @jsoref, @niels9001, and @ricardosantos9521
