Windows PowerToys is a collection of handy utilities that can offer a lot of value to those with some use for them. We wanted to briefly run through some of the most business-friendly options you might want to implement into your operations.
We also wanted to inform you that these tools are only available through specific processes that you should always entrust to a trusted technology provider, such as the team here at First Column IT. Even if you don’t work with us, you should always have any software added to a business computer by a trusted IT professional so it can be documented and managed appropriately.
With that all attended to, let’s continue as though you currently have PowerToys installed and examine the utilities it offers.
Once installed, PowerToys will run as a startup item. This means they are always ready for you to use and can be accessed via an icon in the Windows taskbar. Clicking this icon will bring up an abbreviated list of available tools, with More being available for you to access through a dedicated button.
From there, it’s just a matter of picking the correct utility for your needs… and if you ever need a quick refresher, the page icon at the bottom of the menu will bring you to the dedicated Microsoft Learn pages.
The bottom of the menu also features a bug icon that allows you to notify Microsoft of an issue and the dedicated Settings for PowerTools, where you can (amongst other things) select which PowerTools you are likely to need more regularly and hide the others.
While we encourage you to examine the list in full to see what PowerToys offers, these ten utilities will most likely come in handy throughout the workday.
Always On Top
This feature gives you a quick shortcut (WinKey+Ctrl+T) to pin one window to the front, meaning other windows and applications will always move behind them.
Crop And Lock
This utility allows you to create a small thumbnail of an existing window that acts as its own window, making things easier to reference.
FancyZones
As a window manager, FancyZones lets you quickly and easily organize your windows into preset layouts.
Keyboard Manager
There are likely a bunch of keys on the keyboard that you have never used. After all, how often does the average person need to type “|” or set focus to the first icon in the Suggested Actions menu? Accessing the Keyboard Manager allows you to remap existing shortcuts to do different things.
New+
This PowerToy allows you to use templates to create new files and folders in your File Explorer.
PowerRename
This allows you to change large file lists, renaming them in bulk and addressing only specific file types.
Quick Accent
Accent mark combinations are challenging to remember, so the Quick Accent utility offers a handy way of adding them to whatever you’re typing.
Shortcut Guide
Pressing Windows Key+Shift+/ calls up a list of available shortcuts based on what’s currently active on the screen.
Text Extractor
Sometimes, you need to copy text from places that don’t inherently allow you to copy it. Text Extractor, accessible via Windows Key+Shift+T, enables you to grab this text.
Workspaces
If you have a consistent enough work process that you have your applications arranged on your displays in the same way, day in and day out, Workspaces allows you to mass-launch your necessary applications. You can pull up the Workspaces editor by pressing Windows Key+Ctrl+`.
Again, this is just a sample of what PowerToys offers, so we encourage you to work with your IT to enable it. Businesses that utilize our managed IT services could have us handle it on their behalf, among the many other benefits we deliver. Give us a call at (571) 470-5594 to learn more.
