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PowerToys

A set of Windows utilities for customizing the desktop and speeding up everyday tasks.

GitHub Download v0.102.3001
Stars
140k
Forks
8.7k
Licence
MIT
Language
C
Last update
4 days ago
Type
App

What it is

PowerToys is a free, open-source collection of over 30 small utilities for Windows, published by Microsoft. Each utility adds a specific capability, such as arranging windows into zones (FancyZones), batch renaming files (PowerRename), picking colors from the screen (Color Picker), or remapping keys (Keyboard Manager). People use it to customize Windows and save time on repetitive tasks.

  • Snap windows into custom zones with FancyZones
  • Rename a folder of files in bulk with PowerRename
  • Pick a color from anywhere on screen with Color Picker
  • Remap keys or shortcuts with Keyboard Manager
  • Measure on-screen elements with Screen Ruler

Great for

  • Windows users who want more control over window layout and multi-monitor setups
  • People who rename many files at once or want quick text transformations
  • Power users who want keyboard remapping and a quick launcher
  • Developers and designers who need a screen color picker or screen ruler

Not ideal for

  • Users on macOS or Linux, since the README describes Windows utilities only
  • People who want a minimal system with no extra tools installed, because it bundles many utilities that each run as separate features
  • Users who need an official support contract, as the README points to community and documentation resources rather than a support guarantee
Step-by-step guide: how to use PowerToysInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs
PowerToys alternativesFiles vs PowerToysDevToys vs PowerToysCalculator vs PowerToysPowerToys vs UniGetUI

How to get it

  1. 1

    Install with a package manager

    Install with WinGet (user scope, default)

    winget install Microsoft.PowerToys -s winget

    Install with WinGet (machine-wide scope)

    winget install --scope machine Microsoft.PowerToys -s winget
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Install PowerToys using one of the methods in the README, such as the Microsoft Store, WinGet, or the .exe from GitHub releases.
    • Open PowerToys from the Start menu or system tray.
    • Enable the utilities you want in the settings window.
    • Try a utility such as FancyZones or PowerRename using the shortcuts described in the documentation.
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Read the per-utility docs linked from the README table for shortcuts and settings
    • Use PowerToys Run and Command Palette as a quick launcher for other utilities
    • Follow the release notes to track upcoming changes such as the planned v0.103 work on Awake and Screen Ruler
    • Choose the install scope that matches your setup (per-user or machine-wide), as the README notes

Downloads

Source code (.zip)main branch · straight from GitHubRelease v0.102.30017 files incl. PowerToysUserSetup-0.102.3001.0-arm64.exe

Strengths

  • Free and open source under the MIT license
  • Large set of utilities in one install, with documentation linked from the README
  • Actively maintained, with a recent push and frequent releases

Trade-offs

  • Works only on Windows, as stated in the description and topics
  • Many separate utilities mean you may need to enable only the ones you want
  • The README is truncated here, so detailed system requirements are only available on the linked install docs

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
PowerToys (this)140kAppbeginner4 days agoWindows users who want more control over window layout and multi-monitor setups
DevToys32.2kAppbeginner1 months agoDevelopers who often decode, encode, or format small pieces of data
Files46.4kAppintermediate4 days agoWindows users who want a more modern alternative to File Explorer
calculator31.1kAppintermediate13 days agoWindows 11 users who want to read or modify the built-in calculator
UniGetUI26.8kAppbeginner4 days agoWindows users who already use WinGet, Scoop or Chocolatey and want one place to manage them
Win11Debloat61.5kCLIbeginner4 days agoPeople setting up a new Windows PC who want fewer preinstalled apps and less promotional content

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.