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The Secret Microsoft App That Improves How I Use Windows
Winsage
January 9, 2026

The Secret Microsoft App That Improves How I Use Windows

PowerToys is a suite of utilities developed by Microsoft, available for free on GitHub and other platforms, which enhances the Windows user experience with frequently updated functionalities. Key utilities include: - Command Palette: A tool for launching applications, searching for files, and locating open windows, with a Bookmarks feature for quick access to folders and websites. - Light Switch: Allows users to toggle dark mode with a keyboard shortcut and schedule it based on fixed hours or local sunset times. - Peek: Enables quick file previews by pressing the Space bar, allowing seamless navigation through files. - Text Extractor: A utility for extracting text from images faster than Windows' built-in OCR, using the shortcut Windows + Shift + T. - Image Resizer: Simplifies the process of resizing images through a right-click option in File Explorer, offering preset sizes and custom resolutions. - Awake: Keeps PCs active beyond default sleep settings, allowing users to choose a duration for their systems to remain awake. - FancyZones: Provides custom window layouts for efficient workspace organization, allowing users to snap windows into designated zones.
Microsoft Store Web Now Lets You Install Multiple Windows Apps at Once
Winsage
November 6, 2025

Microsoft Store Web Now Lets You Install Multiple Windows Apps at Once

Microsoft has introduced a "Multi-app Install" feature on the Microsoft Store website, allowing users to select and install multiple Windows applications simultaneously. Users can bundle several applications into a single installer, which, when executed, initiates the installation of all chosen apps without requiring additional clicks or permissions. Currently, users can select from a curated list of 48 popular apps, including Netflix, Instagram, Apple Music, and Spotify. This feature is only available on the web version of the Microsoft Store, as the desktop application does not support it yet.
Windows 11 will finally let you switch themes based on schedule or time via PowerToys
Winsage
September 4, 2025

Windows 11 will finally let you switch themes based on schedule or time via PowerToys

Windows 11 will introduce an automated feature to switch between light and dark themes based on the time of day, currently being tested through a PowerToys utility expected by October 2025. Users can set custom hours or use location services for this functionality. Task Scheduler can also be used to create tasks that automatically switch themes by modifying registry values.
Who should consider Windows PowerToys?
Winsage
August 24, 2025

Who should consider Windows PowerToys?

Windows PowerToys is a collection of utilities for the Windows operating system, originally created for power users in the Windows 95 era and revived as an open-source project in 2019 for Windows 10 and 11. It is actively maintained by Microsoft engineers and volunteers. Key features include: - FancyZones: A window manager for creating custom snap layouts. - PowerToys Run: A launcher for quickly opening applications and files. - Keyboard Manager: Allows remapping of keys and creation of new shortcuts. - Text Extractor: Enables copying text from images or on-screen elements. - Mouse Utilities: Includes cursor highlighting and keyboard control of the mouse. PowerToys also offers File Explorer add-ons, a Color Picker, and utilities for batch renaming or resizing files. It is beneficial for users looking to streamline tasks and customize their systems, but may not be necessary for those engaged in basic computer activities. There may be a learning curve and occasional bugs due to its open-source nature.
Windows 11 Build 27898 introduces taskbar icon scaling and system recovery improvements
Winsage
July 12, 2025

Windows 11 Build 27898 introduces taskbar icon scaling and system recovery improvements

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27898 to the Canary Channel, introducing several new features aimed at enhancing usability and recovery. Key features include: - Taskbar Icon Scaling: The taskbar will automatically reduce icon sizes when it reaches capacity, with three customizable options for users regarding icon size. - Quick Machine Recovery: This feature allows automatic recovery from boot issues using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), connecting to the internet for targeted fixes from Windows Update. - Accessibility Enhancements: Users can add custom words to the voice access dictionary, and a new Screen Curtain feature for the Narrator screen reader enhances privacy by blacking out the display. - Energy Saver Feature: An adaptive energy saver mode is being rolled out for battery-powered devices, managing energy saver settings based on power state and system load. - Sharing Features: The Windows share window now shows visual previews of shared content and allows users to select compression settings for images. - Performance Improvements: Enhancements have been made to file extraction for large archives, and the Snipping Tool now has a shortcut for launching the text extractor. - Default Browser Management: Users can set their default browser to handle PDFs and pin it to the Start menu and taskbar. The build also addresses various issues within File Explorer and Settings, although some known problems remain, such as display distortion in Remote Desktop on Arm64 PCs.
Windows Snipping Tool now lets you create animated GIF recordings
Winsage
June 22, 2025

Windows Snipping Tool now lets you create animated GIF recordings

Microsoft has updated its Snipping Tool to include the ability to export animated GIF recordings. This feature is being rolled out to Windows 11 Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels with version 11.2505.21.0. Users can create GIFs from screen recordings, but videos longer than 30 seconds will be truncated to the first 30 seconds for GIF export. To create a GIF, users can access the screen recorder with Win + Shift + R, and after recording, they can click the 'Export GIF' button. They can choose between low and high GIF quality and copy the GIF to the clipboard or save it. Additionally, Microsoft has tested an AI-powered 'perfect screenshot' tool and introduced a Text Extractor feature, along with a draw & hold feature and a trim capability for screen recordings.
Windows quietly tests AI power management and redesigned Widgets
Winsage
May 21, 2025

Windows quietly tests AI power management and redesigned Widgets

Microsoft is experimenting with new features in its Windows Insider builds, including an automatic power-management feature that uses AI to optimize device performance based on user activity. This feature aims to enhance battery life while ensuring full performance is restored when work resumes. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing "Click To Do" functionalities in File Explorer, allowing users to access AI-driven options like Bing Visual Search and background editing directly through right-click commands. The company plans to integrate Microsoft 365 functionalities for summarizing files without opening them. Widgets are being redesigned with a new interface powered by Copilot, which suggests content based on user preferences. Other updates include a new shortcut for the Snipping Tool, options for image quality when sharing documents, improved taskbar search functionality, and enhanced accessibility settings.
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