PowerToys Archives

Winsage

June 24, 2026

A bunch of bugs that broke PowerToys have been squashed

PowerToys has updated to version 0.100.1, fixing critical bugs from version 0.100.0 that affected core features. - Color Picker: Resolved a bug causing the main window to appear within the zoomed-in picker view. - Command Palette: Corrected initialization of Run history in Ahead-of-Time builds, fixed "???" display in Performance Monitor after restart, adjusted Hibernate command to use the Sleep icon, and limited "pin to dock" dialog to enabled displays. - Keyboard Manager: Addressed remapped modifier keys being delivered as system-key events. - Power Display: Fixed monitor power-state control not waking monitors from standby and resolved display detection and brightness control issues on dual-GPU laptops. - PowerToys Run: Improved discovery of Visual Studio Code workspaces. - Quick Access: Fixed crashes in the Quick Access flyout due to unhandled XAML exceptions. - Shortcut Guide: Resolved a crash in the sidebar navigation, corrected number-key rendering in shortcut manifests, and updated bundled manifests for consistent rendering. - ZoomIt: Fixed a race condition in audio initialization for video recording.

Winsage

June 19, 2026

After years of forgetting Windows shortcuts, I finally found a method that makes them stick

On Windows 11, keyboard shortcuts enhance productivity, but many users are only aware of a few common ones like "Windows key + E" for File Explorer and "Ctrl + C" and "Ctrl + V" for copying and pasting. To help users discover more shortcuts, the Microsoft team behind PowerToys has released a revamped Shortcut Guide in version 0.100. This guide can be accessed through the GitHub page or the Microsoft Store and activated via PowerToys settings. Users can customize the guide's color theme, position, and exclude specific applications. The guide can be opened using the "Windows key + Shift + /" shortcut and provides organized shortcuts for Windows 11 and PowerToys. It also includes context-aware functionality, showing relevant shortcuts based on the active application. The development team has provided guidelines for developers to integrate their apps into the Shortcut Guide.

Winsage

June 18, 2026

I discovered a dead‑simple way to remember Windows 11 shortcuts, and it changed how I use the OS

The Microsoft team behind PowerToys has released an updated Shortcut Guide in version 0.100 for Windows 11, which now appears as a context-sensitive flyout instead of a static reference page. This guide provides relevant keyboard shortcuts based on the application currently in use, improving user efficiency and learning. Users can access the Shortcut Guide by installing PowerToys and can customize its settings, including color theme and activation shortcut. The guide displays shortcuts for various applications and includes a list of Windows 11 and PowerToys shortcuts when no applications are focused. Developers can integrate their apps into the Shortcut Guide as well.

Winsage

June 11, 2026

PowerToys 0.1 Arrives With Improvements to Several Utilities

Microsoft released PowerToys 0.1, featuring several enhancements: - The Shortcut Guide now appears as a side pane, detecting the active application and displaying relevant shortcuts. - The Command Palette includes an extension gallery for easy management of extensions and supports multiple monitor configurations, along with a new Battery widget. - PowerDisplay has improved startup speed, monitor identification, and settings preservation, with a new Max compatibility mode. - ZoomIt now supports a webcam overlay during recordings and allows appending multiple clips with transitions. - Transition to .NET 10 has optimized performance, reduced installation size by 15%, and improved the auto-update feature. Quick Access and Workspaces have migrated to WinUI with a refreshed UI. - Additional improvements include the Keyboard Manager using the new WinUI editor, a Refresh Connections feature in Mouse Without Borders, enhanced high DPI and multi-monitor reliability in Quick Accent, an option to disable file preview tooltips in Peek, and various calculator enhancements in PowerToys Run. PowerToys can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store, Windows Package Manager (winget), or the web.

Winsage

June 10, 2026

PowerToys just made Command Palette extensions easier to install and manage

PowerToys has released version 0.100.0, introducing several new features and enhancements: - Command Palette now includes an Extension Gallery for managing extensions directly. - Improvements to Command Palette include enhanced parameter pages, bookmarks for inline parameters, and better accessibility. - Dock feature enhancements allow for separate customization for each monitor and drag-and-drop functionality. - Performance Monitor introduces a Battery widget and dock bands for CPU, memory, and network metrics. - Calculator enhancements include new functions and improved error messaging. - Reliability improvements include a pinned commands section and smoother navigation. - FancyZones received updates for better localization and guidance. - File Explorer fixes address crashes related to Markdown previews. - File Locksmith improvements enhance handling of Unicode file paths. - Grab And Move has been fully released. - Image Resizer supports live settings reload. - Keyboard Manager editor is redesigned and enabled by default. - Mouse Without Borders adds quick access to refresh connections. - Peek's settings allow toggling of file preview tooltips. - PowerDisplay is optimized for better performance. - PowerToys Run improves calculator functionality and documents third-party plugins. - Quick Accent updates enhance UI consistency and language support. - Settings interface has been refreshed for better usability. - Shortcut Guide redesigned for reliability and includes built-in manifests. - Workspaces has a modernized editor. - ZoomIt introduces webcam overlay capabilities and improved recording features. - Development tools and dependencies have been updated for smoother contributions.

Winsage

June 7, 2026

Microsoft is bringing 10 new features to Windows 11’s taskbar and Start menu

Microsoft is planning to introduce several new features and improvements to the Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu in response to user feedback. Users will soon have the ability to reposition the taskbar to the top, left, or right of the screen, with options for icon alignment. A new “Show smaller taskbar buttons” toggle will reduce the physical height of the taskbar, providing more screen space. These features are currently available in the Insider Experimental channel and are expected to roll out to all PCs soon. The Widgets board will also see changes, with the MSN feed being disabled by default and the “Open on hover” behavior eliminated. In the Start menu, users will gain section-level toggles to hide or show the Pinned, Recent, and All Apps sections. The Start menu can be resized to either Small or Large, and a new privacy mode will hide account names and profile pictures. The “Recommended” section will be renamed to “Recent,” and improvements will be made to file relevancy. Additionally, the Start menu will transition to a new modular engine, enhancing responsiveness and addressing previous criticisms regarding performance.

Winsage

May 25, 2026

5 things Microsoft isn’t fixing with Windows 11 that I’d love to see happen

Microsoft is enhancing Windows 11 with significant updates, including a revamped Windows Update, performance improvements, and customization options for the Start menu and taskbar. The company is addressing device driver issues and engaging with the Windows 11 community for feedback. Users desire features such as a toggle to eliminate advertisements and recommendations, the option to remove references to OneDrive, Bing, Edge, and Game Pass, and the ability to disable web search results in Windows 11 search. The requirement for a Microsoft account for Windows 11 installation has frustrated users who prefer local accounts, prompting calls for the restoration of this option. Users also seek meaningful control over default app installations and the ability to turn off telemetry easily, as current settings are complex. Additionally, there are long-standing projects in Windows 11 that require completion, such as fully integrating dark mode, incorporating the Light Switch feature from PowerToys, and accelerating the migration of legacy features from the Control Panel to the Settings app.

Winsage

May 22, 2026

Microsoft’s PowerToys is getting a low memory mode that kills idle utilities hogging Windows 11 RAM

Microsoft PowerToys is introducing a new optional low memory mode to address significant memory usage from inactive background processes. This feature, developed by an independent contributor, will close the helper process of specific utilities when not in use, allowing users to relaunch them with a hotkey, albeit with a slightly slower initial launch. The initial rollout will support four tools: Text Extractor, Color Picker, Advanced Paste, and Peek. A shared settings map and helper APIs have been introduced to facilitate this feature, which was renamed to “Close apps when inactive” during the code review process. Users can enable this memory-saving behavior globally or for specific applications, with each supported module featuring a toggle on its settings page. The feature is not yet available in PowerToys, and the default behavior will keep background processes running until users opt into the new feature. The code has passed initial validation checks and is awaiting final confirmation before public release.

Winsage

May 18, 2026

Switcher 2026: Minimizing the Microsoft in Windows 11 ⭐

Many users of Windows 11 seek to minimize reliance on Microsoft products while still utilizing the operating system's capabilities. This can be achieved through a thoughtful configuration of the system. Two laptops, the Surface Laptop 7 (Windows 11 Pro) and the HP OmniBook 5 (Windows 11 Home), were reset using the "Reset this PC" feature for a clean setup. A local account can be created during the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) by bypassing the online requirement. After connecting to Wi-Fi, updates were installed, and account security was enhanced by adding a password, PIN, and facial recognition. For Windows 11 Pro users, BitLocker can be enabled for disk encryption, while Windows 11 Home users may need to upgrade to Pro for this feature. Unnecessary Microsoft applications, such as OneDrive, OneNote, and Microsoft 365, were uninstalled, and the Start menu was cleaned up. Preferred applications were installed using web-based methods and the Windows Package Manager (winget). A preferred web browser was set as the default, and measures were taken to prevent Microsoft Edge from launching unexpectedly. OneDrive was uninstalled in favor of an alternative cloud storage client, and File Explorer was configured to improve usability. The Copilot key was repurposed to avoid accidental activation, and optional diagnostic data transmission was disabled to enhance privacy. Additional configurations included removing unnecessary taskbar items and adjusting power settings for a more personalized experience.

Winsage

May 17, 2026

Switcher 2026: Privacy, Security, and What Really Matters ⭐

Windows 11 offers potential for users seeking to minimize Microsoft's influence and restore a sense of nostalgia for earlier versions. Tools like Tiny11 Builder and Win11Debloat can facilitate significant modifications to Windows 11 installations. The video by "The Internet Privacy Guy" suggests that the only safe way to use Windows 11 is by eliminating the Microsoft account (MSA), which raises concerns about conflating privacy with security. Signing in with an MSA is actually the most secure method for using Windows 11, despite privacy implications such as telemetry collection. Users can opt for local accounts, but this requires diligence in securing their PCs, as local accounts can expose personal data without proper encryption. Users can also configure Windows 11 to resemble earlier versions by removing certain Microsoft services.