PowerToys has recently introduced an innovative tool designed to enhance the management of keyboard shortcuts on your PC. This latest update includes a hotkey conflict detection system, which is now integrated into the settings. As PowerToys continues to expand its suite of utilities, users may encounter overlapping shortcuts, making this new feature particularly valuable. It will promptly highlight any conflicts, guiding users in assigning alternative hotkeys to ensure seamless functionality.
PowerToys v0.94: Highlights
- PowerToys Settings now features a search function with fuzzy matching, suggestions, and a results page, streamlining the process of locating options.
- The newly implemented hotkey conflict detection system helps identify and resolve conflicting shortcuts. Users should note that default hotkey settings (such as Win+Ctrl+Shift+T and Win+Ctrl+V) may overlap with existing Windows system shortcuts, which is anticipated. Conflicts can be addressed by reassigning different hotkeys.
- The Mouse Utilities section has welcomed a new “Gliding cursor” accessibility feature within the Mouse Pointer Crosshairs, allowing for single-button cursor movement and clicking.
- The installer has been upgraded to WiX 5, enhancing security, reliability, and community support following the end-of-life of WiX 3.
- A multitude of bug fixes and improvements have been made to the Command Palette, including visual updates and new filter support for ListPages, benefiting extension developers.
- Hosts Editor now includes a “No leading spaces” option, enabling active host entries to start at column 0, even when others are disabled.
- Context menu registration has transitioned from the installer to runtime, preventing the loading of disabled modules.
- Quick Accent now supports Maltese, with frequently used accents prioritized and remembered across sessions.
PowerToys v0.94: Changelog
Always on Top
- Corrected the border hover cursor to display an arrow instead of a wait cursor.
Command Palette
- Single-click activation is now limited to pointer input, while keyboard activation remains immediate.
- Context menus can now open at the cursor, removing previous window-bound constraints.
- Error messages have been enhanced with timestamps and detailed information for easier diagnosis.
- Improvements have been made to prevent crashes and bolster robustness when updating providers without commands.
- Ensured the Settings window reliably comes to the forefront upon opening.
- The Clipboard History icon has been updated to a vibrant Fluent icon.
- Hardened ContentIcon to avoid duplicate parenting and improve diagnostics.
- Standardized null checks using C# pattern matching for enhanced safety.
- Accessibility has been improved by focusing the activation shortcut dialog and ensuring text is easily reachable.
- Moved the extension SDK to a stable Windows SDK and refined message namespaces.
- Added path shortcuts for easier navigation.
- Fixed a race condition in cancellation handling to prevent InvalidOperationException.
- Aligned separator styling with WinUI 3 for consistent visuals.
- Included ARM64 PDBs in the Extensions SDK NuGet for improved debugging.
- Added single-select filters to DynamicListPage and updated the Windows Services sample.
- Updated main page placeholder text for clarity.
- Removed explicit WinAppSDK/WebView2 dependencies from the toolkit and API.
- Introduced a local keyboard hook for reliable handling of the GoBack key.
- Safely propagated alias changes and resolved conflicts across view models.
- Allowed providers to override Dispose with a virtual method.
- Addressed memory leaks by cleaning up removed or canceled list items.
- Sorted DateTime extension results by relevance for improved usability.
- Reduced search text “jiggling” by minimizing redundant change notifications.
- Centralized automation notifications for better accessibility.
- Preserved Adaptive Card action types during trimming via DynamicDependency.
- Enhanced the context menu with an acrylic backdrop and refined styling.
- Prevented disposed pages and Settings windows from handling stale messages.
- Facilitated easier evolution of the extension API without breaking existing clients.
- Added sample pages to assist in reproducing complex bugs.
- Resolved WinGet trim-safety issues by replacing LINQ with manual iteration.
- Cancelled stale list fetches to prevent older results from overwriting newer ones in CmdPal.
Command Palette Extensions
- Improved empty states and ranking logic for multiple extensions.
- Added app icons to the All Apps “Run” context command when available.
- Restored missing built-in icons by standardizing extension dependencies.
- Unblocked local deployment by incorporating WinAppSDK into two sample extensions.
Hosts File Editor
- Introduced a “No leading spaces” option for active hosts entries.
Image Resizer
- Fixed localization issues by installing satellite resources under the WinUI 3 apps culture path.
Mouse Utilities
- Launched the “Gliding cursor” feature for enhanced pointer control and clicking with a single hotkey.
Mouse Without Borders
- Prevented Easy Mouse from switching machines during fullscreen applications, with an allow-list for exceptions.
Peek
- Added support for Visual Studio shared project file types in XML preview and fixed background code handler registration.
PowerRename
- Adjusted the Explorer accelerator key to avoid conflicts with the New menu.
Quick Accent
- Enhanced memory of character usage across sessions, prioritizing frequently used accents.
- Included support for the Maltese language and specific characters.
- Reduced GPU usage by making the window Topmost only when the picker is visible.
Settings
- Implemented telemetry to track usage of the new shortcut conflict detection workflow.
- Moved the shutdown action to a footer menu item with confirmation.
- Introduced a dedicated resolution dialog for comprehensive hotkey conflict detection.
- Added branded visuals for Office and Copilot keys in the KeyVisual control.
- Enhanced Settings search with fuzzy matching and navigation to specific controls.
- Corrected Spanish localization for product names.
- Simplified the Advanced Paste description for clarity.
- Localized conflict messages in the conflict window and dialog.
Installer
- Upgraded to WiX 5 for improved handling of “Files in Use” during installations.
- Transitioned Win10 context menu modules to runtime registration, adding cleanup on uninstall.
Documentation
- Added documentation for building the installer locally and testing winget installs.
- Fixed a broken style guide link in developer documentation.
Development
- Excluded test and coverage DLLs from BinSkim scans to enhance security analysis speed.
- Simplified NOTICE maintenance by removing version numbers.
- Improved NuGet dependency validation to prevent package downgrades.
- Updated UTF.Unknown for better compatibility.
- Refreshed package catalog in CI to prevent workflow failures.
- Refactored CmdPal tests and added coverage for queries and settings.
- Added unit tests for various extensions and functionalities.
- Removed the obsolete debug dialog from Settings for a smoother developer experience.
What is PowerToys?
PowerToys is a collection of utilities designed for Windows PCs, catering to power users while also providing valuable tools for those who use their PCs for everyday tasks. Among its many features, Always On Top allows users to pin a window above all others, exemplifying the need for effective keyboard shortcut management. Other utilities such as PowerToys Awake, Command Palette, and FancyZones further enhance productivity and window management. With an extensive array of tools, Microsoft is exploring a redesigned dashboard to simplify navigation for users.
