🧩 PowerToys (Productivity Utilities for Windows 11)

Category: Microsoft Official Tools

Author: jmarket (PCHF Founder)

Verified by: PCHF Staff • October 2025

Overview

Microsoft PowerToys is an official suite of open-source utilities designed for advanced Windows users who want to streamline and customize their workflow.
Originally introduced for Windows 95, PowerToys has been reimagined for modern versions of Windows 10 and 11 — offering refined, lightweight tools that integrate seamlessly into the desktop environment.
Each utility enhances productivity, accessibility, or window management with thoughtful precision and minimal system impact.

Key Utilities

• FancyZones – Create and manage custom window layouts to organize your workspace efficiently across multiple monitors.


• PowerRename – Batch rename files using advanced search and replace, regular expressions, or case adjustments.


• Color Picker – Instantly identify and copy colours from any part of your screen with a simple shortcut.


• Keyboard Manager – Remap keys and create custom shortcuts to enhance productivity.


• File Locksmith – Identify which processes are locking a file to resolve “file in use” errors.


• Awake – Prevent your PC from sleeping temporarily without modifying power settings.


• Text Extractor – Extract text from images or screenshots using OCR (Optical Character Recognition).


• Run (Quick Launcher) – A keyboard-driven search and command interface for rapid access to files, apps, and system tools.

System Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 11 or Windows 10 (21H2 and newer)


• Architecture: x64 or ARM64


• Administrator privileges for installation

Installation

1. Visit the official Microsoft PowerToys GitHub page:
   https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases


2. Download the latest .exe installer from the Releases section.


3. Run the installer as Administrator and follow the setup wizard.


4. After installation, PowerToys will appear in the system tray.

Usage

Once installed, click the PowerToys icon in the system tray to open the dashboard.
From there, enable or disable modules as needed, adjust shortcuts, and configure preferences per utility.
Settings are applied instantly and do not require a restart.

Command-Line Installation (Winget)

Alternatively, PowerToys can be installed and updated automatically using Windows Package Manager:

	
Code:
	
winget install Microsoft.PowerToys

To update to the latest version:

	
Code:
	
winget upgrade Microsoft.PowerToys

Notes

• PowerToys is open-source and digitally signed by Microsoft.


• It receives continuous updates via GitHub and Windows Package Manager (winget).


• All modules are optional and can be toggled individually for minimal resource use.

Policy

PCHF only references official Microsoft sources.
All downloads should originate from Microsoft’s GitHub repository or winget feed.
Third-party mirrors or repackaged versions are not permitted for security and authenticity reasons.

Download

Official Microsoft PowerToys Releases Page

Technical Information

• Publisher: Microsoft Corporation


• Version: 0.87.1 or latest


• Release Date: October 2025


• License: Open Source (MIT License)

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• Windows 11 Media Creation Tool (Official Microsoft Utility)


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All content © 2025 PC Help Forum. Microsoft PowerToys is developed and maintained by Microsoft Corporation and distributed through GitHub.
All binaries are digitally signed and verified for authenticity. Redistribution outside of Microsoft’s official channels is prohibited.