Microsoft’s PowerToys set It recently reached version 0.100 and with it came a smaller installer, now only 272 MB instead of 376 MB. That’s a 28% reduction, so downloading and installing the app is easier than ever. But that’s not all Microsoft can do.
With its latest updates, PowerToys has added new tools that replace multiple programs you have to install separately. This saves more space on your drive, less complexity, and more reasons why everyone should own PowerToys. Windows 11 PC.
External monitor control
Goodbye, Twinkle Tray and ClickMonitorDDC
I’ve always been surprised that Windows doesn’t offer an easy way to control brightness and other monitor settings when using external monitors. Laptops make this easy with built-in controls, but external displays have always been more limited, even though they use a fairly standardized protocol to communicate these values to Windows (DDC). Therefore, I had to use some means Shining Tray or ClickMonitorDDC to adjust these settings more conveniently.
Not anymore. PowerToys version 0.99 introduced a new tool called Power Display that solved this exact complaint of mine. Power Display gives you a simple toggle that can be used to control brightness and contrast for supported monitors, while PowerToys itself has more advanced settings.
It’s still surprising that this isn’t built directly into Windows, but having an official Microsoft solution is already a step forward, and it’s great to have it bundled with a tool that already does more. Think how difficult it is to use the navigation bar on the back of many monitors, or how frustrating it is when specific programs require it. It’s very easy.
Video tutorials made easy
Who needs OBS?
ZoomIt isn’t exactly a new tool, even at PowerToys. It was originally a standalone program that was part of the SysInternals package, but was included in PowerToys a few months ago. However, PowerToys version 0.100 introduced some big changes that make ZoomIt more useful than ever, so if you’ve used something like OBS you may no longer need it to record your screen.
With this update, you can now add your webcam overlay to your screencasts, so you can make more engaging and personal video tutorials and guides that cover your face. In addition, ZoomIt can now combine multiple recordings, including transition effects, so you can make properly edited videos without using a full-blown video editor like OBS or DaVinci Resolve. If you only need relatively simple video recordings, this means a lot of space and savings.
Easy drag and resize
No need for third party hacks
Finally, PowerToys 0.99 added another feature simply called Grab and Move, another simple but game-changing addition that replaces third-party apps like AltDrag. Which is a good thing, because that app has been out of support for a long time, so who knows how long it could have stayed up and running.
Grab and Move has a relatively simple premise: what if you didn’t need to click on a specific area of a window to resize or move it? With this tool active, all you need to do is hold down the modifier key (which you can configure) and then click anywhere in the window to start dragging it. There is no need to specifically capture the title bar or set focus to that window. The “Grab and Move” feature allows you to move that window while it is behind other windows on your desktop.
This also works for resizing; Instead of grabbing a specific corner of the program window, you can right-click anywhere inside the window to start resizing it. This can really save a lot of time as it can take a few seconds to capture the exact corner of the window.
Honorable mention: Better launcher
Approaching Flow
PowerToys has long offered a keyboard-based launcher in the same vein as the Flow or Raycastit recently took the form of a Team Palette. The Command Palette has been developing quite rapidly, and version 0.100 brought a significant update that introduced the Command Palette Extension Gallery.
While not game-changing, the Extension Gallery offers a new and improved way to view and install available extensions for the Command Palette, so you can make the experience even more powerful. While the Command Palette is a great app launcher, extensions are the lifeblood of this kind of software, so making them more readily available can only be a good thing, putting it on par with solutions like PowerToys. Flow Launcher. It may not be ready for a full replacement yet (depending on your needs), but it’s a big step.
PowerToys is a goldmine
These are the latest additions to PowerToys, making it an increasingly important addition to any Windows user’s PC. These tools join FancyZones, Workspaces, PowerRename, Image Resizer, Mouse Without Borders, and many other utilities that make this necessary. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend checking it out below.
