PowerToys is a free, open-source set of utilities from Microsoft that adds the kind of power-user features Windows itself does not include out of the box — custom window layouts, an instant app launcher, batch file renaming, a colour picker, and several other small but genuinely useful tools bundled into one installer.
What's Inside PowerToys
PowerToys is not one program but a suite of independent utilities you can enable or disable individually. The most-used ones include FancyZones (custom window snap layouts, far more flexible than Windows' built-in Snap), PowerToys Run (a fast Alt+Space launcher for apps, files and calculations, similar in spirit to macOS Spotlight), PowerRename (batch-rename many files at once using search-and-replace or regular expressions), and Color Picker (grab any on-screen colour's hex code instantly).
Because Microsoft publishes and actively maintains it, PowerToys gets new utilities added over time — recent additions have included a background-removal tool for images and an advanced clipboard manager, all installed and updated through the same package.
PowerToys Features
- FancyZones — custom, saveable window snap layouts beyond Windows' built-in Snap
- PowerToys Run — an instant keyboard-driven launcher for apps, files, calculator and unit conversion
- PowerRename — batch rename files with search-and-replace or regex patterns
- Color Picker — grab any pixel's colour as hex/RGB with one keystroke
- Image Resizer — right-click bulk-resize images from Explorer
- Keyboard Manager — remap keys or create custom shortcuts system-wide
- Always On Top, Awake, Mouse utilities and more, each toggleable independently
How to Install PowerToys
- Open the official download page. The button on this page opens Microsoft's own PowerToys page.
- Download the installer, or install via
winget install Microsoft.PowerToysfrom a terminal if you prefer the command line. - Run the installer — it requires Windows 10 or 11 and installs in under a minute.
- Open the PowerToys Settings app from the system tray to enable or disable individual utilities.
- Set your preferred shortcuts for PowerToys Run and any other modules you plan to use daily.
Is Microsoft PowerToys really free?
Open Source. PowerToys is developed in the open on GitHub under the MIT licence and published by Microsoft itself. It is completely free with no premium tier.
How to download Microsoft PowerToys safely
Use the request button on this page and we will email you the current link for learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys — the publisher's own website — so you receive the authentic build. We do not host, mirror, patch or repackage this software in any way.
Avoid third-party "download manager" sites offering Microsoft PowerToys. They commonly wrap the genuine installer in their own bundler, which is how adware and browser hijackers get onto a machine that the user believed was clean.
Alternatives to Microsoft PowerToys
Other free system utilities software worth comparing before you decide:
Everything
Instant filename search for Windows, indexing an entire drive in seconds.
AutoHotkey
Free scripting language for Windows automation and custom hotkeys.
ShareX
Free, open-source screen capture and file sharing tool.
Frequently asked questions
Is PowerToys made by Microsoft?
Yes. Unlike most third-party "Windows enhancement" tools, PowerToys is developed and published directly by Microsoft, with an open-source codebase on GitHub that anyone can inspect or contribute to.
Does PowerToys slow down my PC?
Each utility runs only while you actively use it, and most sit idle in the background using negligible resources. You can also disable any module you don't use from the Settings app.
What Windows versions does PowerToys support?
Current PowerToys releases support Windows 10 (2004 and later) and Windows 11. Older Windows versions are not supported by recent builds.
Is PowerToys the same as classic Windows PowerToys from the XP era?
Only in spirit and name — this is a completely new, open-source project started in 2019, unrelated to Microsoft's older unsupported PowerToys releases for Windows XP and 95.
Can I install just one PowerToys utility instead of the whole suite?
The installer adds the full suite, but every utility can be individually switched off in the Settings app afterward, so you only run the ones you actually use.
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