Essential Apps to Install on Windows and macOS
Just unboxed a new computer? Here's our curated list of essential Windows and macOS apps for productivity, security, entertainment, and everything you need to get up and running.
PowerToys 0.99.1 boosts multi-monitor management
The latest PowerToys update brings new tools like Power Display for multi-monitor brightness control and Grab and Move for simpler window handling, along with refinements to modules like Command Palette and Keyboard Manager.
11 Need-To-Know Tools in Microsoft PowerToys
Microsoft PowerToys packs more than 30 utilities into a single toolbox, but not all of them are worth using. These 11 stand out as genuinely useful, and a few others you can safely ignore.
PowerToys adds new CursorWrap utility, upgrades Command Palette
PowerToys 0.97.0 focuses on expanding the Command Palette with deeper customization and new built-in extensions. The release also introduces CursorWrap, a new mouse utility aimed at improving navigation on multi-monitor setups.
Text Grab is a lightweight OCR utility for instant text capture
Text Grab is a small app from the same developer behind PowerToys' Text Extractor. If you just need fast OCR without the rest of the suite, Text Grab gets it done with zero fuss.
PowerToys 0.96 upgrades Advanced Paste with local AI support
PowerToys 0.96 upgrades Advanced Paste with a redesigned UI and support for multiple AI endpoints, including Azure, OpenAI, Gemini, Mistral, and local models like Foundry Local and Ollama. The release also improves the Command Palette and PowerRename tools.
PowerToys adds new "Light Switch" for automatic theme changes
The latest PowerToys update adds Light Switch, a new utility that automatically toggles between light and dark themes based on time or location. The release boosts Command Palette performance, adds spacebar activation for Peek, among other improvements.
PowerToys 0.93.0 debuts modern dashboard and key feature upgrades
PowerToys is getting a sleek, card-based settings dashboard for faster navigation and usability. Major improvements to Command Palette includes reduced memory usage and better performance. Mouse Utilities adds a spotlight mode for presentations.
PowerToys adds "Image to text" conversion to Advanced Paste tool
PowerToys 0.86 introduces a cleaner UI by grouping utilities in the navigation panel. While no new tools have been added, the Advanced Paste feature gains new "Image to Text" and "Paste to File" options, supporting text, PNG, and HTML.
New "Workspaces" PowerToy can launch a set of apps exactly where you left off
A new MS PowerToys utility called Workspaces lets you create, save, and launch sets of applications with a custom layout and configuration on your desktop with one click.
New Windows PowerToys feature will let you launch and arrange apps automatically
Fire up any custom app arrangements with ease
Windows PowerToys adds Advanced Paste with AI features
PowerToys now allows you to convert any copied text into various formats, such as plain text, markdown, or JSON. Additionally, you can enable an AI-powered paste feature, which requires an OpenAI API key.
PowerToys brings custom keyboard shortcuts and a redesigned Color Picker
PowerToys 0.79 introduces a new Keyboard Manager that allows you to create your own keyboard shortcuts to open applications, URLs, and more.
PowerToys 0.77 adds new PowerShell utility
There's also added support for third-party plugins in PowerToys Run
Microsoft PowerToys get new dashboard homepage and an environment variables editor
The latest version of Windows PowerToys add a new environment variables utility for configuring profiles. Also a new Dashboard gives you quick access to enable modules. Worth checking out.
MS PowerToys adds Crop and Lock, improves FancyZones
PowerToys keep getting improvements with the addition of "Crop And Lock," a tool that allows you to crop an application window to a smaller size and continue working. Other utilities like FancyZones, Keyboard Manager, and Peek have been updated, too.
PowerToys get new Peek and 'Mouse without Borders' utilities
PowerToys introduces "Mouse without Borders" which allows you to control multiple computers with one mouse and keyboard, share the clipboard and files. Peek, a file preview utility, has also been added.
New PowerToys release adds OCR utility, two more tools
Screen Ruler, Quick Accent and the anticipated Text Extractor to copy text from an image using OCR are the new utilities found on Microsoft PowerToys version 0.62.0. Free to download here.
Microsoft's new PowerToys OCR tool will make copying text from images possible
Dedicated OCR tool comes to Windows
PowerToys get updated, now run natively on Arm64-based systems
Microsoft PowerToys are a set of utilities for customizing Windows, from Explorer add-ons, to an image resizer and color picker, the latest revision adds native support for devices like the Surface Pro X.
Windows 11 experimental feature lets you preview all kinds of files without opening them
Super handy feature is similar to macOS' quick look
New PowerToys collection include a variety of tools to tune up your Windows experience
The new Microsoft PowerToys include a variety of utilities like "Awake" to ensure your PC does not go to sleep, a universal color picker, and "Run" a Spotlight-like search utility.
Optimize your Windows 11 experience with ThisIsWin11
ThisIsWin11 is a PowerToys-like app that allows you to remove unwanted components from Windows 11, customize and tweak the Start menu.
Microsoft's PowerToys get a revamped Run launcher
In addition to a keyboard remapping tool
Microsoft releases preview of rebooted PowerToys for Windows 10
The nostalgic PowerToys have returned