Today I’m going to introduce an “old” tool. The reason why I say it is old is because the editor was a teenager when I first used it, and now the children are already in elementary school. It is the free Chinese-language tool set “PowerToys” produced by Microsoft. I thought that Microsoft had abandoned it, but I did not expect that Microsoft re-enabled it, modified it, and put it on the Windows 11 application store, then It’s time to experience it.
It should be noted that currently PowerToys is only available on the Windows 11 application store, so it is not found in the application stores of other systems, but users of other Windows versions can download their Windows version for installation and use.
The editor also encountered trouble when installing PowerToys in the Windows 11 application store. The installation always failed. Later, the installation was successful after restarting and changing the network.
Figure 1 Only the Windows 11 app store is available
PowerToys is not a single software, but a collection of tools. After installation, let’s take a look at the useful tools in PowerToys.
Figure 2 PowerToys in Windows 11
Quickly prevent the computer from going to sleep-wake up (Awake) tool
The sleep mode of Windows can help the user’s computer to enter the sleep state if there is no operation within a specified period of time. But sometimes it is impossible to put the computer into sleep state. At this time, you have to go to the power option of the control panel to set it. With the help of PowerToys, you can quickly switch the sleep mode state in the cup icon in the system tray area to prevent the computer from going to sleep.
Figure 3 Wake-up tool settings
Figure 4 Quickly switch sleep mode
Pick screen color–color picker
Seeing a certain color in the computer, how to quickly get the color value of that color? After installing PowerToys, you only need to press the shortcut key (win+shift+c) of the Color Picker, and the color value at the cursor position will automatically appear at the cursor. Click the left button to get Detailed color value information (HEX, RGB, HSL).
Figure 5 shows the color value at the position of the cursor
Figure 6 shows detailed color value information
One-click setting window layout–FancyZones
In Windows, users can already arrange several windows quickly by dragging and dropping, and if you use FancyZones), it is easier to lay out multiple windows as needed. Hold down the shift key, and then drag the window to the corresponding position to release, the window will be automatically filled into the grid position. And (win+shift+`) shortcut key can open the setting window and set the required layout mode.
Figure 7 can set a variety of window tiling modes
Enhanced File Explorer-File Explorer add-on
The “File Explorer Add-on” tool actually enhances the file preview function of the File Explorer, allowing users to view the contents of the file in the preview pane without opening the file. It supports Markdown and SVG Preview of type files.
Quickly adjust the image size-Image Resizer (Image Resizer)
If you want to adjust the size of the picture, do you need to send out Photoshop? Don’t use this big killer. After installing PowerToys, you will have a quick image resizing tool. Users only need to select “Resize Picture” in the right-click menu of the picture file that needs to be resized, and then enter the quick picture size modifier to modify the picture size, which supports batch operations.
Figure 8 Image size adjuster
Adjust the keyboard keys—Keyboard Manager
Using the keyboard manager, the user can redefine the keys on the keyboard, such as replacing the A key with the V key. It can also replace the Windows default shortcuts, such as replacing the CTRL+C shortcut with win+c, and then you can specify to press a key to map it to a shortcut key.
Figure 9 Redefine the map key
Figure 10 Redefine shortcut keys
Super Rename—Batch Rename (PowerRename)
A lot of files need to be renamed according to certain rules. It’s not wrong to use PowerToys’ batch renaming tool. Using the batch renaming tool, users can perform renaming operations based on formal expressions, replacement rules and other conditions.
Figure 11 Batch rename tool
Quick start–Quick start program PowerToys Run
PowerToys comes with a quick start tool–PowerToys Run. The user only needs to press the shortcut key Alt+Spacebar to call up the PowerToys Run input box. After the user enters the keyword here, the file, folder, and program can be accessed. Quickly search and start operations, and can also display running processes and perform calculation operations.
There is also, PowerToys Run also supports running “Shutdown, Restart, Sign Out, Lock, Sleep, Hibernate, Empty Recycle Bin” these commands.
Figure 12 Quickly search and open files and programs
Figure 13 Fast calculation
Shortcut key manual–shortcut key guide
Can you remember the various shortcut keys of Windows? When the user presses the shortcut key win+shift+/, the shortcut key guide tool will pop up a shortcut manual for the user. The Windows key shortcut guide tool can display: 1. Common Windows shortcuts. 2. Shortcuts for changing the position of the active window. 3. Shortcuts on the taskbar.
Figure 14 Manual of available shortcut keys (Chinese culture is very incomplete)
Summarize
PowerToys is a very useful system auxiliary tool. Next, Microsoft will add more practical tools to it. Using it for free can improve work efficiency. Use it if you need it.
related articles:
PowerToys utility software is now available in the official Windows 11 application store
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