Still alt-tabbing between windows like it’s 1995? Microsoft PowerToys transforms Windows 11 into a productivity powerhouse.
PowerToys Awesomeness You’re Missing:
# Download and install (winget) winget install Microsoft.PowerToys --source winget # Or via GitHub releases # https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases # Essential modules to enable immediately:
FancyZones: Window Management on Steroids
Default Windows: Drag window to edge = half screen
FancyZones: Create custom layouts for any workflow
My developer layout (3 monitors):
Monitor 1 (Main):
[ VS Code ] [ Browser ] [ Terminal ]
70% 15% 15%
Monitor 2 (Secondary):
[ Documentation ] [ Chat/Teams ]
60% 40%
Monitor 3 (Vertical):
[ File Explorer ] [ Database Tool ]
100% height, stacked
To use:
1. Hold Shift while dragging window
2. Choose zone from overlay
3. Window snaps perfectly
4. Save layouts for different projects
Pro tip: Create layout per project type:
- Web Dev: Code | Browser | DevTools
- Data Science: Notebook | Results | Documentation
- Design: Figma | Assets | Preview
PowerToys Run: Spotlight for Windows
Alt + Space = Instant search bar What it can find: - Apps: "vs" → Visual Studio - Files: "readme.md" → Any readme file - Folders: "projects" → Projects folder - Settings: "dark mode" → Dark mode settings - Calculator: "24*7" → 168 - Unit converter: "10 USD to EUR" - Time zones: "time in Tokyo" Advanced queries: > vs code # Opens Visual Studio Code > calc 24*7 # Calculator result > folder projects # Opens projects folder > shutdown /t 0 # Immediate shutdown > ipconfig # Runs command Replace: Windows Search + Start Menu + Calculator
Text Extractor: OCR That Actually Works
Win + Shift + T = Extract text from ANYWHERE Use cases: 1. Copy text from images (screenshots, photos) 2. Extract code from video tutorials 3. Grab text from PDFs that won't copy 4. Read text from error dialogs 5. Capture serial numbers from photos How it works: 1. Press Win + Shift + T 2. Drag rectangle over text 3. Text automatically copied to clipboard 4. Paste anywhere Accuracy: 95%+ for clear text Languages: 100+ supported Format: Preserves line breaks
Keyboard Manager: Remap Everything
// Example remappings (JSON format):
{
"remapKeys": [
{
"original": "Caps Lock",
"new": "Left Ctrl"
},
{
"original": "Right Alt",
"new": "Menu" // Context menu key
}
],
"remapShortcuts": [
{
"original": "Ctrl + C",
"new": "Win + C" // Move to Windows key
},
{
"original": "Alt + Tab",
"new": "Win + Tab" // Better task view
}
]
}
// Pro mappings for developers:
Caps Lock → Escape (for Vim users)
Caps Lock → Ctrl (for terminal navigation)
Right Ctrl → Copy (one-handed copy)
Right Alt → Paste (one-handed paste)
// Disable annoying keys:
Insert → Disabled (never accidentally overwrite)
Scroll Lock → Disabled (who uses this?)
Pause/Break → Disabled
File Explorer Add-ons: Preview Everything
Enable preview pane for: - Markdown (.md) - Rendered preview - SVG (.svg) - Vector image preview - PDF (.pdf) - First page preview - Code files (.cs, .js, .py) - Syntax highlighted - Images (.png, .jpg) - Thumbnail preview - Videos (.mp4) - Thumbnail frame No more opening files to see contents! Just select file → preview appears in right pane Additional features: - SVG Thumbnail: See SVG content in icon - PDF Thumbnail: PDF cover as icon - STL Preview: 3D model preview - G-Code Preview: 3D printer files