Five Free Windows 11 Tools You Should Install on Day One

Windows 11 feels familiar the instant you log in, but a handful of free, first‑party Microsoft apps quietly amplify that experience in ways most new users never discover — PowerToys, Diagnostic Data Viewer, Windows File Recovery, Windows HDR Calibration, and Windows Scan are five such tools worth installing during a fresh setup.

Background​

Windows has long shipped with a mixture of core system components and optional utilities. In recent years Microsoft has shifted many focused tools into the Microsoft Store and smaller, first‑party apps rather than bundling them into the core OS image. That approach reduces out‑of‑box bloat, but it also hides useful utilities behind the Store search box. Pocket‑lint highlighted this pattern when it collected five under‑appreciated Microsoft apps every newcomer to Windows 11 should know about, and the list offers a tidy starting point for day‑one installs.
This feature unpacks those five apps with a strict emphasis on verifiable technical detail, practical setup guidance, and a candid look at risks and limitations. Each app section includes: what it does, why it matters, how to get started, compatibility and requirements verified against official documentation, strengths, and potential pitfalls to watch for.

---

Microsoft PowerToys​

What it is​

Microsoft PowerToys is an official, open‑source suite of small productivity utilities for Windows that bundles multiple modules into a single installer: FancyZones (window layouts), PowerRename (bulk rename), Keyboard Manager, Always on Top, and others. Microsoft actively maintains PowerToys in a GitHub repository and distributes it through the Microsoft Store and GitHub releases. Pocket‑lint calls PowerToys “that needs no introduction” for power users, and that’s accurate — it’s a Swiss‑army kit of practical utilities.

Why it matters​

PowerToys restores and extends power‑user affordances that many Windows veterans miss: keyboard remaps without third‑party drivers, predictable snap zones for complex multi‑window workflows, and selective file operations that would otherwise require multiple steps. New modules frequently prototype features Microsoft may eventually fold into Windows proper, making PowerToys a forward‑looking sandbox for practical shell enhancements. Independent coverage and recent release notes confirm the project continues to receive meaningful updates.

How to get started​

• Open the Microsoft Store and search for “PowerToys,” or download from the official GitHub releases page.
• Install and run PowerToys with administrator privileges to enable modules that require elevated access.
• Use the PowerToys Settings app to enable/disable modules and to configure keyboard shortcuts, FancyZones layouts, and PowerRename filters.

Verified technical requirements & recent changes​

• PowerToys runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11; it requires administrative installation for some modules. Recent releases introduced a “Light Switch” module for automatic theme switching and improvements to shortcut conflict detection. These enhancements are reported in reputable coverage and release notes.

Strengths​

• Modular: enable only what you need.
• Lightweight: individual modules are small and focused.
• Actively maintained: frequent releases and community contributions.
• Power users gain immediate productivity wins (window management, batch operations, custom shortcuts).

Risks and limitations​

• Elevated access: some modules require admin privileges and deeper system hooks; test in a controlled environment if deploying across a fleet.
• Feature overlap: certain modules may duplicate functionality that IT policies lock down (for example, hotkey remapping).
• Occasional instability: new modules ship quickly — enable them conservatively on mission‑critical systems.

---

Diagnostic Data Viewer​

What it is​

The Diagnostic Data Viewer (DDV) is Microsoft’s own tool to inspect the telemetry and diagnostic events Windows collects and (potentially) sends to Microsoft. It presents events, timestamps, and full JSON payloads and allows exporting to CSV for offline review. Pocket‑lint recommends the app for transparency‑minded users who want to see what’s being collected.

Why it matters​

Windows 11 includes telemetry by default, and while Settings provide toggles to reduce collection, they don’t always make the exact contents transparent. The DDV gives users the ability to audit diagnostic events locally, filter by time ranges, and export logs — an important tool for privacy audits, troubleshooting, or simply learning what signals the OS is surfacing. Official Microsoft documentation explains how the app stores up to 1 GB or ~30 days of diagnostic history by default and how to turn data viewing on and off.

How to get started​

• Install Diagnostic Data Viewer from the Microsoft Store.
• In Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback, enable “Turn on Diagnostic Data Viewer” to start local collection.
• Launch DDV, review events and JSON payloads, and use the export feature if you need an offline copy.

Verified technical details​

• Applies to Windows 11 (and Windows 10 builds back to 1803 for the viewer feature).
• The app stores diagnostic data locally (default cap: 1 GB or 30 days); enabling Office/Microsoft 365 diagnostic data requires toggling it per‑app and has a fixed 1 GB cap. Microsoft documents these limits and the recommended practice of turning off data viewing when finished.

Strengths​

• Full visibility: raw JSON view for each event gives the most accurate picture of what is logged.
• Exportable logs: useful for security or compliance reviews.
• Official tool: avoids the need for third‑party telemetry inspectors that may themselves raise privacy questions.

Risks and limitations​

• Storage and performance: turning on data viewing uses local disk and can consume up to the default cap; turn it off when not needed.
• Interpretation burden: JSON payloads are technical. Users should avoid panicking over single events and focus on patterns.
• Not a privacy cure: DDV shows what is collected but does not stop telemetry by itself; changing telemetry collection still requires Settings changes or third‑party remediation for persistent blocking.

---

Windows File Recovery (winfr)​

What it is​

Windows File Recovery (winfr) is Microsoft’s command‑line tool for attempting to recover deleted or corrupted files from local drives, USB media, and SD cards. It’s published in the Microsoft Store and runs from an elevated Command Prompt session. Pocket‑lint lists it as a useful first‑resort recovery option for deleted photos, documents, and more.

Why it matters​

When a file has been deleted and backups are absent, a free, vendor‑supported recovery utility is a logical first step. Microsoft’s tool supports NTFS, FAT, exFAT, and ReFS file systems with distinct scanning modes and targeted filters to narrow searches — capabilities you’d expect from a baseline commercial recovery product. Official guidance stresses minimizing drive writes prior to recovery to avoid overwriting recoverable data.

How to get started​

• Install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
• Open an elevated Command Prompt (Run as administrator).
• Use the basic syntax: winfr SourceDrive: DestinationDrive: [/mode] [/switches]
• Example: winfr C: E: /regular /n *.docx
• Choose /regular for recent deletions on NTFS, or /extensive for formatted disks, FAT/exFAT media, or severe corruption.

Verified technical details​

• Compatibility: Windows File Recovery supports Windows 10 (version 2004 and later) and Windows 11; it runs as a CLI tool and requires that destination and source drives be different to avoid overwriting recoverable sectors. Microsoft’s support docs and independent guides confirm these constraints and the two primary modes (Regular and Extensive).

Strengths​

• Free and vendor‑supported: avoids unknown third‑party binaries when trying to recover sensitive data.
• Flexible command syntax: target by filename, wildcard, or folder path to reduce noise.
• Two modes tuned to file system types and scenario severity.

Risks and limitations​

• Command‑line only: intimidating for non‑technical users; mistakes can be costly.
• TRIM and SSDs: recovery probability on SSDs is limited by TRIM behavior; the sooner you run recovery, the better.
• No guarantees: recovered files may be corrupted or partially overwritten; critical recovery should still consider professional services or imaging the drive first.
• Destination drive requirement: the recovery output must be written to a different physical drive to preserve source sectors.

Practical tips​

• If possible, image the source drive (sector copy) and operate on the image to avoid writes.
• Use the /n filter switches to limit results — scanning an entire drive without filters can be time‑consuming and noisy.
• If the CLI is too daunting, several GUI front‑ends (third‑party) wrap winfr; verify their provenance before use.

---

Windows HDR Calibration​

What it is​

Windows HDR Calibration is Microsoft’s official app for tuning HDR displays on Windows 11. The app walks users through test patterns to set maximum/minimum brightness and color saturation for HDR workflows, then saves settings as a profile for later use. Pocket‑lint recommends the app for HDR‑capable systems where precise visual tuning matters.

Why it matters​

HDR panels vary widely in peak luminance and color processing; an uncalibrated HDR image can look washed‑out or oversaturated. Windows HDR Calibration provides an easy, Microsoft‑approved way to match screen output to user preferences and to vendor specifications for HDR gaming and video. Microsoft support pages document the test patterns and recommend following them for HDR gaming interest group (HGIG) compatibility.

Verified technical requirements​

• Requires Windows 11 and an HDR‑capable display with HDR enabled.
• The app runs full screen and recommends a modern GPU (AMD RX 400 series or later, Intel 11th Gen integrated or discrete DG1, or NVIDIA GTX 10xx or later) and a WDDM 2.7 driver or later for proper color saturation behavior. Microsoft documents these hardware and driver requirements in support pages.

How to use​

• Install Windows HDR Calibration from the Microsoft Store.
• Turn on HDR in Settings > System > Display > HDR.
• Launch the app on the HDR monitor (it must be fullscreen) and follow the three HGIG test patterns to adjust darkest, brightest, and maximum brightness levels.
• Tweak color saturation and save a profile.

Strengths​

• Official, focused HDR tools tailored to Windows HDR pipelines.
• HGIG‑aligned tests useful for game developers and enthusiasts.
• Profiles let you switch quickly when changing displays or rooms.

Risks and limitations​

• Hardware dependence: some external HDR monitors or TVs expose post‑processing that undermines calibration; you may need to disable display post‑processing via the monitor OSD.
• Not a substitute for professional colorimeters: while helpful, it’s a perceptual calibration tool — not a spectrophotometer‑based color profile creation used by color professionals.
• Inconsistent results across HDR modes: built‑in HDR modes for streaming vs. games may behave differently; follow Microsoft’s guidance for built‑in vs. external displays.

---

Windows Scan​

What it is​

Windows Scan is Microsoft’s lightweight scanning app for flatbed scanners and ADF feeders. It strips away OEM app bloat and focuses on the core task: select scanner, pick file type (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP), choose destination folder, and scan. Pocket‑lint praises it as a simple alternative to heavy OEM suites.

Why it matters​

Printer and scanner vendor utilities often bundle account sign‑ins, extra services, and heavyweight UIs. For quick document or photo scans where you want minimal fuss, Windows Scan offers a clean, stable path to a saved image file with a few clicks. Microsoft support documentation explains the basic workflow and notes that the app may need a driver or scanner installation to appear in the Scanner dropdown.

How to get started​

• Install Windows Scan from the Microsoft Store if it is not already present.
• Ensure the scanner is powered, connected, and has a driver installed (Windows Update or vendor installer).
• Open Scan, pick the correct scanner, choose source (Flatbed or Feeder), select file type, and hit “Scan.”

Strengths​

• Minimal UI and low overhead.
• Supports common file types and lets you choose save locations.
• Works with both flatbed and feeder devices.

Risks and limitations​

• Feature set: it intentionally lacks advanced features (OCR, cloud integration, heavy post processing) that OEM suites or dedicated apps offer.
• UI aging: Windows Scan’s interface has not kept pace with modern UI updates and may feel dated, though functionally stable.
• Vendor optimizations: some scanners expose advanced controls only through OEM software; Windows Scan covers the basics, not every vendor feature.

---

Cross‑checking key claims and practical verification​

• The claim that PowerToys continues to prototype features such as auto light/dark switching and shortcut conflict detection is corroborated by recent release notes and coverage; one well‑regarded report shows the Light Switch module rolling out and PowerToys moving quickly through 0.x releases.
• Diagnostic Data Viewer’s storage and behavior (1 GB or 30 days default; optional Office diagnostic viewing with a fixed 1 GB cap) are explicitly documented by Microsoft’s Diagnostic Data Viewer and Office support pages. Users should follow Microsoft’s explicit guidance to turn off data viewing when finished to free local disk space.
• Windows File Recovery’s CLI syntax, two modes (Regular/Extensive), and file system guidance (NTFS preferred for Regular, Extensive for FAT/exFAT/ReFS and formatted drives) are described in Microsoft’s official support pages and corroborated by independent guides. The practical constraints of SSD/TRIM and the recommendation to minimize drive writes are consistent across Microsoft and community documentation.
• Windows HDR Calibration’s hardware requirements (modern GPUs and WDDM 2.7) and HGIG‑aligned tests are documented on Microsoft’s support page; users with displays that apply post‑processing should follow vendor settings to avoid skewed results.
• Windows Scan’s workflow and dependency on scanner drivers are confirmed by Microsoft’s “Install and use a scanner in Windows” documentation, which explains source selection (flatbed/feeder) and file type options.

Where I could not independently verify an anecdotal performance claim from the Pocket‑lint writeup (for example, subjective impressions about UI freshness or perceived adoption rates), I flagged those as user experience observations rather than hard facts. Pocket‑lint’s article remains a valuable subjective guide for day‑one installs, and the technical claims in it align with Microsoft documentation.

---

Installation checklist and day‑one recipe​

• Update Windows: Run Windows Update and reboot until the system reports no pending updates.
• Open Microsoft Store and install:
• PowerToys (enable FancyZones and Keyboard Manager first).
• Diagnostic Data Viewer (enable data viewing when you want to inspect telemetry; remember to turn it off afterward).
• Windows File Recovery (note: CLI usage — copy sample commands before running).
• Windows HDR Calibration (if you have an HDR display).
• Windows Scan (if you use a flatbed or ADF scanner).
• Create a recovery plan:
• If you plan to use Windows File Recovery, ensure you have a second drive to store recovered files or create a disk image first.
• Read up:
• Keep the Microsoft support pages bookmarked or saved for reference on command syntax, hardware requirements, and privacy controls linked to Diagnostic Data Viewer and HDR Calibration.
• Choose alternatives where appropriate:
• If you need GUI file recovery or professional image calibration, consider vetted third‑party alternatives after reading reviews and verifying vendor reputation.

---

Final verdict — why these five deserve wider adoption​

Each app on this list solves a specific, high‑frequency problem that Windows 11’s default experience either hides or intentionally omits from the core image. PowerToys recovers power‑user conveniences, Diagnostic Data Viewer supplies transparency and auditing capability, Windows File Recovery offers a vendor‑supplied rescue tool, Windows HDR Calibration improves visual fidelity for HDR media and games, and Windows Scan strips away OEM fluff for fast, reliable scanning. Pocket‑lint’s roundup is a practical reminder that useful first‑party tools exist off the beaten path — and each pick stands up to verification against Microsoft documentation and independent coverage.

Caveat and closing note​

These tools are not a silver bullet. Diagnostic Data Viewer is an audit tool, not a privacy switch; Windows File Recovery is powerful but constrained by physical realities like TRIM; PowerToys introduces advanced hooks that may not be appropriate for tightly managed corporate endpoints. Treat them as well‑documented, official utilities that complement your Windows toolkit — install deliberately, read the documentation linked in the Store and support pages, and always back up before attempting recovery or making sweeping system changes.
These five Microsoft apps are small, free, and high‑utility additions a new Windows 11 user can install in minutes — and they repay that time with better control, clarity, and capability.

---

Source: Pocket-lint 5 Microsoft apps I wish every new Windows 11 user knew about

 

[ChatGPT]

Microsoft’s decision to add a lightweight keep‑awake utility to PowerToys marks a small but pragmatic win for power users: the Awake tool—briefly known in development as “Espresso”—lets you prevent Windows from going to sleep without rewriting power plans, and it ships with a simple UI, CLI support and timed modes that suit both one‑off tasks and scripted workflows. This addition addresses a long‑standing, low‑friction pain point (long downloads, presentations, CI builds) while raising predictable usability and governance questions that administrators and cautious users should weigh before rolling it out broadly.

Background​

PowerToys has evolved from nostalgic Windows tinkering into Microsoft’s official, open‑source toolkit for power users. Over the last few years the collection expanded beyond window management and developer conveniences to include features that touch system behavior and user experience. Awake was introduced to the suite in the 0.39–0.41 release window as a focused utility designed to keep a machine or display awake temporarily, without persisting changes to the system’s configured power plan. The addition was discussed publicly during the 0.39 development cycle and later shipped in the v0.41.x updates. Why add Awake to PowerToys?

• Users repeatedly rely on third‑party tools (Caffeine, Mouse Wiggler, etc. or hacky workarounds to stop sleep.
• A first‑party, open‑source implementation reduces trust and security concerns compared with closed third‑party binaries.
• Built‑in integration means CLI automation, tray UX, and policy controls can be provided consistently across machines.

This background explains both the expectation gap (users want a single click to keep things awake) and the cautionary right‑to‑control (admins want predictable policy enforcement).

---

What Awake actually does — the technical overview​

PowerToys Awake is intentionally simple by design: it does not alter Windows power plans. Instead, it asserts temporary power requests via user‑mode threads so Windows remains in a desired state while Awake is active. When Awake exits or the timer expires, the system resumes normal power policy behavior. The official Microsoft documentation lays out the supported modes, configuration points and CLI options in practical detail.

Modes and core behavior​

• Passive (disabled) — PowerToys Awake runs but does not request any special power state; the OS follows the configured power plan.
• Indefinite — Keep the computer awake until the user stops Awake or exits PowerToys.
• Timed (interval) — Keep the machine awake for a specific duration (hours/minutes). When the timer ends, Awake releases the request.
• Expirable — Keep the machine awake until a specific date/time is reached.

A separate toggle, Keep screen on, lets you control whether displays remain powered while the system is held awake; by default Awake may keep the system awake while still allowing displays to turn off, preserving flexibility and reducing burn‑in risk on OLED panels.

Command‑line and automation​

Awake ships with a small CLI (PowerToys.Awake.exe) and supports arguments that make automation straightforward:

• --time-limit (seconds)
• --expire-at (time or datetime)
• --display-on (true/false)
• --pid / --use-parent-pid (attach to a process so Awake exits when that process does)
• --use-pt-config (read settings.json)

These flags are meaningful for builds, long renders, scheduled remote support sessions and scripted workflows where a job’s lifetime should govern whether the machine stays awake.

---

UX and integration: tray, settings and personalization​

Awake integrates into PowerToys Settings with a small system‑tray icon and a settings page. The tray icon reflects the current mode (passive, timed, expirable, indefinite) and right‑clicking gives quick controls; however, some expected tray conveniences (for example, a calendar selector for the “expire at” flow) are not implemented in the tray menu and require the full Settings UI or the CLI to configure. Community reports and issue threads show this as a consistent request from users. Practical UX notes:

• Quick tray times are configurable through customTrayTimes in Awake’s settings JSON, letting you expose one‑click presets.
• The tray is valuable for discoverability but has limits: some complex input (date/time picker) remains in the main app to keep the tray menu simple and lightweight.
• PowerToys Run integration allows fast toggling via keyboard, which is handy for keyboard‑centric users and scriptable workflows.

---

Strengths: why Awake matters​

• Non‑invasive by default. Awake avoids rewriting persistent power plans, which preserves administrator intent and reduces the chance of accidentally leaving machines in an undesired power state. This architecture is well suited for developer and power‑user workflows.
• Scriptability. The CLI and PID/parent‑PID options make Awake useful for automation: tie keep‑awake behavior to a build or render process so the system returns to normal when the job completes. That reduces human error and drift.
• Open source and auditable. As part of PowerToys, Awake is shipped from the Microsoft/PowerToys GitHub project, enabling community review and quicker fixes than many closed third‑party binaries. Early contributions and PRs were tracked in the 0.39–0.41 development pipeline.
• Flexible display handling. The separate “Keep screen on” toggle helps avoid unnecessary display‑on time where the system simply needs to remain awake but the screen need not, reducing power and burn‑in concerns.

---

Weaknesses and practical risks​

No utility is perfect; Awake’s simplicity brings trade‑offs that matter in certain workflows.

Limitations that users should know​

• Does not act on the lock screen. Awake cannot maintain keep‑awake requests after the machine is locked because the lock screen runs in a separate security context. For scenarios requiring a machine to stay awake while locked (kiosks, unattended lab rigs), administrators should use OS power plan configuration or policy tools instead.
• Application presence signals may not be affected. Awake’s method — asserting a power request — does not simulate user input. Apps that use activity‑based presence heuristics (for example, Microsoft Teams) may still show users as Away even when Awake is active. Community threads document recent Teams/awareness regressions where presence stopped following Awake’s state, largely due to how the applications or Teams updates decide presence. This mismatch produces confusion for users who expected Awake to behave like an input simulator.
• Historical reliability regressions. Early releases had bugs (timed mode failing to expire, high CPU use in certain conditions, tray spam). The PowerToys project has issued fixes in subsequent micro‑releases, but the prior issues explain why some reviewers approached Awake cautiously. Administrators should validate the behavior in their environment before broad deployment.
• Not a replacement for policy. Awake is a user tool: on managed enterprise fleets, power behavior should be enforced by Group Policy/Intune when needed. PowerToys exposes policy IDs to disable modules in enterprise environments, and Awake can be disabled centrally if an organization prefers to prevent end‑users from overriding sleep behavior.

Security and hardware risks​

• OLED burn‑in risk. Keeping static content displayed for long periods risks burn‑in on OLED panels. Awake’s “keep screen on” option should be used conservatively on battery‑sensitive or OLED devices. Power management on such devices must balance convenience with hardware longevity.
• Unattended energy consumption. Indefinite keep‑awake sessions—especially when combined with high‑power workloads—can increase energy costs on fleets. Use timed or expirable modes where possible.
• Telemetry and audit. PowerToys has optional diagnostics and telemetry. Enterprises concerned about egress should review the telemetry posture and policy controls before authorizing PowerToys broadly. Awake itself does not exfiltrate user data, but PowerToys’ diagnostic settings are part of the governance picture.

---

The story behind the name: Espresso, Awake and the community contribution​

Early reporting and community chatter referred to the tool as “Espresso” in a wink to macOS’s caffeinate utility. Public coverage in tech outlets during the 0.39/0.41 timeframe referenced that working name; the shipped tool ultimately used the descriptive name Awake. The nickname and initial PR discussion highlight how community proposals and pull requests shaped the implementation: the feature traced back to a community PR linked in the 0.39 delay conversations (issue/PR #4246 was cited in public trackers). While press pieces captured that early nickname and intent, some details (exact internal nicknames or leaked screenshots) are community‑sourced and should be considered context rather than formal product naming. Flag: references to “Espresso” are drawn from early reports and community threads; while they reflect developer discussion, they are not formal product names and should be treated as informal/ephemeral.

---

How to evaluate Awake for personal and enterprise use​

For both individuals and administrators, a short test plan will validate whether Awake meets needs and behaves predictably in your environment.

• Install PowerToys from an official channel (Microsoft Store, GitHub releases, or winget).
• Confirm PowerToys and Awake version in Settings → About.
• Enable Awake and run a short timed session (for example, 5–10 minutes). Observe whether the system remains awake and whether the timer expires correctly.
• If you need unattended presence across a lock, test locking the screen—expect Awake to not function across lock screens and validate that you must rely on power plan changes for that behavior.
• For automation, run PowerToys.Awake.exe --time-limit 3600 --display-on true or use the --pid option to bind Awake to a process and verify it exits on process termination.

For enterprise rollouts:

• Stage the update in a pilot group, test timed expirations, Teams presence behavior and interactions with any imaging or power management tooling.
• Use the documented policy IDs to disable the Awake module where appropriate.
• If you use automated update channels, pin or stage updates until your pilot validates behavior.

---

Troubleshooting and community signals​

Community issue trackers and forum threads reveal the most common operational snags and the typical remedies:

• Timed mode didn’t expire — early micro‑releases addressed countdown accuracy; verify you are on a release that includes the fix if you saw this behavior previously.
• Tray expiration date is grayed out — the tray UI lacks an embedded calendar selector; use the main Settings UI or the CLI to set an expiration until the tray receives that enhancement.
• Teams still shows Away — Awake doesn’t simulate input; app presence may not change just because the OS is held awake. Consider alternatives for presence (automation tools with appropriate policy signoffs), and treat presence automation with caution.
• PowerToys Awake process persists after \"time limit\" — killing the process will allow sleep; report persistent issues with logs to the PowerToys GitHub so maintainers can triage environment‑specific edge cases. Community threads show active triage and patches.

When filing a bug, include PowerToys logs (Settings → Diagnostics) and a reproducible sequence; that accelerates triage and the project’s ability to issue reliable fixes.

---

Alternatives: when to avoid Awake​

Awake is a useful tool, but it’s not always the right tool.

• For persistent, unattended requirements (kiosks, lab machines, servers), configure the Windows power plan or use group policy so the behavior survives user logoff, restarts and lock screen transitions. Awake is session‑scoped by design.
• If application presence needs to be maintained (Teams/Skype), Awake alone may not suffice; consider client‑level presence settings or approved automation that simulates input (not recommended for managed environments unless policy allows it).
• For minimal footprint users who just want to block sleep temporarily and do not want PowerToys installed, small single‑purpose utilities exist (e.g., classic “Caffeine” style tools). The trade‑off is trust and maintainability: PowerToys’ open‑source status and Microsoft maintenance provide stronger guarantees than random closed binaries.

---

Practical recommendations and best practices​

• Prefer timed or expirable modes over indefinite keep‑awake when possible. This reduces risk of accidental energy waste and hardware stress.
• Use the PID/parent‑PID CLI options for automation so awakeness is tied to the lifecycle of the job that needs it.
• On devices with OLED screens or sensitive battery profiles, avoid “Keep screen on” unless strictly necessary.
• In enterprise settings, pilot the module with a representative set of hardware and workloads, and use policy controls to restrict Awake where organizational policy requires it.
• Monitor the project’s GitHub releases and changelogs for fixes to timing, tray behavior and other Awake patches; the PowerToys release notes and Microsoft Learn documentation are the canonical references.

---

Verdict: measured improvement with predictable trade-offs​

Awake is a pragmatic, low‑risk addition to PowerToys that solves a specific, frequent user problem: keeping Windows awake temporarily without changing persistent power settings. Its strengths — non‑invasive design, CLI automation and first‑party maintenance — make it a healthier option than many third‑party alternatives. However, the design choices that make it safe (session scope, not simulating input) also limit it in scenarios where users expected presence‑level behavior or lock‑screen persistence.
Administrators and advanced users should treat Awake as a convenience tool: excellent for interactive tasks, presentations and scripted jobs, but not a substitute for system policy or server‑class power management. Test it, configure sensible timeouts, and use organizational policy controls where needed. The PowerToys team’s responsive maintenance and public changelogs mean that observable issues are frequently patched, but cautious verification remains best practice before broad deployment.

---

Awake’s arrival in the PowerToys lineup is a reminder of the project’s value proposition: small, well‑scoped utilities that address day‑to‑day friction and evolve quickly through community feedback and open development. For users who need an on‑demand “keep awake” switch that’s scriptable, auditable and maintained by Microsoft’s PowerToys team, Awake is a practical, low‑friction choice—provided the limits (lock screen, presence signals, timed reliability) are understood and tested beforehand.

---

Source: BetaNews Microsoft is adding a new utility to PowerToys v0.39 -- Awake