Top 10 Essential Apps for Windows 11 Users in 2025

The ever-evolving digital landscape of 2025 continues to expand the horizons for Windows 11 users with a swath of apps designed to fill the gaps and enhance everyday workflow. Whether you’re looking to cast off clunky, resource-heavy default Microsoft apps or aim to modernize your toolbox, this curated list showcases the latest and greatest in application refinement. Let’s sweep through these gems that made the grade for 2025.

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1. Visum Photo Viewer​

• Price: Free from the Microsoft Store

Tired of the sluggish and bloated Photos app Microsoft loves to foist upon you by default? Enter Visum Photo Viewer, a lightweight, no-nonsense program designed to get you from “double-click” to “done” faster than ever before. Known for its responsiveness and sleek Windows 11-inspired aesthetic, it doubles as a media player for videos. Its only downside? The app hasn't been updated in two years. But hey, if it isn’t broken, does it really need fixing?

Why It Matters:​

• Performance-focused: Fast and lightweight.
• Modern UI: Matches Windows 11’s design cues.
• Media Playback: Handy for quick video viewing.

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2. QuickPad​

• Price: $3.99 in the Microsoft Store

If you’ve had it with the meandering pace of Windows’ default Notepad (especially as it morphs into some bloated AI experiment), QuickPad might just be your saving grace. Compact, stable, and sporting nifty features like CompactOverlay for multitasking, markdown support, and autosave, QuickPad is appealing even with a modest price tag.

Why It Matters:​

• Reliability: No fluff, just works.
• Advanced Features: Markdown, themes, and reminders of what tech should be.

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3. ClipShelf​

• Price: Free with optional $3.99 in-app purchase for added features

Clipboard warriors, rejoice! ClipShelf doesn’t just let you preserve your copied data; it lets you recall it at warp speed. A tiny pane above your taskbar keeps track of clipboard history, packing conveniences like one-key pasting using hotkeys (hello, efficiency!) and the ability to toggle its location for ultimate customization.

Why It Matters:​

• Clipboard Uplift: Makes accessing history seamless.
• Streamlined Workflow: Boosts multitasking and copy-paste acrobatics.
• Affordable Premium: A single purchase adds all extras without subscriptions.

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4. WinToys​

• Price: Free on the Microsoft Store

If you’ve ever wished Windows had a proper “master control panel,” WinToys is the answer to that plea. It consolidates management across processes, services, system settings, and performance tweakers—all in a modern, intuitive interface. Whether you’re optimizing resource usage or hunting down phantom updates Microsoft insists on hiding, WinToys covers you.

Why It Matters:​

• System Tweaks: Painless control for services, cleanup, and troubleshooting.
• Clean UI: A dashboard designed for clarity with Windows 11 styling.
• Hidden Features: Yes, you can turn off ads through it.

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5. Battery Flyout​

• Price: $3.99 in the Microsoft Store

For those in the portable Windows community, Battery Flyout brings back fine-tuned battery monitoring while making Bluetooth device tracking a breeze. With Microsoft inexplicably simplifying (read: removing) specifics like power plans and tray percentage indicators in Windows 11, this app is here to fill the void.

Why It Matters:​

• Bluetooth Power Tracking: See your mouse, headphones, or keyboard battery at a glance.
• Tray Indicator: Hallelujah, battery percentages return!

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6. Wino Mail​

• Price: Free with a $9.99 unlock for unlimited accounts

Ding-dong, the Mail and Calendar apps are dead—and good riddance. Wino Mail serves as the palatable upgrade to Microsoft’s sluggish mail experience. Fast, customizable, and deceptively simple, it caters to Microsoft, Gmail, IMAP, and SMTP accounts while throwing in customizations galore. For single-account users, it’s free. Need several? A one-time fee unlocks infinite possibilities.

Why It Matters:​

• Replacement for Default New Outlook: Whether you're team Gmail or traditional IMAP, it's better.
• Notifications + Tray Integration: Windows Mail, but with actual features.

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7. Lively Weather​

• Price: Free in the Microsoft Store

Good apps are often the best revenge against Microsoft’s inexplicably bad default tools. Lively Weather takes the headache out of keeping tabs on UV, precipitation, and air quality. It sports minimalist animations, prioritizing function over flair while remaining surprisingly beautiful and resource-light.

Why It Matters:​

• Detailed Weather Data: Packed with real metrics.
• Lightweight: No resources drained on fancy animations.

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8. Writing Tools​

• Price: Free via GitHub

Ah, the power of AI—but hold the gimmicks, please. Writing Tools pioneers an offline-friendly way to rewrite, proofread, or enhance text directly from your Windows 11 environment. Its inclusion of OpenLLM for on-the-fly contextual suggestions feels like Copilot+, sans corporate lock-in.

Why It Matters:​

• Context-Aware Editing: Add grammatically correct flair to emails or documents.
• Free: Powerful AI enhancements for writers with no added cost.

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9. Aquile Reader​

• Price: Free with $8.99/year or $19.99 one-time payment for full features

Thanks (or no thanks) to Microsoft Axing EPUB support in Edge, Aquile Reader reigns supreme as a lightweight Windows e-book viewer. Featuring text-to-speech, annotation, and syncing capabilities, it’s a one-stop-shop for bibliophiles tired of restrictive app ecosystems.

Why It Matters:​

• EPUB Compatibility: Finally, take back your book library without Edge.
• Flexible Pricing: Subscription or one-time model, your choice.

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10. SyncFolder​

• Price: Free in the Microsoft Store

Not a OneDrive fan? Or perhaps you crave a safety net apart from the cloud? SyncFolder offers comprehensive, customizable backup solutions for everything from USB drives to FTP servers. Whether you're syncing files across networks or simply safeguarding that one folder with every photo ever, SyncFolder nails simplicity with precision.

Why It Matters:​

• Flexible Backup: Perfect for local, external, or network storage.
• Copy Modes Galore: Options tailored to your backup philosophy.

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Final Thoughts and Discussion​

While Microsoft provides a (debatable) baseline in app services, third-party developers consistently prove that there’s a better way forward. These apps not only outshine their default counterparts but enrich your Windows ecosystem with powerhouse tools for productivity, convenience, and even aesthetics.
Have a go-to app that’s not on the list, or insights to share? Drop them in a reply—because no one ever has too many Windows tricks in their personal arsenal.

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Source: Neowin Top 10 Windows 11 apps for every user in 2025