There’s a quietly humming universe within Windows, and most users are blissfully unaware of the cosmic power right within their reach. It’s called PowerToys, a name that suggests more superhero sidekick than system utility, but in reality, it’s a toolkit built for productivity nerds, obsessive neat freaks, and anyone who likes Windows to feel a little less vanilla. With a legacy stretching all the way back to Windows 95—a time when Tamagotchis roamed the Earth—it’s easy to assume the toolkit’s best tricks are old hat. Think again.
For almost three decades, Microsoft’s PowerToys has been quietly (and sometimes flamboyantly) offering up little superpowers to Windows users. What started as a set of 15 nifty optional tools for the bravest of tinkerers has now exploded into a sprawling toolbox. Over 30 tools, each designed to smooth rough workflow edges, automate the mundane, and, occasionally, just make you feel like you’re wielding magic.
Yet, with so many new members in the PowerToys family, it’s almost impossible to keep up. Did you catch the latest four additions? Unless you’re a changelog trawler or someone who unironically refers to themselves as a "Windows power user," the answer is probably no. So, let’s dig deep into the four PowerToys features released over the past year that most users have almost certainly missed—but absolutely shouldn’t.
Enter PowerRename. This tool swept onto the scene in July last year and promptly made batch renaming feel like a party trick, not a punishment. With just a few clicks, you can select a horde of files, fire up PowerRename, and—voilà—apply systematic renaming across the board. Replace chunks of text, swap out extensions, toss in some numbering, or shift capitalization rules on the fly. You don’t even have to gingerly tiptoe around file extensions anymore; PowerRename handles it, letting you decide whether to alter just the filenames or dive into their suffixes.
It is glorious efficiency, and it replaces hours of mind-numbing repetitive clicking with two minutes of structured delight. If your digital life involves anything beyond “document1.docx,” you will wonder how you ever survived without it.
Here’s the kicker: Windows, by default, is notorious for forgetting your preferences—the positions, sizes, and running order of apps. Which is where the freshly minted PowerToys Workspaces tool steps up. Released in August 2024, this feature acts as a kind of bespoke launcher and memory bank all at once. Just set up your preferred arrangement once, save it as a Workspace, and from then on, you’re a single click (or shortcut) away from resurrecting your ideal environment.
No more painstaking manual resizing, dragging, closing, or reopening. Whether you’re prepping for high-focus spreadsheet marathons or launching your ultimate gaming setup (browser for guides, music app, Discord, and game overlay), Workspaces remembers. It’s like having a butler for your desktop—one who actually likes their job and always gets it right.
And yes, this is suspiciously similar to what Microsoft Edge offers with its own Workspaces, but here’s the real upgrade: now your entire desktop ecosystem gets in on the action, not just your browser tabs. Feel that faint tingle in your productivity-fueled heart? That’s joy.
Borrowed from the legendary Sysinternals suite, this tool dropped into PowerToys at the tail end of January 2025, and it’s the sort of functionality you never knew you needed—until you use it. With a click, you can zoom into any portion of your screen, annotate (draw circles, underline, add cryptic notes), and then save the whole thing as a screenshot. Want to go one further? Render your zooming-and-annotating session as a video so you can play it back later—a feature with endless possibilities for teachers, meme-makers, and anyone who loves quality digital chaos.
Gone are the days of hurriedly snapping a screenshot, opening MS Paint like it’s 1998, and scrawling a jagged arrow with your mouse. Now, you can demo, explain, or poke fun with a few elegant flourishes—making you look like a pro even when you’re just circling a cat in the background of your Zoom meeting.
Invoked with a three-finger combo (Win+Alt+Space), the Command Palette is basically a stripped-back search bar that knows what you want. Type a program name, a setting, or even a math equation, and the Command Palette slides the perfect suggestion your way. Searching for Command Prompt? Just type “cmd.” Want to summon the new Terminal Canary build? Type “tercan.” It’s wickedly smart, parsing your query to intuit if you want to run an app, change a system setting, or even jump directly into Calculator.
Think of it as having Windows’ vast ecosystem at your literal fingertips—no need to fumble through endless Start menu scrolls, Control Panel abyss-diving, or RE: hunting down that one buried system setting. And because it’s smart, it serves up the most likely answer immediately, saving time and brain cells in equal measure.
But there’s another layer here that’s worth mentioning: accessibility. For users struggling with repetitive strain injuries, visual impairments, or executive-function challenges, these sorts of enhancements are more than mere convenience. They’re an equalizer, letting everyone—from rapid-fire typists to drag-and-drop dabblers—work the way that feels most natural.
Yet, there’s absolutely a flavor choice here. If your idea of fun is hacking Windows at its core, customizing literally everything, Windhawk might hold appeal. But if you want a toolkit that works, updates itself quietly, and doesn’t require a reach for “undo,” PowerToys is the better everyman’s choice.
Still, vigilance is key. As the toolkit expands, Microsoft will need to ensure the PowerToys dashboard doesn’t morph into a labyrinthine jungle. For now, though, the suite feels like a well-stocked toolbox: no single-use gadgets, just plenty of options for the digital craftsman.
So, if you haven’t yet taken these four new features for a spin, why not? In the world of Windows, PowerToys is the secret playground built just for you. The only way you lose is if you ignore the gate.
And remember: in the immortal words of every infomercial host—wait, there’s more. With PowerToys, there’s always more.
Source: XDA 4 new PowerToys features you probably missed
PowerToys: The Hidden Playground in Windows
For almost three decades, Microsoft’s PowerToys has been quietly (and sometimes flamboyantly) offering up little superpowers to Windows users. What started as a set of 15 nifty optional tools for the bravest of tinkerers has now exploded into a sprawling toolbox. Over 30 tools, each designed to smooth rough workflow edges, automate the mundane, and, occasionally, just make you feel like you’re wielding magic.Yet, with so many new members in the PowerToys family, it’s almost impossible to keep up. Did you catch the latest four additions? Unless you’re a changelog trawler or someone who unironically refers to themselves as a "Windows power user," the answer is probably no. So, let’s dig deep into the four PowerToys features released over the past year that most users have almost certainly missed—but absolutely shouldn’t.
PowerRename: Batch Renaming Without Tears
Let’s start with something everyone secretly loathes: renaming files en masse. Maybe you just downloaded hundreds of photos from your phone. Or you’re looking at a rogue squadron of PDF reports that all seem to be named “scan0001,” “scan0002,” and so on. The sheer tedium of right-clicking, editing, and praying for consistency can crush even the most patient soul.Enter PowerRename. This tool swept onto the scene in July last year and promptly made batch renaming feel like a party trick, not a punishment. With just a few clicks, you can select a horde of files, fire up PowerRename, and—voilà—apply systematic renaming across the board. Replace chunks of text, swap out extensions, toss in some numbering, or shift capitalization rules on the fly. You don’t even have to gingerly tiptoe around file extensions anymore; PowerRename handles it, letting you decide whether to alter just the filenames or dive into their suffixes.
It is glorious efficiency, and it replaces hours of mind-numbing repetitive clicking with two minutes of structured delight. If your digital life involves anything beyond “document1.docx,” you will wonder how you ever survived without it.
Workspaces: The Ritualistic Revival of Your Desktop
Next up, a tool tailor-made for the creatures of habit—and, let’s face it, that’s most of us. Does the start of your workday look like a meticulously choreographed performance? Browser on monitor one, spreadsheet software on monitor two, Slack or Teams huddled onto a third screen, and maybe a music app tucked cleverly out of the way. Maybe you even have separate routines for “Monday Survival” versus “Friday Wind-down.”Here’s the kicker: Windows, by default, is notorious for forgetting your preferences—the positions, sizes, and running order of apps. Which is where the freshly minted PowerToys Workspaces tool steps up. Released in August 2024, this feature acts as a kind of bespoke launcher and memory bank all at once. Just set up your preferred arrangement once, save it as a Workspace, and from then on, you’re a single click (or shortcut) away from resurrecting your ideal environment.
No more painstaking manual resizing, dragging, closing, or reopening. Whether you’re prepping for high-focus spreadsheet marathons or launching your ultimate gaming setup (browser for guides, music app, Discord, and game overlay), Workspaces remembers. It’s like having a butler for your desktop—one who actually likes their job and always gets it right.
And yes, this is suspiciously similar to what Microsoft Edge offers with its own Workspaces, but here’s the real upgrade: now your entire desktop ecosystem gets in on the action, not just your browser tabs. Feel that faint tingle in your productivity-fueled heart? That’s joy.
The Sysinternals Screen Zoomer: Magnify, Mark Up, Meme-ify
Now, let’s journey into a feature that feels like Microsoft snuck in a graphics tablet while you weren’t looking. If you’ve ever wished you could zoom in on a minuscule detail onscreen without cropping a screenshot or fiddling with accessibility options, the Sysinternals Screen Zoomer is here to impress.Borrowed from the legendary Sysinternals suite, this tool dropped into PowerToys at the tail end of January 2025, and it’s the sort of functionality you never knew you needed—until you use it. With a click, you can zoom into any portion of your screen, annotate (draw circles, underline, add cryptic notes), and then save the whole thing as a screenshot. Want to go one further? Render your zooming-and-annotating session as a video so you can play it back later—a feature with endless possibilities for teachers, meme-makers, and anyone who loves quality digital chaos.
Gone are the days of hurriedly snapping a screenshot, opening MS Paint like it’s 1998, and scrawling a jagged arrow with your mouse. Now, you can demo, explain, or poke fun with a few elegant flourishes—making you look like a pro even when you’re just circling a cat in the background of your Zoom meeting.
Command Palette: Command-Line Coolness for the Mouse-Averse
Of all these new toys, perhaps the most quietly revolutionary is the Command Palette—a feature so fresh it’s practically piping hot. Released just weeks ago, it’s a godsend for the keyboard-obsessed (and the impatient among us). If you’ve ever envied macOS’s Spotlight—or if you’re a heavy user of app launchers like Alfred or Raycast—prepare to feel right at home.Invoked with a three-finger combo (Win+Alt+Space), the Command Palette is basically a stripped-back search bar that knows what you want. Type a program name, a setting, or even a math equation, and the Command Palette slides the perfect suggestion your way. Searching for Command Prompt? Just type “cmd.” Want to summon the new Terminal Canary build? Type “tercan.” It’s wickedly smart, parsing your query to intuit if you want to run an app, change a system setting, or even jump directly into Calculator.
Think of it as having Windows’ vast ecosystem at your literal fingertips—no need to fumble through endless Start menu scrolls, Control Panel abyss-diving, or RE: hunting down that one buried system setting. And because it’s smart, it serves up the most likely answer immediately, saving time and brain cells in equal measure.
Why These PowerToys Matter for a Modern PC Life
PowerToys, at its best, bridges that awkward gap between what Windows could do natively, and what power users wish it would do. The four features above are quintessential examples. By streamlining repetitive tasks, remembering your habits, making digital marking easier, and placing lightning-fast command at your fingertips, these new PowerToys eliminate friction everywhere they go.But there’s another layer here that’s worth mentioning: accessibility. For users struggling with repetitive strain injuries, visual impairments, or executive-function challenges, these sorts of enhancements are more than mere convenience. They’re an equalizer, letting everyone—from rapid-fire typists to drag-and-drop dabblers—work the way that feels most natural.
PowerToys Versus the Alternatives: The Customizer’s Dilemma
Of course, in this age of infinite apps, PowerToys isn’t the only player. Rival suites like Windhawk offer deep customization options, and it’s fair to ask: why PowerToys? For one, it’s open-source, regularly updated, and as close to “official” as you can get without a Windows logo tattoo. Second, it focuses on features that blend seamlessly with Windows’ default behaviors, rather than carving out alternative universes. Where other customization tools can sometimes break, glitch, or feel disconnected after an update, PowerToys maintains a remarkably stable, invisible integration.Yet, there’s absolutely a flavor choice here. If your idea of fun is hacking Windows at its core, customizing literally everything, Windhawk might hold appeal. But if you want a toolkit that works, updates itself quietly, and doesn’t require a reach for “undo,” PowerToys is the better everyman’s choice.
The Feature Creep Question: With Great Power Comes… Clutter?
Let’s be honest: adding tool after tool to a utility suite risks tipping the balance from “powerful” to “bewildering.” PowerToys flirts with that precipice but so far manages to keep things pretty tidy. An easy-to-navigate launcher, well-documented options, and the ability to enable or disable individual tools lets you tailor your setup—so you’re not running features you don’t want. Don’t need FancyZones? Turn it off. No batch rename in your future? Deactivate it. PowerToys demands no toll for unused features.Still, vigilance is key. As the toolkit expands, Microsoft will need to ensure the PowerToys dashboard doesn’t morph into a labyrinthine jungle. For now, though, the suite feels like a well-stocked toolbox: no single-use gadgets, just plenty of options for the digital craftsman.
Conclusion: Give Yourself Permission to Play
There’s something delightfully ironic about PowerToys. For all its power, it doesn’t demand wizard-level tech skills. In fact, its newest tools are designed to save you from digital drudgery, not draw you deeper into it. Whether you’re launching Workspaces to reconstruct your desktop, batch-renaming files so you can actually find them again, annotating a zoomed-in bug report for the 10th time this week, or launching apps at light speed with the Command Palette, you’re wielding the kind of efficiency that seemed futuristic not so long ago.So, if you haven’t yet taken these four new features for a spin, why not? In the world of Windows, PowerToys is the secret playground built just for you. The only way you lose is if you ignore the gate.
And remember: in the immortal words of every infomercial host—wait, there’s more. With PowerToys, there’s always more.
Source: XDA 4 new PowerToys features you probably missed
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