Microsoft PowerToys in 2023 🚀
Tags: powertoys, window, productivity, tools
Published: 2022-12-14 15:28:43

PowerToys are a set of utilities designer for Windows you can download it via Github or Microsoft Store.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/0cubvr83t735zgreu4an.png)

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PowerToys have a lot of tools but in this post I will show you the most useful ones that you should give it a try.

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## HOW TO INSTALL IT? 💻
I highly recommend you install it via Github in the following link 
🔗[PowerToys Github v0.65.0 - 2022/12](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/tag/v0.65.0) 
Go to the bottom and select the installer of your preference.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/slvpbwuy1yni30zikm86.png)

But if you want more info like requirements you can check it here
🔗[PowerToys Page](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/install)


## UTILITIES
Now here are the best utilities that I found in PowerToys

### 1️⃣ ALWAYS ON TOP
With this tool you can pin as the top of all the windows any app you want.
#### 🤔 HOW TO USE IT
Just go to any window or app you want to stay pinned then activate it with the shortcut 🔑 and it will have a blue line around it and It will be pinned until you turn in off.
#### 🔑 SHORTCUT
**`Win` + `Ctrl` + `T`**
#### 💻 PREVIEW

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/g8lipe3b9um8s4p0i649.png)

###2️⃣ FANCYZONES 
With this tool you can arrange your different apps in your screen
#### 🤔 HOW TO USE IT
First press the shortcut 🔑 and a new window will be opened with different layouts just select the one you like or create a custom one.
Second based on the first step select the window you want to arrange and just press `Shift` so a blue layouts will be showed to you so you can put your window in any of them.
#### 🔑 SHORTCUT
- Select the layout => `Win` + `Shift` + **`**
- Arrange a window => `Shift` + `Click on your window` 

#### 💻 PREVIEW
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/hz3mgtsefr5ffxuso3dl.png)

###3️⃣ PREVIEW EXPLORER
You can see the content of different files like
- SVG icons (.svg)
- Markdown files (.md)
- Source code files (.cs, .cpp, .rs, ...)
- PDF files (.pdf)
- G-code files (.gcode)

#### 🤔 HOW TO USE IT
In this case open the PowerToys app > Select File Explorer add-ons utility and enable it.
Then go to a File explorer > View > select Preview Pane.
#### 💻 PREVIEW
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/xoq58723aha5skxtempq.png)
###4️⃣ IMAGE RESIZER
#### 🤔 HOW TO USE IT
First open it in the PowerToys settings and create custom sizes that you will use.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/k5hlxsmvh5bbzk42kue5.png)
Second select any image and right click and choose `Resize pictures` then select the size and finally press `Resize` button.
It will create a new picture with the new size and keep the original too.

###5️⃣ FIND MY MOUSE
There are some times we cannot find our pointer or when we are explaining something we want to highlight something this tool help us a lot. 
#### 🤔 HOW TO USE IT
Just press the shortcut and there is the magic but you can modify it in the PowerToys settings.

#### 🔑 SHORTCUT
Double press on `Ctrl`
#### 💻 PREVIEW

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/w63hb7kxuq6jq03tvwwq.png)

###6️⃣ RUN UTILITY
It's a quick launcher like Mac OS or linux for Windows
#### 🤔 HOW TO USE IT
By default it's enabled on PowerToys settings and to use it just press the shortcut and type the file or app you want to open, search on the web even fast math calculations.
#### 🔑 SHORTCUT
`Alt` + `Space`
#### 💻 PREVIEW
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/y5xedjz1riyxp8vkcywn.png)

###7️⃣ QUICK ACENT
These tool will help you in these cases where you want to type a letter with accent for like ñ or ë, etc. We usually search these letters on the web or try to configure or keyboard for a specific country but not anymore.

#### 🤔 HOW TO USE IT
Press any letter combined with the key `space` so at the top you will see a bar with the possible letters
#### 💻 PREVIEW

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/hx2fq9mce3r1bxazziwi.png)

###8️⃣ TEXT EXTRACTOR
There are sometimes you can to copy a text from an image or webpage but it's difficult because you need to rewrite it but with this tool it will simplify your work.
#### 🤔 HOW TO USE IT
Just type the shortcut and a pointer will be opened then select the image or section where you want to extract the text and go to any text editor and paste `Ctrl` + `v`.
#### 🔑 SHORTCUT
`Win` + `Shift` + `T`
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#### These are just some tools you can find more useful ones there just give it a try 🚀
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> ⚠ Don't forget to update the app and new releases
> ⚠ Check the settings for each tool in order to check if it's activated or not