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You don’t need to be a Windows power user to get value from PowerToys. This free, open-source suite includes small utilities for common tasks: adjusting a compatible external monitor, finding a hard-to-see cursor, keeping a window in view, switching between windows in one app, and previewing files. You can enable only the tools you want.
What PowerToys is—and who can install it
Microsoft PowerToys is a collection of Windows utilities, not a separate operating system or a replacement for your usual apps. Its current catalog includes the five features below. Microsoft lists Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 2004 (20H1, build 19041) or newer as supported, on a 64-bit x64 or ARM64 processor. Installation is available through GitHub releases, Microsoft Store, WinGet, Chocolatey, and Scoop; Microsoft recommends GitHub or Microsoft Store. After installation, the settings home view lets you enable or disable utilities individually. See Microsoft’s installation requirements and options.
1. Power Display: adjust an external monitor in one place
Power Display brings controls for an external monitor’s brightness, contrast, volume, input source, and color temperature into a single flyout. It’s most useful if you routinely change those settings and your monitor exposes compatible controls. For example, when moving from a bright room to a darker one, you can adjust the display without repeatedly navigating its on-screen menus. Available controls depend on the monitor; this utility is not a general brightness control for every built-in laptop screen.
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2. Find My Mouse: locate a cursor you’ve lost on screen
On a large display—or when several windows make the pointer hard to spot—Find My Mouse helps you locate the cursor. Microsoft describes its mouse utilities as tools for locating the pointer and related mouse functions, but the current general documentation cited here does not establish Find My Mouse’s shortcut or detailed configuration. Check the utility’s settings and current documentation for its activation method rather than assuming a particular key combination. Microsoft’s mouse utilities documentation.
#1 Best Overall
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3. Always On Top: keep an important window visible
Always On Top pins a selected window above other windows. That can help when you need to refer to Calculator while entering figures elsewhere, or keep a set of instructions visible as you work in another app. It affects the selected window; don’t assume every application or window will behave identically.
4. Window Hopper: move among windows in the same app
Window Hopper cycles through windows belonging to the currently focused app. If you have several browser windows open, it can take you from one to another without stepping through every open application. This is different from switching across all apps: the feature is about the focused program’s windows. Consult the current utility settings for its activation details.
Rank #2
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- 【RGB Backlighting & Programmable】A warm ambient glow surrounds PBT keycaps and case edges, creating a calm, inviting desk vibe for late-night workspace. Adjust hues and brightness through shortcut keys or companion software. The KN85 driver (Windows only, wired/2.4G mode) lets you remap keys and set custom macros to boost your daily productivity
5. Peek: preview a file from File Explorer
Peek lets you inspect a file from File Explorer without opening it in its default application. Select a file and press Space, the default shortcut starting with PowerToys 0.95. You can move between files, inspect metadata, and open the current file in its usual program.
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What Peek can preview
Microsoft lists images, Office documents, videos, web pages, Markdown, text, and developer files among supported categories. Peek can also show folder summaries. The exact preview depends on the file type; it is a quick inspection tool, not a promise that every file will render fully.
Rank #3
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- Support Macro Editing: The K671 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard can be macro editing, you can remap the keys function, set shortcuts, or combine multiple key functions in one key to get more efficient work and gaming. The LED Backlit Effects also can be adjusted by the software（note: the color can not be changed）
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Which utility fits your annoyance?
| Task | Utility | Useful when |
|---|---|---|
| Adjust an external display | Power Display | You often change monitor settings and the monitor supports the controls. |
| Find the pointer | Find My Mouse | The cursor is difficult to locate on screen. |
| Keep a window visible | Always On Top | You need to refer to one window while using another. |
| Switch among one app’s windows | Window Hopper | You have multiple windows open in the focused application. |
| Inspect a file without launching its app | Peek | You want a quick look from File Explorer. |
These utilities address different tasks, so there is no need to adopt all five. Install PowerToys through a supported channel, then turn on only the features that solve a recurring inconvenience. Shortcut and setup details can change between releases; Peek’s default Space shortcut applies starting in version 0.95.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
- Tactile Quiet mechanical key switches with a satisfying tactile bump you feel - for precise feedback, reactive key reset, and less noise so your typing doesn't disturb those around you
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- Smart illumination: Backlit keys light up the moment your hands approach the cordless keyboard and automatically adjust to suit changing lighting conditions
- Faster workflow, more customization: Customize Fn keys, assign backlighting effects, enable Flow cross-computer, multi-device control, and more in the improved Logi Options+ (1)
- Multi-device, multi-OS: Pair MX Mechanical Bluetooth wireless keyboard with up to 3 devices on nearly any operating system via Bluetooth Low Energy or included Logi Bolt receiver(2)
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