PowerToys: Microsoft's free add-ons that feel built in — via Microsoft Learn

Tricklow riskWindows 11Windows 10

PowerToys is a free, open-source set of utilities from Microsoft. It includes Text Extractor (copy text from anything on screen), File Locksmith (what's locking this file?), PowerRename, FancyZones window layouts, Peek file preview, Always On Top, Awake and more.

Takes effect right away

How to do it

  1. Install it using the link in Microsoft's PowerToys documentation.
  2. Open PowerToys Settings and turn on only the utilities you want. Each one has its own page explaining its shortcut.
  3. To undo, uninstall PowerToys from Settings → Apps → Installed apps.

Sources

Source reviewed
2026-11-02
Link checked
2026-11-02
Tested hands-on
Not by Oddbyte.Me

Oddbyte.Me hasn't tried this on every Windows build, so keep the undo handy.

powertoystext extractorfile locksmithfancyzonesutilities

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