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PowerToys

Boost Windows Productivity Free — PowerToys

Want 30+ productivity utilities for Windows — for free? PowerToys adds window layouts, bulk rename, color picker, text OCR, app launcher and more. No subscription.

v0.99.1
Apr 2026
WindowsFreeOpen Source

30+ Free Productivity Tools Built into Windows

Windows is powerful but opinionated. You can't snap windows into custom grid layouts out of the box. You can't rename 200 files by pattern at once. You can't pick a color from anywhere on screen without a third-party app. PowerToys fixes all of this — for free, from Microsoft itself.

FancyZones lets you define exactly how windows should tile across your screen — create a custom 3-column layout, a sidebar configuration, or any grid you want. Drag any window into a zone while holding Shift and it snaps perfectly. Paid alternatives like Divvy charge $14 just for this feature.

PowerRename handles bulk file renaming with regex support — rename entire photo libraries, fix inconsistent episode names, or add date prefixes to hundreds of files in seconds. Text Extractor uses OCR to copy text from anything on screen: screenshots, locked PDFs, images, error dialogs.

PowerToys Run is a fast app launcher you trigger with Alt+Space. Type a few letters of an app name and it opens instantly — faster than searching through the Start menu. Color Picker (Win+Shift+C) captures any color on screen and gives you hex, RGB, and HSL values immediately.

Other standouts: Peek (preview files without opening them), Awake (prevent sleep without changing power settings), Image Resizer (right-click bulk resize), Keyboard Manager (remap any key), Always on Top (pin any window above all others).

Key Features

  • FancyZones — custom window tiling layouts beyond basic snap
  • PowerRename — regex bulk file renaming in File Explorer
  • PowerToys Run — instant app launcher with plugin support
  • Text Extractor — OCR to copy text from any screen content
  • Color Picker — hex/RGB from anywhere on screen
  • Image Resizer — right-click bulk resize in File Explorer
  • 30+ additional utilities — keyboard remapper, file previewer, screen ruler, and more

Who Is It For?

Developers, designers, and power users who spend hours in Windows every day and want professional-grade tools without paying for utilities like Divvy, Directory Opus, or Snagit.

Related Tools

  • Files — Modern Windows file manager with tabs and archive support to replace the outdated File Explorer
  • Win11Debloat — Clean up Windows 11's pre-installed apps and telemetry before setting up PowerToys

FAQ

Is PowerToys free?+
Yes, PowerToys is completely free and open source under the MIT license. It's made by Microsoft and has no subscription, no premium tier, and no limitations.
How to manage windows with custom layouts for free?+
Use FancyZones in PowerToys. Press Win+~ to open the layout editor, draw your zones, then hold Shift while dragging any window to snap it into a zone. Works on any display.
Best free alternative to Divvy or Moom on Windows?+
FancyZones inside PowerToys. It's more flexible than most paid window managers — you can define any grid layout and it works across multiple monitors.
PowerToys vs AutoHotkey — which is better for productivity?+
They serve different needs. PowerToys is point-and-click setup for common tasks. AutoHotkey is code-based and infinitely flexible. For most users, PowerToys is the right starting point.