Microsoft PowerToys

On By John GrubbIn Microsoft, Windows
Screenshot of the Microsoft PowerToys app on the General tab

Microsoft PowerToys – have you ever heard of it? You did if you attended our November 19, 2022 seminar! I shared this app and showed some of its features. If you were there, this will be a good review. If you did not attend, then this may be all new information for you!

Microsoft PowerToys – What It Is?

PowerToys is an app I love. It adds features to Windows 10 and Windows 11 that just make things easier. It is developed by Microsoft and it’s designed for Windows “power users.” You’re not a power user? Well, today, with this post, I’m going to make you one!

Some Of The Features

Here are some of the features available in Microsoft PowerToys:

Always On Top – This allows you to pin a window that stays on top of everything else. This is especially helpful when you want to use the calculator and fill in amounts in another window.
Color Picker – One of my favorite toys. Use the picker to get the information of a color so you can match it to something else.
Image Resizer – A valuable tool that comes in handy when you want to email a picture to someone. This toy appears in the right-click menu and easily resizes a photo.
Mouse Utilities – Ever have problems finding your mouse on the screen? This toy allows you to easily find it.
Screen Ruler – Need to measure pixels on your screen? This is the toy for you.

Your Biggest Obstacle To Using Microsoft PowerToys

“This is too complicated!” “I’m not a power user!” These are just two examples of the biggest obstacle to you using PowerToys. As Zig Ziglar used to say, “We all need a daily check-up from the neck up to avoid stinkin’ thinkin’ which can ultimately lead to hardening of the attitudes.”

Great News

I’ve used a lot of programs and apps in my computer lifetime. I have to tell you that the Microsoft PowerToys app has one of the best features I’ve seen. Once you install the program, each of the toys has a clear explanation of how to use it. When you open the app, on the left side is a list of each toy. When you click or tap a toy, clear instructions appear on the right side of the window.

Where Do You Get PowerToys?

Although at the seminar, I showed a complicated method of getting PowerToys there’s a much easier way! Just open the Microsoft Store in Windows 10 or 11 and search “PowerToys.” (With or without quotation marks.) When you choose the app, it will download and install and you’re ready to go!