PowerToys for Windows 11: 4 Free Tools Worth Installing

PowerToys is a free collection of utilities made by Microsoft that adds features Windows should probably have had all along. If you only install one extra tool on Windows 11, make it this one. Here are 7 PowerToys tools worth turning on.

How to Install PowerToys on Windows 11

• Search for PowerToys in the Microsoft Store and install it, or
• Open Terminal and run: winget install Microsoft.PowerToys

The Best PowerToys Tools

• FancyZones: Create your own custom window layouts. Hold Shift while dragging a window to snap it into a zone. It's perfect for ultrawide and large monitors. For the built-in option, see Snap Layouts in Windows 11.
• PowerToys Run: A fast launcher. Press Alt + Space, type the name of an app or file, and press Enter.
• Text Extractor: Press Win + Shift + T and select any text on your screen, even inside images or videos, to copy it.
• Color Picker: Press Win + Shift + C to grab the exact color code of anything on screen.
• PowerRename: Rename many files at once. Right-click the files and choose PowerRename.
• Always on Top: Press Win + Ctrl + T to keep a window floating above all others.
• Keyboard Manager: Remap keys and shortcuts to whatever you prefer.

How to Set Up PowerToys

1. Open PowerToys from the Start menu.
2. Browse the list of tools on the left side.
3. Turn on only the ones you want. Most are off until you enable them.
4. Click a tool to change its shortcut or settings.

Can You Change the PowerToys Shortcuts?

Yes. The shortcuts above are the defaults and may change between versions, so you can always check or customize them inside PowerToys. You don't have to enable everything. Start with one or two tools and add more as you get comfortable.

Summary: PowerToys for Windows 11

Install PowerToys, turn on FancyZones and PowerToys Run, and you'll feel the difference on your very first day.

Related guides

• Snap Layouts in Windows 11: Split Your Screen Fast
• Windows 11 Clipboard History: Use Win + V to Paste More

Have you used PowerToys before? Tell me in the comments which tool is your favorite.

Snap Layouts in Windows 11: Split Your Screen Fast

Snap Layouts in Windows 11 let you split your screen and arrange windows side by side in one move. Instead of dragging and resizing windows by hand, you can use Win + arrow keys or hover over the maximize button. This is called snapping, and it's a huge time saver.

How to Snap Windows With Win + Arrow Keys

Use the Windows key with the arrow keys to snap the active window into place:

• Win + ←: Snap to the left half of the screen
• Win + →: Snap to the right half
• Win + ↑: Maximize the window
• Win + ↓: Restore or minimize the window

After you snap one window, Windows shows your other open windows so you can click one to fill the other half. This is called Snap Assist.

How to Use Snap Layouts in Windows 11 (Win + Z)

1. Hover your mouse over a window's maximize button, or press Win + Z.
2. A small menu of layouts appears: two columns, three columns, a main window with two side windows, and more.
3. Click the zone where you want the current window to go.
4. Pick other windows to fill the remaining zones.

Drag to Snap and Use Snap Groups

• Drag to snap: Drag a window to the left or right edge for a half screen, or to a corner for a quarter of the screen.
• Snap groups (Windows 11): Windows remembers windows you snapped together. Hover over one of their taskbar icons to bring the whole group back at once.
• Turn it on or off: Go to Settings > System > Multitasking to adjust snapping options.

Is Snapping Useful on a Small Screen?

Snapping works best on larger or wider screens, but even on a laptop it's great for comparing two documents, or watching a video while taking notes.

Summary: Snap Windows in Windows 11

Use Win + Arrow keys to snap windows quickly, or hover over the maximize button on Windows 11 for ready-made layouts.

Related guides

• Virtual Desktops in Windows 11: How to Use Them
• PowerToys for Windows 11: 4 Free Tools Worth Installing

Which layout do you use the most? Tell me in the comments.

How to Take a Screenshot on Windows 11 (Win + Shift + S)

To take a screenshot on Windows 11, press Win + Shift + S. You don't need a third-party app. Windows has a fast, built-in screenshot tool that most people never use to its full potential.

How to Take a Screenshot With Win + Shift + S

Press this shortcut anywhere in Windows:

Win + Shift + S

Your screen dims and a small toolbar appears at the top, letting you choose exactly what to capture.

The Four Screenshot Capture Modes

1. Press Win + Shift + S.
2. Pick a mode from the toolbar: Rectangle, Freeform, Window, or Full screen.
3. Click and drag (or click) to capture what you want.
4. The screenshot is copied to your clipboard. Paste it anywhere with Ctrl + V.
5. A notification also appears. Click it to open the image in the Snipping Tool, where you can draw, highlight, crop, and save.

Save a Full-Screen Screenshot and Other Tricks

• Save a full-screen shot instantly: Press Win + PrtScn. The image is saved automatically in Pictures > Screenshots.
• Use the Print Screen key: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn on "Use the Print screen button to open screen capture."
• Record your screen: In newer versions of Windows 11, the Snipping Tool can also record a video of your screen.
• Delay a capture: Open the Snipping Tool app and use the delay option to capture menus or tooltips that disappear when you click.

Where Do Win + Shift + S Screenshots Go?

A Win + Shift + S screenshot only lives on your clipboard until you copy something else. If you want to keep it, save it from the notification, or get it back with Windows 11 clipboard history (Win + V).

Summary: Win + Shift + S in Windows 11

Press Win + Shift + S, choose what to capture, and paste. It's the fastest way to share what's on your screen.

Related guides

• Windows 11 Clipboard History: Use Win + V to Paste More
• File Explorer Shortcuts for Windows 11 That Save Clicks

Do you take a lot of screenshots? Tell me in the comments what you use them for.

Virtual Desktops in Windows 11: How to Use Them

Virtual desktops in Windows 11 let you create extra workspaces on the same screen, so your work, personal browsing, and entertainment never get tangled up. Press Win + Ctrl + D to create one instantly.

What Are Virtual Desktops in Windows 11?

Think of virtual desktops as having several separate monitors, without buying any hardware. Each desktop has its own set of open windows, and you can jump between them in a second.

How to Create and Switch Virtual Desktops

1. Press Win + Tab to open Task view.
2. Click New desktop (or press Win + Ctrl + D to create one instantly).
3. Switch between desktops with Win + Ctrl + ← and Win + Ctrl + →.
4. Close the current desktop with Win + Ctrl + F4.

Ideas for Organizing Your Desktops

• Desktop 1: Work (email, documents, chat)
• Desktop 2: Personal browsing and social media
• Desktop 3: Entertainment, music, or games
• Desktop 4: A big project you're focused on

Move Windows Between Desktops and Customize Them

• Move a window to another desktop: Open Task view and drag the window onto the desktop you want, or right-click the window and choose Move to.
• Rename and personalize (Windows 11): In Task view, right-click a desktop to rename it or give it a different background.
• Control what Alt + Tab shows: Go to Settings > System > Multitasking to choose whether the taskbar and Alt + Tab show windows from all desktops or only the current one.

Virtual Desktops FAQ

Does closing a desktop close my apps? No. Its windows simply move to the neighboring desktop, so you won't lose any work.

What are the main shortcuts? Win + Ctrl + D creates a desktop, Win + Ctrl + Arrow keys switch between them, and Win + Ctrl + F4 closes the current one.

Related guides

• Snap Layouts in Windows 11: Split Your Screen Fast
• PowerToys for Windows 11: 4 Free Tools Worth Installing

How would you set up your desktops? Tell me in the comments which ones you'd create first.

Windows 11 Clipboard History: Use Win + V to Paste More

Press Win + V in Windows 11 to open clipboard history, so you can paste anything you copied recently, not just the last item. It takes a few seconds to turn on, and most people never do.

Why Windows Only Pastes One Item by Default

You copy something, then copy something else, and the first thing is gone. By default, Windows remembers one item on the clipboard at a time. That means constantly switching between windows to copy things one by one.

How to Turn On Clipboard History in Windows 11

Windows has a built-in clipboard history that remembers your recent copies. To turn it on, press:

Win + V

The first time you press it, Windows asks if you want to turn clipboard history on. Click Turn on, and you're done.

You can also turn it on in Settings > System > Clipboard by switching on Clipboard history.

How to Paste From Clipboard History

1. Copy text, links, or images as you normally would (Ctrl + C).
2. When you're ready to paste, press Win + V.
3. A panel pops up showing everything you copied recently.
4. Click any item to paste it where your cursor is.

Pin, Clear and Sync Your Clipboard

• Pin items you use often: Click the pin icon on an item (an email signature, your address, a common reply). Pinned items stay in the list even after you restart your PC.
• Clear your history: Click "Clear all" in the panel to remove everything except pinned items. This is handy after copying something sensitive.
• Sync across devices: Go to Settings > System > Clipboard and turn on "Clipboard history across your devices" to share your clipboard between PCs signed in to the same Microsoft account.
• Paste as plain text: In the clipboard panel, use the paste-as-text option on an item to remove formatting like fonts and colors.
• Emoji and symbols: The same panel on Windows 11 also has tabs for emoji, GIFs, and symbols.

Clipboard History Limits and Privacy

• Clipboard history keeps a limited number of recent items (up to 25), so older entries drop off automatically.
• Unpinned items are cleared when you restart your PC.
• Be careful with passwords and other private information. Clear your history after copying anything private, especially on a shared computer.

Clipboard History FAQ

How do I open clipboard history? Press Win + V.

Where are the clipboard settings? Open Settings > System > Clipboard. From there you can switch clipboard history on or off, turn on cross-device sync, and clear your clipboard data.

Does it work on Windows 10? Yes, on recent versions, but Windows 10 is no longer supported by Microsoft, so Windows 11 is the better place to use it.

Related guides

• How to Take a Screenshot on Windows 11 (Win + Shift + S)
• File Explorer Shortcuts for Windows 11 That Save Clicks

Do you already use Win + V, or is it new to you? Tell me in the comments which item you'd pin first.