How to download powertoys for windows 10

If you’re a Windows 10 user, you may have heard of Powertoys. But what exactly are they, and how can they benefit you?

Powertoys are a set of system utilities created by Microsoft to enhance the user experience and improve productivity. They were first introduced in Windows 95 and have since been updated and improved for Windows 10.

In this article, we’ll discuss what Powertoys are, how to download them for Windows 10, and some of the most useful features they offer.

What Are Powertoys?

Powertoys are a collection of free system utilities designed to improve the user experience on Windows 10. They are developed and maintained by Microsoft and are available for download on the Microsoft Store.

Powertoys are designed to be lightweight and unobtrusive, running in the background and providing useful features and shortcuts for users. They are also open-source, meaning that developers can contribute to their development and create new features.

How Can Powertoys Benefit You?

Powertoys offer a range of features that can benefit Windows 10 users in various ways. Some of the most useful features include:

• FancyZones: This feature allows you to create custom layouts for your windows, making it easier to organize and manage multiple open windows on your desktop.
• PowerRename: With this feature, you can quickly rename multiple files at once, saving you time and effort.
• Keyboard Manager: This feature allows you to remap keys on your keyboard, making it easier to use shortcuts and customize your keyboard to your preferences.
• File Explorer Preview: This feature adds a preview pane to File Explorer, allowing you to view the contents of a file without opening it.
• Image Resizer: With this feature, you can quickly resize images by right-clicking on them, saving you the hassle of opening an image editing program.

How to Download Powertoys for Windows 10

Now that you know what Powertoys are and how they can benefit you, let’s discuss how to download them for Windows 10.

Step 1: Check Your Windows Version

Before downloading Powertoys, you need to make sure that you have the correct version of Windows 10. Powertoys are only compatible with Windows 10 version 1903 or higher. To check your Windows version, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “winver” and press Enter.
3. A window will appear, displaying your Windows version. If your version is 1903 or higher, you can proceed with the download.

Step 2: Download Powertoys from the Microsoft Store

To download Powertoys, follow these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Store on your Windows 10 device.
2. In the search bar, type “Powertoys” and press Enter.
3. Click on the “Powertoys” app from the search results.
4. Click on the “Get” button to download the app.
5. Once the download is complete, click on the “Launch” button to open Powertoys.

Step 3: Configure Your Powertoys Settings

After launching Powertoys, you can configure the settings to your preferences. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click on the “Settings” button in the Powertoys window.
2. In the settings menu, you can enable or disable the features you want to use.
3. You can also customize the settings for each feature by clicking on the feature name and adjusting the settings.
4. Once you have configured your settings, click on the “Save” button.

Useful Features of Powertoys

Now that you have downloaded and configured Powertoys, let’s take a closer look at some of the most useful features it offers.

FancyZones

FancyZones is a feature that allows you to create custom layouts for your windows. This feature is especially useful for users who frequently have multiple windows open at once. With FancyZones, you can easily organize and manage your windows, making it easier to switch between them.

To use FancyZones, follow these steps:

1. Open the Powertoys window and click on the “FancyZones” tab.
2. Click on the “Edit zones” button to create a custom layout.
3. Click and drag on the grid to create zones for your windows.
4. You can also customize the layout by adjusting the settings on the right side of the window.
5. Once you have created your layout, click on the “Save” button.

PowerRename

PowerRename is a feature that allows you to quickly rename multiple files at once. This feature is especially useful for users who work with large numbers of files and need to rename them quickly and efficiently.

To use PowerRename, follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing the files you want to rename.
2. Select the files you want to rename by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on each file.
3. Right-click on one of the selected files and click on “PowerRename” from the context menu.
4. In the PowerRename window, you can enter the text you want to replace and the text you want to replace it with.
5. You can also use regular expressions to customize your renaming options.
6. Once you have entered your desired settings, click on the “Rename” button.

Keyboard Manager

Keyboard Manager is a feature that allows you to remap keys on your keyboard. This feature is especially useful for users who want to customize their keyboard to their preferences or use shortcuts that are not available on their keyboard.

To use Keyboard Manager, follow these steps:

1. Open the Powertoys window and click on the “Keyboard Manager” tab.
2. Click on the “Remap a key” button to start remapping keys.
3. Select the key you want to remap from the list on the left side of the window.
4. Select the key you want to remap it to from the list on the right side of the window.
5. Click on the “Remap key” button to save your changes.

File Explorer Preview

File Explorer Preview is a feature that adds a preview pane to File Explorer, allowing you to view the contents of a file without opening it. This feature is especially useful for users who frequently work with images, videos, and documents.

To use File Explorer Preview, follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing the file you want to preview.
2. Click on the file to select it.
3. In the preview pane on the right side of the window, you can view the contents of the file.

Image Resizer

Image Resizer is a feature that allows you to quickly resize images by right-clicking on them. This feature is especially useful for users who frequently work with images and need to resize them for various purposes.

To use Image Resizer, follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing the image you want to resize.
2. Right-click on the image and click on “Resize pictures” from the context menu.
3. In the Resize Pictures window, you can select the size you want to resize the image to.
4. You can also choose to resize the original image or create a new one.
5. Once you have selected your desired settings, click on the “Resize” button.

Conclusion

Powertoys are a useful set of system utilities that can enhance your Windows 10 experience and improve your productivity. With features like FancyZones, PowerRename, Keyboard Manager, File Explorer Preview, and Image Resizer, Powertoys offer a range of useful tools for Windows 10 users.

To download Powertoys for Windows 10, simply follow the steps outlined in this article. Once you have downloaded and configured Powertoys, you can start using its features to make your Windows 10 experience even better.