Unleashing Desktop Magic: The Power User’s Guide to Microsoft PowerToys

PowerToys Awake

PowerToys awake is our first spotlight utility. This tool will allow us to keep our computers awake without having to manage power settings manually – shoutout to my former Service Desk colleagues who will love me for this one. This utility has saved me especially in situations where I don’t want my system to go to sleep or hibernate when performing long-running tasks (think: long downloads or remote access). For effective use of the PowerToys Awake tool, I recommend configuring your preferences from the PowerToys settings menu upon installation!

FancyZones

FancyZones is a window manager utility within Microsoft PowerToys that allows users to create custom layouts for their applications and windows. It’s designed to enhance productivity by enabling users to organize their workspace in a way that suits their workflow. With FancyZones, you can drag and drop windows into predefined zones, and the windows will automatically resize to fit the layout. Once installed, you can access FancyZones settings through the PowerToys Settings menu and configure your custom layouts. You can create as many layouts as you need and quickly switch between them depending on the task at hand (GAME CHANGER!). For detailed guides and tutorials on how to set up and use FancyZones, you can refer to the PowerToys documentation here.

Keyboard Manager

The Keyboard Manager is a feature within Microsoft PowerToys that allows you to customize your keyboard layout. It enables you to remap keys to other keys or shortcuts, which can be particularly useful if you have specific needs or preferences for your keyboard setup. For instance, if you find that you rarely use the Caps Lock key (like me), you could remap it to a more useful function. You can open the PowerToys Settings and navigate to the Keyboard Manager to start customizing your keyboard layout according to your preferences.

To remap keys using the Keyboard Manager in PowerToys, you can follow these steps:

Open PowerToys Settings.
Navigate to the Keyboard Manager.
Click on “Remap a key” to change a single key or “Remap a shortcut” to change a key combination.
In the remapping window, select the key you want to change in the “Physical Key” column.
Choose the new key or shortcut you want to map to in the “Mapped To” column.
Click “OK” to apply the changes.

Remember to save your configuration before closing the PowerToys Settings and note, your new key mappings should take effect immediately! If you need to revert any changes, you can always go back to the Keyboard Manager and reset your configurations or turn off the Keyboard Manager to return to the default keyboard settings.

Mouse Without Borders

Anyone else a snob about the type of mouse you use? One of the first things I did upon starting my job remotely was invest in quality ergonomic devices. Ergonomic keyboard, chair, and mouse (check, check, and check). I’m all about taking a proactive approach to preventing arthritis – especially when putting in as many hours as I do every day behind a desk! That being said, this utility was one that piqued my interest right away as a current Logitech MX Master 3s user. One of the key features being the “Easy Switch” technology.

Mouse Without Borders is a software utility that allows you to control multiple computers with a single mouse and keyboard. This means you can move your mouse cursor across the screens of different computers as if they were connected. It’s particularly useful for users who work with multiple PCs simultaneously, allowing for seamless transition and control.

If you’re like me and your first thought is whether the clipboard will be retained – prepare to be amazed. The key features of Mouse without Borders are: Control a set of machines using the same keyboard/mouse, share clipboard between the machines, and transfer files between the machines. If only this had existed the last time I purchased a new personal computer and needed to transfer everything over!

Shortcut Guide

Piggybacking off of the Keyboard Manager tool, Shortcut Guide assists those unfamiliar with keyboard shortcuts begin to identify what’s currently possible. I know this one was a game changer for me when I started to dig into this topic!

The Shortcut Guide within Microsoft PowerToys provides a visual overlay of the keyboard shortcuts available for Windows 10 when the Windows key is held down. So next time you’re trying to remember all the keyboard shortcuts in your head or keep a separate document detailing each of them, hold down the Windows key!

Ready to try them out for yourself? To install PowerToys on your computer, you can follow these general steps:

Download the latest version of Microsoft PowerToys from the official GitHub repository or the Microsoft Store.
Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install PowerToys on your system.
After installation, open the PowerToys Settings.
In the PowerToys Settings menu and navigate to your favorite tool, such as the Awake tool.
Enable Awake by toggling it on and begin configuring your preferences!

Click here for more information on how to install PowerToys.

Have you tried out any of the PowerToys? Have a favorite? Let me know in the comments below.