PowerToys Update Lands With New Features and UI Enhancements for Windows

Microsoft has released PowerToys v0.99.0 for Windows 11 and Windows 10, continuing its push to improve customization and productivity tools for advanced users. The update introduces new features while refining existing utilities to better align with modern Windows design and workflows.

Core PowerToys experience

PowerToys remains a free, open-source suite developed by Microsoft, widely used for enhancing everyday tasks on Windows systems. Tools like FancyZones for window layouts, PowerToys Run for quick launching, and utilities such as Color Picker and PowerRename continue to form the core experience.

Power Display adds quick screen control

The highlight of this release is a new feature called Power Display. This system tray tool allows users to adjust brightness, contrast, and color profiles directly, without navigating deeper system menus. It supports custom display profiles, making it easy to switch between settings with a single click.

Integration with Light Switch enables automatic adjustments based on system theme changes, adding a layer of smart automation.

Grab And Move introduces Linux-style window control

Another major addition is Grab And Move, a feature inspired by Linux window management behavior. Users can hold ALT and left-click anywhere on a window to drag it, or use ALT and right-click to resize it. This approach removes the need to interact with title bars or window edges, offering a faster and more flexible way to manage windows.

Command Palette and Dock improvements

Microsoft also introduced several improvements to existing components. The Command Palette and Dock now include a compact mode, persistent calculator history, and improved pinning options. Text and image viewing extensions have been enhanced to deliver a smoother preview experience.

Keyboard Manager and ZoomIt updates

Keyboard Manager received usability updates, allowing users to adjust remappings through dropdown menus and disable specific keys or shortcuts more easily. Meanwhile, ZoomIt now supports scrolling screenshots, expanding its utility for presentations and documentation.

UI and performance refinements

Other refinements focus on performance and visual consistency. Image Resizer has been migrated to WinUI 3, bringing it closer to the Windows 11 design language. Advanced Paste has also improved reliability, particularly in apps like Microsoft Teams and Visual Studio Code.

PowerToys v0.99.0 shows Microsoft’s steady push toward a more refined and customizable Windows experience. Alongside these updates, Microsoft continues working on broader changes through its K2 plan, including a new system spinner and a modernized Run dialog, signaling a continued effort to unify design and improve usability across Windows.

Via Neowin