Skip to content
ToolGPA

Microsoft PowerToys

Free Microsoft utilities for customizing Windows 10 and 11

FreeUtilitiesChecked Oct 5, 2026
Visit learn.microsoft.com
Microsoft PowerToys, as pictured on learn.microsoft.com
How Microsoft PowerToys presents itself. Image from learn.microsoft.com.

Our verdict

Second of our top three desktop utilities

For: Windows users who want everything free and open source

PowerToys is a free, open-source collection of more than 30 utilities for Windows 10 and 11, with no paid edition. FancyZones snaps windows into custom zone layouts, Command Palette is a keyboard launcher with an extension gallery, Keyboard Manager remaps keys and shortcuts, and other tools rename files in bulk and copy text off the screen. It is second because it runs on Windows only, where Raycast covers the Mac as well. Key remaps apply only while PowerToys is running and do not work on the log-in screen, FancyZones cannot snap some apps, and pasting with AI needs a model provider that may charge for usage.

See all three and how we rank

What is Microsoft PowerToys?

Microsoft PowerToys is a free, open-source collection of more than 30 utilities for Windows 10 and 11, developed by Microsoft on GitHub under the MIT license. It bundles a window layout manager (FancyZones), a keyboard launcher (Command Palette), key and shortcut remapping, bulk file renaming, a color picker, on-screen text extraction and more. Individual utilities can be enabled or disabled from one settings app.

Microsoft PowerToys is free to use. See every plan

Good for

  • Windows users who want window layouts, a launcher and key remapping from one free install
  • Developers and power users who work mostly from the keyboard
  • People who prefer open-source tools published by the maker of the operating system

Worth knowing

  • Windows only: it needs Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 2004 or newer on a 64-bit x64 or ARM64 processor.
  • Paste with AI is off by default and needs a model provider; online providers require your own API key and may charge for usage.
  • Keyboard Manager remaps apply only while PowerToys is running, do not work on the log-in screen and cannot differ between keyboards.
  • FancyZones cannot snap some listed apps, and apps running elevated need PowerToys to run as administrator.

Key features

FancyZones
A window manager for custom zone layouts. Hold Shift while dragging a window to snap it into a zone, or let Win+arrow keys move windows between zones. Layouts are built in a grid or canvas editor.
Command Palette
A launcher opened with Win+Alt+Space that starts apps, runs commands, searches files and the web, calculates and switches windows. Community extensions install from a built-in Extension Gallery.
Keyboard Manager
Remaps single keys and shortcuts, globally or for one app, and can map a key or shortcut to a text sequence, an app launch or a URI.
Advanced Paste
Pastes clipboard content as plain text, Markdown, JSON or a file, extracts text from images with local OCR, and can transform text through an optional AI provider that you configure.
File Explorer tools
PowerRename renames files in bulk with search and replace or regular expressions, Image Resizer resizes images from the right-click menu, and File Locksmith shows which processes are using a file.
Screen and text tools
Color Picker samples colors anywhere on screen, Text Extractor copies on-screen text with OCR, Screen Ruler measures pixels, and ZoomIt zooms, annotates and records the screen for presentations.

Microsoft PowerToys pricing

Starts at
Free
Free plan
Every utility is free and open source; there is no paid edition. Optional AI pasting can incur usage charges from the model provider you connect.
Free trial
None listed
PowerToys$0All utilities, installed from GitHub, the Microsoft Store or WinGet. Free and open source under the MIT license.

Read from learn.microsoft.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Microsoft PowerToys before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Works with

Microsoft PowerToys alternatives

All Microsoft PowerToys alternatives comparedAll desktop utilities

Common questions

Is Microsoft PowerToys free?

Yes. Microsoft PowerToys is free to use. Every utility is free and open source; there is no paid edition. Optional AI pasting can incur usage charges from the model provider you connect.

How much does Microsoft PowerToys cost?

Microsoft PowerToys lists one plan. PowerToys: $0. Prices were read from learn.microsoft.com on Oct 5, 2026.

What platforms does Microsoft PowerToys work on?

Microsoft PowerToys is available on Windows.

Does Microsoft PowerToys have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Microsoft PowerToys is listed for Windows.

Does Microsoft PowerToys have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Microsoft PowerToys is listed for Windows.

Is Microsoft PowerToys open source?

Yes. Microsoft PowerToys is open source, according to its own site.

What does Microsoft PowerToys integrate with?

Microsoft PowerToys's listing names OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Mistral, Ollama, Foundry Local, WinGet and Windows Terminal. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes Microsoft PowerToys?

Microsoft PowerToys is made by Microsoft.

What are the alternatives to Microsoft PowerToys?

The closest alternatives to Microsoft PowerToys in our directory are Raycast, Flow Launcher, AutoHotkey, DisplayFusion and Komorebi. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Microsoft PowerToys.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026.