New PowerToys utilities make everyday Windows tasks easier
Microsoft released a PowerToys update adding mouse utilities, Command Palette shelf, ZoomIt dictation, and new command-line tools to streamline Windows tasks.
Microsoft has released a new PowerToys update featuring two mouse utilities designed to reduce strain during long drag operations. Mouse Button Lock allows users to press and hold a mouse button briefly, then release it while Windows continues to register it as held, enabling easier dragging or selection. This feature is particularly beneficial for gaming, professional applications requiring extensive dragging, and improving accessibility for users who struggle with prolonged button presses. The update also introduces CursorHide, which automatically hides the mouse pointer during typing or after inactivity and reappears when the mouse moves again.
The Command Palette now includes a quick-access shelf in compact mode, allowing users to pin frequently used commands for one-keystroke access. Enabled via Settings > Appearance > Compact mode, the shelf displays below the search box when the palette is collapsed. Users can launch pinned commands with Alt+1 through Alt+9, reorder them by dragging, or right-click for additional actions. Recent commands and apps can also be displayed alongside pinned items, enhancing workflow efficiency.
ZoomIt gains the ability to capture dictation alongside screenshots, with speech transcribed locally and pasted as text. Enabled in ZoomIt settings, users can press Space while dragging a snip to describe the capture, which then delivers both the screenshot and transcribed text in a single paste. The update also improves ZoomIt with smoother zoom transitions, better audio pacing in recordings, and fixes for silent recordings on multichannel and spatial-audio devices.
Keyboard Manager now supports tap-alone remaps, allowing a key to trigger a different action when pressed alone while retaining its normal function in shortcuts. The update includes search, modifier, and app filters for managing large remapping lists, a searchable key picker for selecting any key, and improved recording controls. IT administrators can deploy and export remapping profiles using DSC v3. The release also moves Color Picker and Text Extractor to WinUI 3 and introduces new command-line tools for automating PowerToys.