Microsoft's PowerToys suite of complimentary utilities excels at pinpointing common frustrations with Windows usage and resolving them via simple keyboard inputs. The version 0.99 release from April introduces Power Display and Grab And Move, tools designed to tackle such issues effectively.
Each tool offers distinct benefits. Power Display shifts control of monitor adjustments away from physical buttons on the hardware, integrating them directly into the Windows environment. Meanwhile, Grab And Move addresses the challenge of relocating entire windows when they're cluttered with elements like numerous tabs, making it easier to select the correct area for dragging.
Testing showed these features aren't flawless, but Microsoft has promptly released fixes for initial glitches. There's optimism that the problem encountered with Power Display will also be resolved soon.
PowerToys comprises Microsoft's longstanding set of no-cost Windows tools. Users can obtain the installer through the Microsoft Store or by running the winget command in the Windows Command Line: winget install –id Microsoft.PowerToys –source winget. Those with existing installations might need to update via the PowerToys settings manually. Afterward, activation of the new features requires enabling them individually or locating them through the search function in the PowerToys launcher.
Monitor control panels are notoriously cumbersome, often featuring awkward buttons below the screen or a joystick requiring blind operation, with menus that expire quickly. Power Display relocates many of these options into Windows for simpler access.
Previously, with a laptop connected to two external screens, brightness for the built-in display could be adjusted via Windows 11's System > Display settings or keyboard shortcuts. For external monitors, however, changes meant physically interacting with the device's controls.
After activation, Power Display launches a compact overlay panel, either by manual initiation or the customizable shortcut Win + Ctrl + Up Arrow + D. The panel displays the internal screen at the top with brightness options, and external screens below with sliders for brightness, contrast, and volume where supported.
Screens are labeled with numbers matching those in Windows Settings under System > Display, which remains necessary for configurations like screen arrangement, refresh rates, HDR activation, and similar. The goal is to provide quick access to everyday adjustments, including the ability to save profiles for individual displays.
Availability of controls depends on Microsoft's implementation and the monitor manufacturer's support. For instance, while Microsoft demos include color temperature tweaks, this wasn't present on the tested device, nor were power status or connection type indicators.
A notable limitation involves compatibility with peripherals: Power Display failed to recognize external monitors connected via a Thunderbolt dock or USB-C directly to the PC. Functionality returned only when using a standard HDMI connection straight to the computer. Windows handled display info correctly regardless; the issue was isolated to Power Display.
This connectivity problem is likely an initial oversight that future patches will address, marking a promising debut nonetheless.
Grab And Move stands out for its straightforward utility in addressing a basic yet persistent need.
Traditionally, relocating Windows applications involves dragging from the title bar at the top. However, modern interfaces like web browsers pack in tabs, side panels, and various icons, shrinking the draggable area—especially when windows are maximized or snapped, often hiding it in a corner. This could worsen if taskbars relocate to the screen's top.
Grab And Move expands the interactive zone to the full window surface. It employs the Alt key as activator: holding Alt and left-clicking moves the window, while Alt and right-clicking adjusts its size on the spot. In evaluations, these operations performed reliably, streamlining rearrangements amid dense window layouts during task switches.
Microsoft also refined the Command Palette, introduced in March, adding options for pinning commands permanently.
Over years, PowerToys has grown into a cohesive array of productivity enhancers with a modernized dashboard. The 0.99 iteration hints at an impending 1.0 launch. It remains among Microsoft's most valuable free offerings, compelling even without the latest enhancements due to its robust existing features.
Mark has contributed to PCWorld for the past ten years, drawing on three decades in tech journalism. He has produced more than 3,500 pieces for PCWorld on subjects like PC processors, accessories, and Windows software. His work has appeared in PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science, and Electronic Buyers' News, earning a Jesse H. Neal Award for news coverage. Recently, he cleared out a stockpile of Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs from his workspace due to space constraints.