Microsoft's PowerToys toolkit has expanded with a practical new addition named CursorWrap, designed to shift the mouse pointer fluidly from one screen boundary to the opposite, alongside an upgrade that bolsters the capabilities of the Command Palette module.
Individuals who experienced gaming in the 1980s will quickly grasp the function of CursorWrap. Envision piloting a vessel in the classic arcade title Asteroids: as it approaches the display's right margin while evading massive asteroids, it abruptly reemerges on the left. CursorWrap replicates this seamless transition for the cursor.
This innovation matters particularly for those employing several screens or expansive ultrawide monitors, sparing the effort of sweeping the pointer across vast distances. Fundamentally, CursorWrap acts as a streamlined navigation aid for mouse movement.
The January PowerToys release incorporates multiple refinements, though the most notable involves a substantial revision to Command Palette, which Microsoft unveiled shortly ahead of the Build 2025 event in tandem with Windows Edit. The firm now regards Command Palette as the advanced iteration of Windows Run, a command-line feature that continued to receive enhancements through last December and could potentially be phased out, judging by Microsoft's direction.
Command Palette supports queries for documents, online content, WinGet software packages, basic computations, and various other operations. Earlier versions did not permit direct oversight of PowerToys components, but the current iteration allows configuration of FancyZones, tweaks to Advanced Paste, and additional modules. It further provides expanded personalization features, encompassing visual styling, interface adjustments, and prioritization of search results.
The January 2026 PowerToys edition also extends command-line functionality to multiple utilities within the suite, such as Peek.
Mark has contributed to PCWorld over the past ten years, drawing on three decades of expertise in technology reporting. He has produced more than 3,500 pieces for PCWorld, addressing subjects like PC processors, accessories, and Microsoft Windows systems. His work has appeared in outlets including PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science, and Electronic Buyers' News, earning a Jesse H. Neal Award for timely coverage. Recently, he relinquished a assortment of numerous Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs due to limited office storage.