PowerToys — PowerToys — Microsoft's free, open-source utility collection for Windows, and its reputation rests on one module: FancyZ
What it is
PowerToys is Microsoft's free, open-source utility collection for Windows, and its reputation rests on one module: FancyZones, which divides any monitor -- including absurd ultrawides -- into custom zones that windows snap into when you dra
Editor's review
Long-form introduction by the BetterPicker editors · checked against the official site · Nov 1, 2026
PowerToys is Microsoft's free, open-source utility collection for Windows, and its reputation rests on one module: FancyZones, which divides any monitor -- including absurd ultrawides -- into custom zones that windows snap into when you drag with a modifier key held. The rest of the suite is a mixed shelf of small tools, from color picking to bulk renames, some of which you will never open. That is the honest framing reviewers keep returning to: install it for the window manager, keep it for the modules that happen to match your habits, and delete none of it, because it costs nothing and updates alongside your system. The suite is actively maintained, with updates arriving through the same installer rather than a store.
What it does well
FancyZones solves ultrawide chaos: custom layouts -- columns, grids, priority zones with a large center -- hold windows in place, and reviewers who tried paid window managers describe it as finally doing what they actually wanted, for free. The layout editor is drag-and-drop, so building a custom grid takes a minute, not a settings hunt.
Free and open source from Microsoft: the suite is published on GitHub with installers per release, which removes both the price and the trust questions that shadow third-party system utilities asking for deep system access. Open source also means issues are tracked in public rather than in a support black hole.
The suite keeps earning its keep: beyond FancyZones, modules cover color picking, image resizing, bulk file renames, and keyboard remapping, so the utility density quietly justifies the tray icon. Because the tools are separate modules, you can ignore the ones you do not want without losing the ones you do.
Who it's for
PowerToys fits Windows users with big or multiple monitors, developers and writers who arrange apps deliberately, and anyone who likes a toolbox that updates itself and asks for nothing in return but a settings window now and then. It is equally useful on a standard laptop, where parking two windows side by side is still faster with zones.
Where it falls short
Windows only: there is no Mac or Linux version, and much of its value presumes a wide display to organize in the first place.
Module quality is uneven: some tools feel polished while others are clearly utilities built for someone else's workflow; expect to enable a few and quietly ignore the rest. The settings list is long enough that a first visit rewards scrolling.
It runs as its own application: PowerToys lives in the system tray with settings of its own, one more autostarting item on machines that already have too many of those. Some modules duplicate Windows built-ins, so check before replacing a system feature.
Specs at a glance
Facts from the official site · not editorial opinion
| Platform | Windows |
|---|---|
| Price | Free and open source |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Install | GitHub releases or installer |
| FancyZones | Custom window zone layouts |
| Snapping | Hold a modifier key while dragging |
| Extras | Color Picker, Image Resizer, PowerRename, Keyboard Manager |
Frequently asked questions
▸Is PowerToys free?
Yes. It is free and open source, published by Microsoft on GitHub.
▸Is it safe to install?
It is Microsoft's own open-source project, distributed through GitHub releases and the standard installer; install from the official source as with any system utility.
▸What is FancyZones?
A window manager that divides a monitor into custom zones; hold a modifier key while dragging and windows snap into the layout you defined.
▸Do I need an ultrawide monitor?
No. FancyZones and the other modules work on any display, though multi-monitor and ultrawide setups benefit most.
Video reviews
5 review videos aggregated · praise and criticism included alike · click through to the original video
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