The Tool Desk
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1. Power Display: adjust an external monitor in one place
Power Display puts controls for an external monitor in a single flyout. Depending on the monitor and its supported controls, it can adjust brightness, contrast, volume, input source, and color temperature. This is most useful if you regularly change monitor settings; an example use is reaching those controls without repeatedly navigating the monitor’s own menus.
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Availability depends on the monitor exposing compatible controls. See Microsoft’s PowerToys utility catalog for the feature overview.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2. Find My Mouse: locate a hard-to-see cursor
On a large display, or when many windows are open, it can be easy to lose track of the pointer. Find My Mouse is a cursor-location utility: use it when you need to spot where the pointer is on screen. Microsoft groups it with mouse utilities for locating and highlighting pointer activity.
#1 Best Overall
- CRISP CLARITY: This 23.8″ Philips V line monitor delivers crisp Full HD 1920x1080 visuals. Enjoy movies, shows and videos with remarkable detail
- INCREDIBLE CONTRAST: The VA panel produces brighter whites and deeper blacks. You get true-to-life images and more gradients with 16.7 million colors
- THE PERFECT VIEW: The 178/178 degree extra wide viewing angle prevents the shifting of colors when viewed from an offset angle, so you always get consistent colors
- WORK SEAMLESSLY: This sleek monitor is virtually bezel-free on three sides, so the screen looks even bigger for the viewer. This minimalistic design also allows for seamless multi-monitor setups that enhance your workflow and boost productivity
- A BETTER READING EXPERIENCE: For busy office workers, EasyRead mode provides a more paper-like experience for when viewing lengthy documents
The exact activation shortcut and settings are not established here, so check the current Microsoft mouse utilities documentation for the controls available in your installed version.
3. Always On Top: keep a useful window in view
Always On Top pins a selected window above other windows. For example, you could keep Calculator visible while entering figures in another app, or leave a reference window in view while writing. It is a simple way to avoid repeatedly bringing one window back to the front.
Rank #2
- CRISP CLARITY: This 22 inch class (21.5″ viewable) Philips V line monitor delivers crisp Full HD 1920x1080 visuals. Enjoy movies, shows and videos with remarkable detail
- 100HZ FAST REFRESH RATE: 100Hz brings your favorite movies and video games to life. Stream, binge, and play effortlessly
- SMOOTH ACTION WITH ADAPTIVE-SYNC: Adaptive-Sync technology ensures fluid action sequences and rapid response time. Every frame will be rendered smoothly with crystal clarity and without stutter
- INCREDIBLE CONTRAST: The VA panel produces brighter whites and deeper blacks. You get true-to-life images and more gradients with 16.7 million colors
- THE PERFECT VIEW: The 178/178 degree extra wide viewing angle prevents the shifting of colors when viewed from an offset angle, so you always get consistent colors
It pins a selected window; behavior can vary by application. Microsoft’s utility catalog describes the feature.
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4. Window Hopper: switch between windows in the same app
Windows’ usual app switching is designed to move among open applications. Window Hopper instead cycles through windows belonging to the currently focused app. That can help when, for example, you have several browser windows open and want to move among them without stepping through every other open program.
Rank #3
- Clear visuals. Fluid motion: A 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms MPRT deliver smooth, tear‑free motion across work, gaming, and streaming for clearer, more fluid viewing.
- Eye comfort: TÜV Rheinland 3‑star* certification reduces harmful blue light while preserving stunning color quality without compromise. *TÜV Rheinland 3-star eye comfort certification.
- Wide viewing angle: Get consistent views across a wide 178° /178° viewing angle.
- In-Plane Switching (IPS): See excellent color accuracy and consistency across wide viewing angles with In-plane Switching (IPS) technology.
- Ultra-thin bezels: Maximize your viewing experience with thin bezels.
For current details about its controls, consult Microsoft’s PowerToys utility catalog.
5. Peek: preview a file from File Explorer
Peek lets you inspect a file from File Explorer without opening it in its default application. Select a file and press Space, the default shortcut starting with PowerToys 0.95. You can move between files, inspect metadata, and open the current file in its usual program.
Rank #4
- CURVED FOR ENHANCED ENGAGEMENT: An immersive viewing experience with a curved monitor that wraps more closely around your field of vision; It creates a wider view, enhancing depth perception and minimizing peripheral distraction
- SMOOTH PERFORMANCE FOR SEAMLESS CONTENT: Stay in the action when playing games, watching videos, or working on creative projects; The 100Hz refresh rate reduces lag and motion blur so you don't miss a thing in fast-paced moments¹
- MORE GAMING POWER: Gain the edge with optimizable game settings; Color and image contrast can be adjusted to see scenes more vividly and spot enemies hiding in the dark; Game Mode adjusts any game to fill the screen so you can view every detail²
- KEEP IT EASY ON THE EYES: Care for your eyes and stay comfortable, even during long sessions; Advanced eye comfort technology certified by TÜV reduces eye strain by minimizing blue light and reducing irritating screen flicker²
- INCREASED VERSATILITY: Connect to more; Plug devices straight into your monitor for increased flexibility, making your computing environment even more convenient
Microsoft lists support for images, Office documents, videos, web pages, Markdown, text, and developer files; Peek can also show folder summaries. For the current supported formats and behavior, see Microsoft’s Peek documentation.
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Microsoft’s current requirements are Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 2004 (20H1, build 19041) or newer, on a 64-bit x64 or ARM64 processor. Microsoft lists GitHub releases, Microsoft Store, WinGet, Chocolatey, and Scoop as installation routes, and recommends GitHub or Microsoft Store.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【INTEGRATED SPEAKERS】Whether you're at work or in the midst of an intense gaming session, our built-in speakers provide rich and seamless audio, all while keeping your desk clutter-free.
- 【EASY ON THE EYES】 Protect your eyes and enhance your comfort with Blue-Light Shift technology. This feature reduces harmful blue light emissions from your screen, helping to alleviate eye strain during long hours of use and promoting healthier viewing habits.
- 【WIDEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE】Our sleek minimal bezel design ensures undivided attention. The nearly bezel-free display seamlessly connects in a dual monitor arrangement, delivering an unobstructed view that lets you focus on more at once, completely distraction-free.
- Install PowerToys using one of the listed channels. See Microsoft’s installation instructions for current steps.
- Open PowerToys settings and go to the home view.
- Enable the utilities you want and leave the others disabled. The five features serve different tasks, so there is no need to turn on the whole catalog.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
