📢 Microsoft releases PowerToys version 0.31.1 with a bunch of fixes and improvements

Microsoft released a new version of PowerToys that adds a bunch of fixes and improvements. Microsoft said that the focus of this release was to improve the FancyZones editor, add some new toys into PowerToys Run, some ARM64 work, and stability. The company also said that it internally tested version 0.31.0 but didn't release it due to a bug in the FancyZonez Editor.

Regarding the Video Conference Mute Utility, the wait might be longer than expected. Microsoft plans to roll out a DirectShow based version in February and will merge the utility into the main PowerToys repository sometime in March.

Highlights from PowerToys v0.31

General

• Microsoft adds the bug report tool and improved logging to the system tray.
• Microsoft added CodeQL and other CI improvements.
• OOBE Spec should be finalized.

ARM64 Progress

• The PowerToys team completes the .NET Core upgrade for codebases. But there exist two external dependencies that are still based on the .NET Framework, and that needs to be updated.

Color Picker

• Microsoft fixes some bugs in the editor

FancyZones

• FancyZones is now streamlined with a simplified user interface
• Dark mode for the editor
• Certain settings (e.g. number of zones, spacing settings) can now be set on individual layouts.
• A number of bug fixes

File explorer

• Fixed OneDrive SVG Bug
• SVG is scaled appropriately when a view box is provided
• SVG thumbnail quality improved

PowerToys Run

• Service management plugin (restart, stop, ...)
• Registry key plugin
• System action plugin (Reboot, lock, ...)
• Hyperbolic functions added to the calculator
• Icon fixes when running in certain themes
• Unneeded dependencies removed
• Bug fixes

Installer

• Default to .NET Core 3.1.11