📢 Microsoft PowerToys 0.53.1 adds G-code support in file explorer, web search run plugin, and more

Changelog

Things to be aware of

• The new installer currently has a visual quirk when upgrading if you have a custom install path. It will show the default install path but it will actually overwrite the current location. We are investigating how to fix this.

Always on Top

• Welcome to the family! With a quick Win+Ctrl+T, the window in focus is toggled to be on top. Toggle again, and it reverts back to normal.

ColorPicker

• HEX input improvements for adjusting color menu including support for hex code without the hashtag and short hex code like #CF0.
• Better bottom right screen detection for overlay

FancyZones

• Increased negative space margin
• Fix for not snapping child windows
• Fix for clearing keyboard focus on editor launch
• Fix to improve overlays to reduce brightness and hide numbers.

File Explorer

• Added G-code support for thumbnails and preview pane.

Image Resizer

• Fixed regression from Metadata tag removal of ColorSpace.

PowerRename

• Row highlighting + preview support is now implemented.
• Fixed AltGR input issue
• Improved folder renaming support
• Opens on the active monitor

PowerToys Run

• Web searching has been added! ?? What is the answer to life will go to your favorite search engine via your browser. You can change the default action key too!
• VS Code workspace improvements.
• Binary and Hex number support.
• Ability to use factorials in calculations
• PT Run will not show in Window Walker results anymore.
• Fix log / ln calculations
• Fix to make previous results clear
• Fix to detect symlinks and prevent recursive loops
• Fix for trackpad scrolling being too fast
• Removed unneeded NuGet package.
• Better detection for if a packaged app can be elevated
• Improve crash resiliency for the Program plugin.
• Improved Windows setting results.
• Fixed a bug where some similar activation phrases aren’t working as expected.

Video conference mute

• Disabled by default as this requires elevation to register the virtual camera.
• Changed (default) hotkey for mute camera & microphone from Win+N to Win+Shift+Q to not conflict with a Windows 11 keyboard shortcut

Settings

• Multiple accessibilities, layout, image, string, and icon fixes.

Runner

• Improved mutex support to prevent multiple PT Run instances from running

Installer

• NOTE: The new installer currently has a visual quirk when upgrading if you have a custom install path. It will show the default install path but it will actually overwrite the current location. We are investigating how to fix this.
• Large progress toward user-based installing vs machine-wide. The Upgrade scenario still needs additional work.
• Removed custom bootstrapper and now are using a WiX bundle.
• Removed unused image assets that were still being shipped.

ARM64 support

• Setting WinUI3 proof-of-concept and validating we do need at least one more feature, elevation support from WinUI 3 unpackaged applications.

Dev improvements

• New YAML-based pipeline for building our signed installer. This will allow us to consolidate our CI to use the same file. This was critical for us to unblock ARM64 and .NET 6 migration.
• Our submodules will no longer auto fetch to prevent locking issues. If you want a refresher on how to do this, head to our dev docs
• The localization system shifted to Touchdown from CDPx. This should remove many of the loc issues.
• Consolidated a lot of the naming of EXEs and DLLs along with projects
• Update to spell checker.
• /dup response has been added
• /reportbug /bugreport will ask for a “report bug” zip

Would you like to download Microsoft PowerToys version 0.53.1? Head over to the Official GitHub Page.