Microsoft new Windows 10 Power Toys Run feature offers you a quick way to locate and launch programs, files, folders and other items by typing their names. Let’s explore this new feature.
This is for Windows 10 operating system
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PowerToys Features
New with PowerToys version .018 and above is a quick launch feature called PowerToys Run. After you trigger its keyboard shortcut, the program appears on your screen. Just simply start typing in the name of the program, file or folder you want to open. From the search results, simply click on your desired item. But there is more.
The Run feature also allows you to open windows and running processes, launch apps like the Control Panel or Task Manager and perform calculations.
Install PowerToys
You will find the latest version at Microsoft’s GitHub page for PowerToys. If you are upgrading or installing for the first time, the Microsoft’s Windows Desktop Runtime should be automatically installed as part of the feature.
After installation, click on the desktop shortcut you created in the install to launch the program. Now, click on the PowerToys icon in the System Tray. See below image:
The Settings Menu
Right-click on the icon to access the the Settings option. In the PowerToys Settings screen, click on the entry for PowerToys Run. Next, click on the toggle switch to enable PowerToys Run.
By default, the feature shows you four search results. It is recommended that you increase this value to eight for a better result. Also, the default shortcut key is Alt + Spacebar, you can change this shortcut to your liking.
When you are finished, close the Settings screen. Refer to below image:
The Quick Laucher
Lets restart PowerToys Run by pressing the shortcut you defined. The quick launcher appears on the screen with an invitation for you to start typing. Start typing the name of the application, folder or file you wish to access. From the search results, click on the correct result to open it. At the upper right hand corner are two small icons. The first icon lets you open the application as an administrator; the second one opens the folder that contains the application’s executable file. The launcher window and its results are saved for other searches. See below image:
Next, you can find and launch open windows and running processes. At the Run launcher, type the name of an open application, file, web page or other process, and then select the item you wish to bring to the foreground. Refer to below image:
You can also open shell plugins built into Windows, which include such items as Control Panel, Task Manager and Command Prompt. To trigger such a plugin at the launcher, type > followed by the first few letters of the plugin, such as > control or > task and then select the item you want from the results. See following image:
The Calculator Feature
You can perform simple calculations at the launcher, a handy alternative to the Windows Calculator. To do this at the launcher, type the first number, followed by the symbol for the calculation (+ for addition, – for subtraction, * for multiplication or / for division), followed by the second number. After you finish the equation, the launcher displays the results. You can then click the result to copy it to the Clipboard. Refer to below image:
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