There are a lot ofproductivity-focused apps available for Windows 11, including some that are built-in to the operating system. However, you only want to use tools that you know for a fact will enhance your productivity. Many productivity apps can serve as a distraction, rather than as a boost to your workflow.
My workflow probably isn’t too different from yours. I do a bit of admin work, writing, somelight design, andphotography work, so whether you’re a creative artist or an admin assistant, I hope that some of the tools I’m about to highlight can help you get your work done a bit faster and get the most out of your Windows 11 experience.
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1Microsoft PowerToys
An often underrated collection of productivity tools, available for free
PowerToys is often slept on – it’s a package of free, lightweight, tools that help to improve your Windows OS experience. It’s been around since Windows 95, though Microsoft seemingly abandoned it for quite a while, until it returned with Windows 10 with some new features. PowerToys allows you to configure how Windows 10 and 11 appear, plus how they function. When using multiple of the tools offered by PowerToys together, it can help you save time on tasks, both large and small.
I like using PowerRename to bulk rename photos when I’m clipping screenshots for a story, and it’s also a handy way to organize a large stack of PDFs. If you’re multitasking on big projects, tryAlways On TopandFancyZones –both help keep your screen organized by pinning what’s most important to the top. PowerToys is an excellent way to boost productivity no matter what kind of work you’re doing, and the best part is, you can download it for free from either the Microsoft Store or GitHub.
I really hope Microsoft includes PowerToys by default in future Windows updates, but for now, you’ll need to download and install it manually.
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PowerToys is one of the best free downloads for improving Windows and boosting productivity because of these features.
An incredibly deep note-taking app
Microsoft’s built-in Notepad and OneNote are solid for basic note-taking, but if you’re looking for an app that supports Markdown language for linking note pages or offers a ton of plugins and extra features, you should check out Obsidian. It’s incredibly versatile – you can use it for everything from collaborative brainstorming sessions to to-do lists or even storyboarding a novel. Whatever you need to organize, Obsidian can handle it.
One of the things I really love about Obsidian is the sheer number of plugins available, plus its compatibility with other apps like Google Docs. With thousands of free plugins, you can customize Obsidian into exactly the note-taking app you need. Its compatibility also makes it easy to transfer notes between devices, whether you’re using Linux, Windows, macOS, or mobile.
I’ve tested a lot of note-taking apps, but Obsidian is the one I always find myself coming back to on Windows.
Obsidian is a note-taking app that helps store open, non-proprietary files for you to use both online and offline. It stores files on device, so they are only accessible by the user.
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3Windows Snipping Tool
Easy screenshots and screen recordings
I use the built-in Windows Snipping Tool almost more than any other built-in Windows 11 tool. It makes it easy to take screenshots or screen recordings of your desktop, and you can even take full-screen screen recordings. It’s how I gather the vast majority of the screenshots I use here on Pocket-Lint, and it’s an indispensable tool in my workflow.
you’re able to also use the Windows Snipping Tool to record audio when taking a screen recording, and there’s support for OCR, so you can easily pull text from screenshots in Windows 11. You don’t need to install anything for the Windows Snipping tool, as it’s already in your start menu. Just simply search for “Snipping Tool,” or use the key command:Windows key + Shift + Sto open the tool.
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4Flow Launcher
Universal search for Windows
I use both Windows and macOS daily, and one of the things I prefer about macOS is Spotlight Search. While Windows allows you to pin your most used files and apps to your taskbar in Windows 11, everything else you’ll have to find through the Windows Start menu. The Windows Start Menu is bloated, in my opinion, and doesn’t have the best search and result functions.
If you want something more akin to Spotlight Search on macOS, I highly recommend grabbing Flow Launcher.
Flow Launcher lets you bypass the start menu to launch apps, files, and even websites. You can use key commands to run functions through it, allowing you to quickly launch applications, find folders, and even pull up websites. It’s completely free to use, and it’s one of my favorite tools to enhance Windows 11.
Flow Launcher
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5Twinkle Tray
Manage brightness levels of multiple monitors
If you’re someone who uses multiple monitors, I highly recommend checking out Twinkle Tray. It’s absolutely free and can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store. Twinkle Tray allows you to customize the brightness settings for your monitor, straight from the desktop.
You can create brightness level pre-sets for designated times of the day and night and – what I think is the best of all – customize the brightness for multiple monitors at once. If you are running a dual-monitor setup, Twinkle Tray enables you to turn the brightness up on your main monitor, and turn the brightness down on your secondary monitor, all in the app.
Twinkle Tray: Brightness Slider
Why this portable monitor stands out from the pack
I’m getting up to three times done with this setup.
6TransluscentTB
Make your Windows 11 taskbar translucent
When Windows 11 first launched, there was a lot of controversy about the changes to the taskbar. There’s less customization than there had been in previous Windows iterations. For example, there’s no easy way to make the taskbar translucent. You could go into the Windows directory and edit the code around to get a translucent taskbar, but it requires a good deal of technical ability.
If you want an easy way to get a translucent taskbar, you can download TranslucentTB for free from the Microsoft Store. TransluscentTB doesn’t have a premium version, and it’s an incredibly lightweight app.
TranslucentTB
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