What Good Windows Software Have You Used?
1. Notepad++ (Text Editor)
A powerful text editor that supports syntax highlighting for multiple programming languages. It comes with features like code folding and auto-completion, and you can extend its functionality with plugins. It's a favorite among programmers and text processing enthusiasts.
2. PowerToys (Official Microsoft Tools)
This software is definitely underrated, and most people are completely unaware of its capabilities. It’s a toolkit straight from Microsoft.
Many people scoff at Microsoft tools, but this one is surprisingly powerful, packed with a treasure trove of features to boost your productivity:
- PowerToys Run: A super launcher (invoke with Alt+Space)
- Text Extractor: OCR for capturing text from screenshots
- Keyboard Manager: Customize shortcuts or remap keys
- Quick Accent: Long press for special characters (French, German, etc.)
- Always on Top: Keep a window on top of others
And there are many more handy features. You definitely need to give it a try; you'll really enjoy using it.
It’s odd that Microsoft hasn’t integrated these features directly into the system. It's likely because their current system is a mess, and no one wants to touch it.
3. Jump Desktop (Remote Control)
If you have multiple computers, switching between them can be a hassle. I’ve always relied on remote control software for this.
I’ve tried some like ToDesk and Sunflower, and while they work, the free version of ToDesk now has a time limit, and the remaining free options often have ridiculously low resolutions that make your eyes hurt.
Then I discovered Jump Desktop, which is free to use and has no resolution limits, perfectly meeting my needs.
4. Geek Uninstaller (Uninstallation Tool)
A powerful uninstaller that can completely remove software, including leftover files and registry entries. It has a clean interface and is user-friendly, making it more efficient than the built-in uninstallation tool.
5. SpaceSniffer (Lightweight Disk Analysis Tool)
Anyone using Windows knows that no matter how large your hard drive is, it inevitably gets filled up without you realizing what’s taking up space.
SpaceSniffer helps analyze disk space—it's quick and lightweight.
Once you analyze, you can start deleting unwanted files to free up space.
Before discovering SpaceSniffer, I had to manually open folders to find deletable files, which was quite a hassle.
6. uTools (Convenient Launcher)
An amazing productivity tool that incorporates file search, translation, OCR, screenshot capabilities, clipboard management, and much more—all with a bunch of plugins that make it addictive. Think of it as the Alfred for Windows.
The best part? It’s incredibly easy to use; just hit Win + Space to quickly launch the features you need.
If you have a programming background, you can even create your own plugins with a one-click startup, making it super convenient.
While there is a membership option, the free version is more than sufficient.
7. Cap (Screen Recording Software)
An open-source and free screen recording tool.
Most friends probably won’t need it, but if you ever need to add zoom functionality at the mouse position during presentations, you have to try Cap—it's super effective.
For similar recording needs in the past, I used to switch to my Mac to record with Screen Studio. Now I just use Cap.
8. TrafficMonitor (Desktop Floating Window)
A small floating window on your desktop that shows real-time CPU, memory usage, and network speed. It’s very lightweight and supports skin changes and other customization features, making it quite handy.
9. EarTrumpet (Volume Management Tool)
The built-in volume control in Windows is pretty bad. This tool allows you to adjust the volume for each application individually, making it super useful.
10. NoTab (My Own Developed Browser Extension)
Here comes my little plug (oops), it's a browser extension I developed, and I find it very useful and use it daily.
NoTab lets you preview link content on the current page without opening a bunch of tabs, making it especially suitable for quickly previewing content on sites like Zhihu, GitHub, Reddit, and Google.
It also supports quick translation and searching functionality.
It allows you to accomplish everything on a single page.
It's quite enjoyable to use, and I welcome friends to give it a try at https://notab.pro/.
11. LocalSend (LAN File Transfer Tool)
A lightweight and fast tool for sharing files over a local network. It works seamlessly across multiple platforms, meaning you no longer need to open WeChat to transfer files with the file assistant.
12. PotPlayer (Video Player)
A simple-to-use video player with strong compatibility, supporting various video formats and boasting powerful decoding capabilities and a wealth of playback setting options.
Just one feature alone puts most players to shame. While many players can only go up to 3x speed, PotPlayer can reach a maximum playback speed of 12x, which is fantastic for quickly reviewing content or finding materials.
I’ve done some video editing in the past, and it was essential for me to use the 12x speed to source and skim through footage.
13. Cherry Studio (AI Tool)
Now, since AI models are frequently in use, switching between different platforms can be quite inconvenient, especially when some advanced models require a subscription.
That’s where Cherry Studio comes in handy—find a budget-friendly AI API provider, and you can dive into AI effortlessly.