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PowerToys 0.73 adds new Crop and Lock utility, FancyZones improvements, and more

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It is update time for those using PowerToys on Windows 10 and 11. Version 0.73 is now available for download with numerous fixes, and improvements. This version includes a new utility called Crop And Lock, it allows you to select an application and crop it into a smaller window or thumbnail. Keyboard manager now supports Numpad, FancyZones contains code improvements and refactor and more.

Here are the highlights of the update:

  • Keyboard manager now supports Numpad. Note, with previously bound hotkeys stored in settings.json would only react to non-Numpad keys now. If a user wishes to restore the previous behavior, it could be done by manually adding another binding for the Numpad variant.
  • New utility: Crop And Lock allows you to crop a current application into a smaller window or just create a thumbnail. Focus the target window and press the shortcut to start cropping.
  • FancyZones code improvements and refactor.
  • Modernized ImageResizer UX.
  • PowerRename advanced counter functionality.

And the full changelog is below:

General

Always On Top

  • Added border transparency.

FancyZones

  • Fixed issue causing canvas zones being drawn only when dragging in zone area.

  • Fixed user-defined default layout highlighting issue.

  • Refactored and improved code quality.

  • Fixed issue causing wrong layout to be applied when duplicating non-selected layout.

File Locksmith

File Explorer add-ons

  • Fixed issue causing thumbnail previewers to lock files.

  • Open URIs from developer files in default browser. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

Installer

  • Fixed PowerToys autorun after installing as SYSTEM user.

  • Removed CreateScheduledTask custom action to handle task creation only from runner code.

Image Resizer

  • Moved from ModernWPF to WpfUI to refresh and modernize UI/UX. Thanks @niels9001!

Keyboard Manager

  • Rephrased labels to enhance clarity. Thanks @Jay-o-Way!

  • Keyboard manager now supports Numpad. Note, with previously bound hotkeys stored in settings.json would only react to non-Numpad keys now. If a user wishes to restore the previous behavior, it could be done by manually adding another binding for the Numpad variant.

Mouse Highlighter

  • Fixed highlighter being invisible issue for Always on Top windows.

  • Added settings for automatic activation on startup. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

Mouse Pointer Crosshairs

Peek

PowerRename

  • Updated OOBE gif. Thanks @ChaseKnowlden!

  • Localized renamed parts combo box.

  • Introduced advanced counter functionality.

  • Added remember last window size logic and optimized items sorting.

  • Enable "Enumerate items" option by default.

PowerToys Run

  • Fixed issue causing original search to be abandoned when cycling through results.

  • Updated device and bluetooth results for Settings plugin. Thanks @htcfreek!

  • Fixed InvalidOperationException exception thrown. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

  • Add Base64 Decoding function to the Value Generator plugin. Thanks @LeagueOfPoro!

  • Added Keep shell open option for Shell plugin.

  • Added Crop And Lock to PowerToys plugin. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

Registry Preview

  • Updated AppBarButtons to use an explicit AppBarButton.Icon. Thanks @randyrants!

  • Fixed crash on clicking Save As button.

Runner

  • Removed unneeded RegisterWindowMessage from tray icon logic. Thanks @sredna!

  • Fixed startup looping issue.

  • Improved old logs and installers cleanup logic. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

Screen Ruler

  • Use proper resources file.

Settings

  • Fixed issue causing problems with modifier keys and ShortcutControl. Thanks @sh0ckj0ckey!

  • Fixed crash when clicking "Windows color settings" link.

  • Added support for launching Settings app directly.

  • Fixed issue causing DisplayDescription not showing for PowerToys Run PluginAdditionalOption.

  • Fixed issue causing FileLocksmith 'Show File Locksmith in' setting not showing correct value.

  • Fixed issue causing Awake on/off toggle in Settings flyout not to work when Settings Awake page is opened.

Documentation

  • Added documentation for PowerToys Run third-party plugins. Thanks @davidegiacometti!

  • Fixed broken links in keyboardmanagerui.md. Thanks @shubhsardana29!

  • Updated core team in COMMUNITY.md.

  • Fixed broken links in ui-architecture.md. Thanks @SamB!

  • Updated community.valuegenerator.md with Base64DecodeRequest description.

Development

You can download PowerToys from the Microsoft Store, winget (Command Prompt as Administrator and enter the command: winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys, or its repository on GitHub.

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