--- title: I uninstalled 6 apps after PowerToys finally did their... description: A longtime PowerToys user shares how the free Microsoft utility suite has replaced six third-party apps on their Windows PC: Pixie Color Picker (replaced by... canonical: https://daily.dev/posts/i-uninstalled-6-apps-after-powertoys-finally-did-their-jobs-better-tpxho5nq9 twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:site: @dailydotdev og:type: website og:site_name: daily.dev og:title: I uninstalled 6 apps after PowerToys finally did their jobs better | daily.dev og:description: A longtime PowerToys user shares how the free Microsoft utility suite has replaced six third-party apps on their Windows PC: Pixie Color Picker (replaced by... og:url: https://daily.dev/posts/i-uninstalled-6-apps-after-powertoys-finally-did-their-jobs-better-tpxho5nq9 og:image: https://api.daily.dev/og/posts/tPXHo5nQ9.png og:image:alt: I uninstalled 6 apps after PowerToys finally did their jobs better og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 630 og:locale: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # I uninstalled 6 apps after PowerToys finally did their jobs better **[XDA Developers](https://daily.dev/sources/xda-developers)** · 5 min read · 37 upvotes · 6 comments ## Summary A longtime PowerToys user shares how the free Microsoft utility suite has replaced six third-party apps on their Windows PC: Pixie Color Picker (replaced by PowerToys Color Picker with 16 color formats), Bulk Rename Utility (replaced by PowerRename, integrated into File Explorer), Wox (replaced by PowerToys Run and Command Palette for launching apps and running commands), a PhotoStack bookmark (replaced by the built-in Image Resizer), and Tinkle Tray (replaced by Power Display for monitor brightness control). The overall takeaway is that PowerToys has matured into a toolbox that fills long-standing gaps in Windows, often better than dedicated apps, while remaining approachable for beginners. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Questions this post answers ### Can PowerToys Color Picker replace a dedicated color picker app like Pixie on Windows? Yes, PowerToys Color Picker can fully replace standalone color picker apps. Triggered with Win + Shift + C, it lets you hover over any pixel on screen and instantly copies the color value to your clipboard, offering up to sixteen different color format options such as HEX and RGB. _daily.dev surfaces workflow tips like this for developers building custom Windows toolchains._ ### Does PowerToys have a bulk file renaming feature similar to Bulk Rename Utility? Yes, PowerToys includes PowerRename, a batch renaming feature built directly into File Explorer. It handles most common bulk rename needs without requiring a separate application, letting users rename dozens of files without leaving File Explorer or interrupting their workflow. _Developers automating file organization can compare native tools versus third-party utilities on daily.dev._ ### What does PowerToys Run do compared to a launcher like Wox? PowerToys Run is a keyboard-activated launcher (default shortcut Alt + Space) that opens apps, searches files, runs system commands, does calculations, and controls other PowerToys features from a single text interface, similar to third-party launchers like Wox. The Command Palette extends this with richer, more advanced actions for power users. _daily.dev helps keyboard-driven developers track tooling changes like this before switching workflows._ ## Community discussion Top comments from developers on daily.dev. **@paulclift74** · 1 upvotes > Every time I reinstall the OS the 1st thing I setup is Fancy Zones. It's brilliant with a large 4k multi monitor setup. **@petecapecod** · 0 upvotes > yeah PowerToys has been the best addition to Windows. I even got to hang with Clint who makes it, cool dude if you get a chance to nerd out with him. **@jessyco** · 0 upvotes > if PowerToys gets to much attention, Microsoft project managers will get wind of it, amp up the development then play the game of adding ways to charge you for using it. > > IF they where smart (imo) about this; they would directly implement the tools found in this as part of standard windows, and continue work on them. ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [I tried every PowerToys utility for a week, and a handful actually changed how I use Windows](https://daily.dev/posts/i-tried-every-powertoys-utility-for-a-week-and-a-handful-actually-changed-how-i-use-windows-1n5qjwq27) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 1 comments - [My Windows 11 PC feels less annoying after I replaced these built-in habits with PowerToys](https://daily.dev/posts/my-windows-11-pc-feels-less-annoying-after-i-replaced-these-built-in-habits-with-powertoys-hzfjrtxjo) · XDA Developers · 90 upvotes · 11 comments - [PowerToys is now stable enough to replace my entire third-party tool collection](https://daily.dev/posts/powertoys-is-now-stable-enough-to-replace-my-entire-third-party-tool-collection-xtge4n72d) · XDA Developers · 2 upvotes · 0 comments - [PowerToys 0.99 is here: new monitor controls, easier window management, and Dock upgrades](https://daily.dev/posts/powertoys-0-99-is-here-new-monitor-controls-easier-window-management-and-dock-upgrades-buq2ggj6w) · Windows Command Line · 142 upvotes · 3 comments - [PowerToys just got 28% smaller and absorbed three separate apps I used to install](https://daily.dev/posts/powertoys-just-got-28-smaller-and-absorbed-three-separate-apps-i-used-to-install-4axux2uzw) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#microsoft](https://daily.dev/tags/microsoft), [#productivity](https://daily.dev/tags/productivity), [#windows](https://daily.dev/tags/windows) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/i-uninstalled-6-apps-after-powertoys-finally-did-their-jobs-better-tpxho5nq9) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization","name":"daily.dev","url":"https://daily.dev","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://daily.dev/apple-touch-icon.png","width":180,"height":180},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/dailydotdev","https://github.com/dailydotdev","https://www.linkedin.com/company/daily-dev-ltd"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://daily.dev/#website","url":"https://daily.dev","name":"daily.dev","publisher":{"@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization"},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://daily.dev/search?q={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","headline":"I uninstalled 6 apps after PowerToys finally did their jobs better","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/i-uninstalled-6-apps-after-powertoys-finally-did-their-jobs-better-tpxho5nq9","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/i-uninstalled-6-apps-after-powertoys-finally-did-their-jobs-better-tpxho5nq9"},"datePublished":"2026-08-12T13:01:48.369Z","dateModified":"2026-09-13T20:57:57.681Z","description":"A longtime PowerToys user shares how the free Microsoft utility suite has replaced six third-party apps on their Windows PC: Pixie Color Picker (replaced by...","image":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/posts/111bfd8e60498daaffab9315f73489bd?_a=AQAEuop","thumbnailUrl":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/posts/111bfd8e60498daaffab9315f73489bd?_a=AQAEuop","isAccessibleForFree":true,"articleSection":"XDA Developers","inLanguage":"en","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"daily.dev","url":"https://daily.dev","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://daily.dev/apple-touch-icon.png","width":180,"height":180}},"author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"XDA Developers","logo":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/s--kCg6yyAP--/f_auto,q_auto/v1774964407/logos/xda-developers?_a=BAMAMiWQ0","url":"https://daily.dev/sources/xda-developers"},"commentCount":6,"discussionUrl":"https://daily.dev/posts/i-uninstalled-6-apps-after-powertoys-finally-did-their-jobs-better-tpxho5nq9","interactionStatistic":[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":37},{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"CommentAction"},"userInteractionCount":6}],"keywords":"microsoft,productivity,windows","timeRequired":"PT5M"} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://daily.dev"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"XDA Developers","item":"https://daily.dev/sources/xda-developers"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"I uninstalled 6 apps after PowerToys finally did their jobs better"}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/i-uninstalled-6-apps-after-powertoys-finally-did-their-jobs-better-tpxho5nq9","comment":[{"@type":"Comment","text":"Every time I reinstall the OS the 1st thing I setup is Fancy Zones. It’s brilliant with a large 4k multi monitor setup.","datePublished":"2026-08-18T07:57:58.799Z","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/tPXHo5nQ9#c-WcPFh8T0E","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Clift","url":"https://daily.dev/paulclift74","image":"https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/76553923?v=4"},"interactionStatistic":{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":1}},{"@type":"Comment","text":"yeah PowerToys has been the best addition to Windows. I even got to hang with Clint who makes it, cool dude if you get a chance to nerd out with him.","datePublished":"2026-08-17T11:59:32.914Z","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/tPXHo5nQ9#c-0dgNsQTMl","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Peter Cruckshank","url":"https://daily.dev/petecapecod","image":"https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/s--ZJhQyKws--/f_auto/v1721235024/avatars/avatar_A9xh33q0QoxtkGoJRCosp"}},{"@type":"Comment","text":"if PowerToys gets to much attention, Microsoft project managers will get wind of it, amp up the development then play the game of adding ways to charge you for using it.\nIF they where smart (imo) about this; they would directly implement the tools found in this as part of standard windows, and continue work on them.","datePublished":"2026-08-17T19:05:11.194Z","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/tPXHo5nQ9#c-RaBojjFqA","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"jessy.co","url":"https://daily.dev/jessyco","image":"https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/1643234?v=4"}}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/i-uninstalled-6-apps-after-powertoys-finally-did-their-jobs-better-tpxho5nq9#faq","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can PowerToys Color Picker replace a dedicated color picker app like Pixie on Windows?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, PowerToys Color Picker can fully replace standalone color picker apps. Triggered with Win + Shift + C, it lets you hover over any pixel on screen and instantly copies the color value to your clipboard, offering up to sixteen different color format options such as HEX and RGB. daily.dev surfaces workflow tips like this for developers building custom Windows toolchains."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Does PowerToys have a bulk file renaming feature similar to Bulk Rename Utility?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, PowerToys includes PowerRename, a batch renaming feature built directly into File Explorer. It handles most common bulk rename needs without requiring a separate application, letting users rename dozens of files without leaving File Explorer or interrupting their workflow. Developers automating file organization can compare native tools versus third-party utilities on daily.dev."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What does PowerToys Run do compared to a launcher like Wox?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"PowerToys Run is a keyboard-activated launcher (default shortcut Alt + Space) that opens apps, searches files, runs system commands, does calculations, and controls other PowerToys features from a single text interface, similar to third-party launchers like Wox. The Command Palette extends this with richer, more advanced actions for power users. daily.dev helps keyboard-driven developers track tooling changes like this before switching workflows."}}]} ```