Last Updated on May 17, 2026
As Windows progresses and new versions and updates are released, Microsoft continues to add new features to its operating system. Even though many people are not happy how Windows 11 lacks some of the customization features that we had in Windows 10, there are still other applications we can use to fill the gap.
Microsoft does have a software package called PowerToys that you can install that adds additional functionality and tools to Windows. It has been around for many years and gets updated with new tools and features from time to time. In this article, we will be discussing thew new Microsoft PowerToys Command Palette tool.
1. Check Your PowerToys Version
To use the PowerToys Command Palette tool, you need to verify your current software build first. Open the main application and check the What’s new section. You must be running version v0.90.0 or later to access this feature. Update the software immediately if you are running an older build on your machine.
2. Enable the Command Palette Tool
Navigate to the main dashboard after installing or updating PowerToys. The Command Palette tool should be fully enabled by default out of the box. Look closely at the Activation section to find your system triggers. You will see that the default shortcut to open the tool is Windows Key + Alt + Spacebar. This specific shortcut key combination can be changed easily in the tool’s settings menu.
3. Learn the Action Triggers
Press the shortcut key combination to launch the application. Command Palette will open directly in the middle of your screen. You will see all the available features listed clearly in the interface. Notice that some of the tools have a specific trigger key you can press to initiate a dedicated search action. Type > in the search box to initiate a quick run command. Type = to have it perform complex mathematical calculations for you.
4. Execute Quick Commands
You can simply double click any of the commands in the visual list to start using them instantly. The interface is highly responsive. One thing you will notice is that clicking completely off the Command Palette window forces it to hide. You will need to re-open it using the shortcut keys if you lose focus on the app.
5. Search for Local Files
Double click on the Search files command to look for local documents. Type in a word like Hawaii to test the indexing speed. We get instant results pulled directly from the hard drive as shown in the image below. We can then double click on a file to open it immediately. This behavior is incredibly similar to the Listary File Search app. Many of these commands will have extra options you can access at the lower right corner of the app. These options will vary from command to command.
6. Manage Open Applications
The Window Walker command completely changes how you multitask on your computer. It shows you a detailed list of all your currently open apps and background processes. Switch to any one of them simply by clicking on it in the list. This effectively replaces the need to constantly use the traditional Alt and Tab shortcut to find your open windows.
7. Create Custom Shortcuts
The Shortcut command builds dedicated URL or file path shortcuts on the fly. These custom shortcuts get added directly to your main list for incredibly easy access later. You can add a favorite folder to make it easier to manage your daily files. Pinning a highly used network directory right to the front page speeds up your entire workflow.
8. Customize General Settings
The Microsoft PowerToys Command Palette tool gives you many useful tools that you can access in one single place. Go into the main settings section for the app to configure its behavior. You can heavily customize how it works to improve your overall experience. Adjust the activation settings and visual themes until the launcher feels exactly right.
9. Manage Active Extensions
Go directly to the Extensions section to optimize your search results. You can disable any of the specific tools that you do not want to use. Turning off unused plugins keeps the interface clean and lightning fast. It is also possible to search for new extensions from the Install Command Palette extensions or Search for extensions in the Store commands.
10. Compare with PowerToys Run
Anyone who has previously used PowerToys Run will notice extreme similarities here. Command Palette acts as a spiritual successor but is significantly more powerful. You can actually run both tools together simultaneously on your machine. Test them out side by side and see exactly which one you prefer.
If you are a fan of Microsoft PowerToys then you will definitely like the God Mode Windows tool trick.
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