Microsoft has expanded its suite of PowerToys utilities with a new Crop and Lock tool. Allows you to create mini-windows with interactive and non-interactive content. This innovation can radically change the way users approach organizing their workspace, making it more flexible and functional.
PowerToys are nothing new in Microsoft’s arsenal. For the first time, a set of utilities to expand the functionality of Windows appeared at the time of Windows 95, and then it was rethought by the company in 2019 for Windows 10, after which Microsoft decided to make it open by posting it on GitHub.
The new tool, compatible with Windows 11 and Windows 10 v2004 (19041) and newer, offers two modes of operation. The first is the Thumbnail, a non-interactive mini-window that shows the area selected by the user in real time, without the possibility of interacting with its content.
The second mode, Reparent, unlike the first, allows not only to observe, but also to interact with the content of the selected area, for example, scrolling the page inside a miniwindow. However, please note that this mode may not be supported by some apps.
To activate the new feature, PowerToys provides the following keyboard shortcuts:
Thumbnail mode: Windows + Ctrl + Shift + T;
Repair mode: Windows + Ctrl + Shift + R.
It is worth remembering that before activating the key combination, the application window must be selected.
Microsoft also warns users of potential issues:
Cropping maximized or full-screen windows in “Reparent” mode can be unstable. It is recommended to adjust the window size;
Some UWP apps may not respond correctly to cropping. For example, Windows Calculator;
Applications with additional windows or tabs, such as Microsoft Notepad and Microsoft OneNote, may also experience problems.
However, Crop and Lock is another move by Microsoft towards a friendlier and more flexible user interface. Despite some limitations, the new tool opens up additional opportunities for users. The new version of PowerToys 0.73.0 already includes this tool, available for x64 and Arm64 architectures.
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