Managing multiple monitors can be challenging even though Windows 11 offers features like Snap layout. However, Microsoft PowerToys offers tools to streamline your workflow and improve productivity when you have too many Windows spread out across multiple monitors. Here are seven PowerToys features to manage multiple monitors like a Pro.
Seven PowerToys features for Multiple Monitor users in Windows 11
Here is the list of features available with PowerToys that can help you improve your productivity if you have two or more monitors in your setup.
- FancyZones
- PowerToys Run
- Mouse Utilities
- Always on Top
- Keyboard Manager
- Screen Ruler
- Color Picker
The best part of using PowerToys is that it is not heavy on the system, unlike third-party software.
1] FancyZones
While Windows offers a similar feature, it is limited in terms of layouts. PowerToys Fancy Zones allows you to divide screens into zones tailored to your workflow and customize each monitor. It can easily remember individual windows’ positions and put them back there. Here is the list of features you should know:
- Overwrites Windows layout
- Move windows between zones across multiple monitors.
- Exclude apps.
- Move newly created windows to active monitor.
- The middle click on the mouse lets you switch between different zones.
You only need to ensure that all monitors have the same DPI scaling. FancyZiones will combine all monitors to manage them without a hiccup.
2] PowerToys Run
Whenever you press the Windows key, the Start menu opens on the primary monitor. Instead, you can use PowerToys run, which is similar to macOS Finder, but it ensures you can use it on the active monitor. You can configure the Preferred monitor position option with an active mouse or window position to choose where the finder opens.
3] Mouse Utilities
One of the biggest problems with the mouse in the multi-monitor scenario is to find the cursor. PowerToys uses the Find My Mouse feature to highlight the cursor while dimming the screen momentarily. It helps to figure out the monitor where the cursor is.
When using multiple PCs instead of multiple monitors, e.g., a desktop and a laptop, you can use the Mouse without Borders feature. This feature allows you to move your cursor across PCs without needing a hardware switch or paid software. It also allows you to share clipboards, transfer files, etc.
The last in the list is Mouse Jump, which, once triggered, takes a screenshot of the entire screen and lets you choose where to move the mouse. So, if you need to click on something that is way too far away, you can do that in the screenshot, and it will highlight it.
4] Always on Top
It is ideal for single and multiple-monitor setups. You can use a simple shortcut (Win+Ctrl+T) to keep any window on top, even when working on other screens. This makes reference material, videos, or monitoring tools accessible across multiple monitors and doesn’t disappear when you open another window.
5] Keyboard Manager
Apart from these, you can use the PowerToys Keyboard Manager to Remap keys feature, which helps you Optimize your keyboard for seamless multi-monitor workflows. These workflows can be app-specific, so you can set the app if you have apps on a dedicated screen.
6] Screen Ruler
If you need to measure elements or objects across monitors with precision, PowerToys offers a Screen ruler. It can span across monitors of different resolutions and help you measure.
It is specifically helpful for graphic design and UI/UX tasks, ensuring proper dimensions, spacing, and alignment of elements such as buttons, icons, and text boxes in mockups and designs. In web development, it aids in achieving pixel-perfect layouts by measuring distances and verifying the responsiveness of elements on web pages or applications.
7] Color Picker
Most of the time, consumers pick up monitors of different types. If that is the case, you already know that multiple monitors may display colors differently due to varying color profiles, resolutions, or calibration settings. A color picker allows users to verify colors directly from each screen, ensuring uniformity in designs, documents, or applications.
PowerToys offers multiple monitor users with tools to simplify workflows, improve navigation, and enhance productivity. From window management with FancyZones to precision tools like Color Picker, PowerToys transforms how you use your multi-monitor setup.
These posts may also interest you:
- Dual Monitor Tools for Windows 11 lets you manage multiple monitors
- Display Fusion lets you easily manage multiple monitors on Windows
- UltraMon Smart Taskbar lets you manage Dual or Multiple displays on Windows.
Can PowerToys help with optimizing display settings across multiple monitors?
While PowerToys doesn’t directly adjust display settings like resolution or refresh rate, its tools like FancyZones and Always on Top help you optimize how Windows and applications display. You can create monitor-specific layouts or ensure critical windows remain visible regardless of the display configuration.
Read: How to Back Up and Restore PowerToys Settings
Does PowerToys support multi-monitor setups with different resolutions and orientations?
PowerToys works seamlessly across multi-monitor setups with varying resolutions, aspect ratios, and orientations. Tools like FancyZones and Mouse Utilities adapt to each monitor’s unique properties, allowing consistent functionality and navigation.
