# Microsoft PowerToys

Application: Microsoft Corporation

Also called power toys, fancyzones, powertoys run

Microsoft Corporation, System

A Microsoft utility pack with FancyZones, Run, Awake, and more. The runner is PowerToys.exe. Windows 95 PowerToys is nostalgia, not this install.

## What you need to know

This PowerToys is the 2019 Microsoft suite. Windows 95 PowerToys is a different product.

Microsoft PowerToys is an open-source pack: FancyZones, Run, Awake, and more. Get it from Microsoft Learn. Windows 95 PowerToys (TweakUI) is nostalgia, not this install. PowerToys.exe is the runner.

- **What is it?**: Microsoft's 2019 utility pack

  **Same as Windows 95 PowerToys?**: No. TweakUI is a different product

  **FancyZones / Run?**: Yes. Those modules live here

Feex says

If you want FancyZones, I would install the 2019 PowerToys from Microsoft Learn. I would not hunt a Windows 95 TweakUI download. That is a different century.

## What is Microsoft PowerToys?

PowerToys.exe is the runner that starts modules. FancyZones, Run, and Awake are separate exes. The Windows 95 PowerToys TweakUI is not in this tree.

## If you have never used it

If you want FancyZones, PowerToys Run, or Awake, this is the 2019 Microsoft PowerToys suite. Download it from Microsoft Learn or the GitHub releases Microsoft links. It is not the Windows 95 PowerToys pack (TweakUI and friends). That old CD is nostalgia, not this installer.

## What is it used for?

**FancyZones window layouts**

Snap windows to custom zones. The Windows 95 pack did not include FancyZones. That name is 2019+.

**PowerToys Run (Alt+Space)**

A launcher. It is not Listary's Explorer hook and not the 1995 PowerToy.

**Awake, Color Picker, PowerRename, and more**

Each module can be its own process. Turn them off in PowerToys Settings. TweakUI is not one of these modules.

## Who is it for?

- People who want FancyZones or Run on current Windows
- Anyone who googled PowerToys and found a Windows 95 article
- Users who should install from Microsoft, not a "PowerToys 95" exe host

## Current status

Microsoft PowerToys (2019) is a current utility suite from Microsoft Corporation. The vendor still points Windows users at https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/.

## How old is it?

Windows 95 PowerToys was a 1990s Microsoft extras pack. The current open-source PowerToys launched in 2019. Same nickname, different product. Microsoft Learn documents Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or newer, and a 64-bit x64 or ARM64 CPU.

## Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

GitHub / Learn installer

Microsoft Store

winget Microsoft.PowerToys

## System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

### Minimum

| Operating system | Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or newer, per Microsoft. 64-bit x64 or ARM64                |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| RAM              | Enough for current Windows plus the modules you enable. Microsoft documents WebView2 as an installer dependency |

## Resource profile

- **CPU demand**: Low when modules are idle

  **RAM demand**: Small for the runner. Modules add their own rows

## Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

| PowerToys.exe               | Runner and settings host |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| PowerToys.FancyZones.exe    | Snap layouts             |
| PowerToys.PowerLauncher.exe | Run (Alt+Space)          |
| PowerToys.Awake.exe         | Keep awake               |

## Startup components

PowerToys can start with Windows from its own setting. That starts the runner, not FancyZones by itself.

## File locations

| Typical install | C:\Program Files\PowerToys\\ |
| --------------- | ---------------------------- |

## File formats

Settings JSON under the user profile. Modules vary

## Common problems

### People download a Windows 95 PowerToys archive

That will not add FancyZones. This product is the 2019 GitHub / Learn suite.

### Runner missing after a portable copy

Install from Learn or GitHub. A random PowerToys.exe on the desktop is not the suite.

## Getting unstuck

### Install from Microsoft Learn or aka.ms/installpowertoys

Windows 95 PowerToys pages are history. This runner needs Windows 10 2004 or Windows 11, 64-bit, per Microsoft.

### Open PowerToys Settings from the tray and disable the module you do not want

Ending FancyZones does not quit the runner. Ending PowerToys.exe can take the modules down.

### Repair with winget install Microsoft.PowerToys if the runner will not start

That is the current product id. There is no TweakUI package name.

## Alternatives

Listary for an Explorer launcher. Windows Terminal for tabs. The Windows 95 pack is not a current alternative.

## Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

| Download        | [learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/ ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/)Official installer or vendor page |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Help            | [learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/install ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/install)Vendor support      |
| Official site   | [learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/ ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/)Start here, not a random exe host |
| GitHub releases | [aka.ms/installpowertoys ](https://aka.ms/installpowertoys)Official installer Microsoft documents                          |

## Related hardware

Microsoft lists a 64-bit x64 or ARM64 processor. FancyZones wants a working multi-window desktop, not a famous GPU name.

## Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[PowerToys.exe: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/powertoys.exe)[Listary: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/listary)[Windows Terminal: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/windows-terminal)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [Microsoft PowerToys official site ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/)· Vendor product page
- [Microsoft PowerToys help ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/install)· Vendor support
- [PowerToys GitHub ](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys)· Releases and source
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Developer**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Category**: Utility suite

  **Process**: [PowerToys.exe](https://feex.it/wiki/process/powertoys.exe)

  **License**: MIT (open source)

  **First released**: 2019

  **Official site**: [learn.microsoft.com/powertoys](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/)

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/powertoys/)

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