Release v0.19.1

This is patch release to fix a few items for 0.19 we deemed important for stability. PowerToys Run, FancyZones,

This release will fix the following issues:

• #4578 - WinKey for PT Run throws a lot of false positives
• #4646 - FancyZones: When "Hold Shift key" is deactivated, Shift key should deactive FancyZones
• #4625 - [Run] Search text not updating on up/down navigation
• #4432 - Mitigated the race condition in os detection
• #2047 - Memory leak in PT Run
• #4647 - Fix remapped shortcuts not getting activated in succession

Regressions:

During testing, we noticed that #4430 - Settings can not be opened after closing it while minimized from the taskbar started happening again. We'll fix this in the full 0.20 release.

0.19.0 full change log

For more details on the 0.19 full update, please look at those release notes.

Release v0.19.0

Our goals for 0.19 release cycle had one big goal, add in stability / quality fixes. We've addressed over 100 issues across all our utilities. We've improved our installer experience and parts will start coming online in 0.19 and 0.20. In this release, it will be the last time during upgrade you'll see Windows Explorer flash on you. For 0.20, the .NET Core install experience much smoother.

Feedback:

We'd also stress feedback is critical. We know there are areas for improvement on PowerToys Run. We would love feedback so we can improve. We also would love to know if you want us to be more aggressive on auto-upgrading.

Release notes:

For the entire commit history, please look at the 0.19 release. Below are just a few of the bullet items from this release.

Known issues still for PT Run

• Newly installed apps can't be found #3553
  • We have a fix but came in too late for 0.19
• CPU / Memory, still investigating #3208
  • We fixed one item and have leads on other improvements
• WinKey remapping for PT Run can be quirky #4578

PowerToys Run

• Now using low level hooks so can remap Alt+Space to a WinKey based shortcut #2325
• PWAs correctly reconginized #3199
• Dev mode apps can't be found #3330
• Duplicate results due to romaing profile data #3180
• Steam games not found #3425
• Hidden files not in results #3449
• Theming improvements #3485
• Missing icons #3541
• Supress Alt-F4 #3796
• Network paths don't work #4096
• Search enivornment path by default #4200
• Search desktop by default #4056
• Can't find Terminal #3974
• Can't find ClickOnce apps #4025
• Start typing text is visible then disappears on cold start #2974
• Tabbing highlight issue for context menu #2559, #3483
• Context menu buttons showing up when hovering with mouse #2420
• Placement shutters with monitors #3535, #3018](#3018)
• blank result box when there's nothing on search query #3186
• Result box sizing issue #2456

PowerRename

• Detect when pattern matching is used #1002

FancyZones

• Outlook new email windows snapped to last used zone #1192
• Teams notifications don't snap #1931
• Improved multi-thread design. #961
• Multiple Virtual Desktop Fixes. #2725, #2684, [#2678]#2678), #2633

Keyboard manager

• Key remappings stay active when flipping to Japanese IME #3397
• Tab fix when remap Ctrl/Alt #3294
• Fix remapping to alt-tab/win+space style shortcuts #3331
• Fixed remapping to Extended keys (Home, End, Ins, Del, Pg, Arrow keys) #3478
• Games having incorrect key mapping #3647
• Fixed numlock remap #3277
• Stability fixes

Settings

• Settings v2 is blanked #3384
• "Check for update" actually checks for update vs goes to GH page #2535
• Docs point to redirection URL now so we can update without updating app #3088
• Multiple UX improvements
• Start at login not being respected #3875
• Now using low level hooks so can remap Alt+Space to a WinKey based shortcut #2325
• Warning added for invalid input in hotkeys for [#3992](FZ Settings #3992)

Installer

• Can uninstall via control panel #2012
• After 0.19.0, Explorer won't restart #2730
• Multiple build system improvements to reduce conflicts #3809, #3812, #3867, #3948

Release v0.18.2

This is patch release to fix a few items for 0.18. This release fixes a problem when PowerToys was run elevated and a ripple effect with PowerToys Run then being elevated as well. It also fixes one of the major search result issues from the 0.18/0.18.1 release. There are more and we are proactively fixing them.

Update: For a few of the fixes, PT Run's app data needs to be reset. Please delete everything in this folder: %localappdata%/Microsoft/PowerToys/PowerToys Run

This release will fix the issues below:

• #3223 - [Launcher, Tracker] doesn't find some apps (file explorer, windows terminal,...)
• #3180 - PowerToys run shows Notepad en Notepad++ twice
  • This is partially fixed, will be fully fixed in 0.19
• #3599 - Does not find Evernote
• #3532 - No camera in run
• #3215 - When PowerToys is running as administrator, everything Run launches is also ran as administrator
• #3646 - PowerToys Run shows no files or folders when running in admin mode

This release also added symbols being generated for added debugging ability. This release was also built off stable versus master branch as well as the master branch has additional work being done.

For more details on the 0.18 full update, please look at those release notes.

Release v0.18.1

This is patch release to fix a few items for 0.18. This release will fix the issues below:

• #3504 - FancyZones - Chrome tab regression
• #2259 - PowerToys Run - result / searching focus issue
• #3116 - PowerToys Run - updated term to packaged vs uwp
• #3128 - PowerToys Run - increase weight of exact match
• #3209 - PowerToys Run - Search pulling localized paths versus actual paths
• #3215 - PowerToys Run - Will not run as admin even if Runner is elevated
• #3227 - Keyboard manager - Will not run as admin even if Runner is elevated
• #3147 - Keyboard manager - Adjusted terms for remapping shortcuts to clarify which side maps to which

For more details on the 0.18 full update, please look at those release notes.

Release v0.18.0

Our goals for 0.18 release cycle was three big items, PowerToys Run, Keyboard manager, and migrating to the new settings system. This is also the first time we'll test out the auto-updating system.

Install experience:
After installing, you will have to start PowerToys for the first time. We will improve install experience this moving forward but due to a possible install dependency, we can't start after install currently.

Requirements:

• Microsoft PowerToys requires Windows 10 1803 (build 17134) or later.
• Have .NET Core 3.1 Desktop Runtime. The installer will prompt this but we want to directly make people aware.

Feedback:
Feedback is critical. We know there are areas for improvement on PT Run. We would love feedback so we can improve. We also would love to know if you want us to be more aggressive on auto-upgrading.

For the entire commit history, please look at the 0.18 release. Below are just a few of the bullet items from this release.

• New Utilities
  • PowerToys Run, our new application launcher (use alt-space to activate)
  • Keyboard manager, a quick easy way to remap your keyboard
• Fixed #243's setting issue
• Improved performance on FancyZones #1264
• Lots of bug fixes!

Release v0.17.0

Our goals for 0.17 release cycle were updatability and stability.

Auto-updating: We just added in the code for doing updating, so the first chance to experience this will be when 0.18 is released. We’re also seeing how aggressive everyone wants with this so right now, you’ll have to click “Install” for it to kick off the installer. This is something we’d love feedback on.

Another thing we did was utilized telemetry from PowerToys to prioritize virtual desktop FancyZone work. We knew there was a subset of bugs caused by an underlying issue and seeing how many users it affected helped us reprioritize to do the work sooner.

We’d like to also directly say thank you to the community for helping out. This release has multiple fixes contributed by you.

For the entire commit history, please look at the 0.17 release. Below are just a few of the bullet items from this release.

Here are a few larger items done in 0.17:

• PowerToys can now update itself #1686
• FancyZone can now snap to two zones (still experimental since it doesn't support restoring the app to two zones)
• Per machine installation fixed, non-admin user will be able again to use PowerToys after the regression in 0.16.
• Fixed most of the FancyZones Virtual Desktop bugs.
• Fixed several FZ bugs including proper handling of taskbar position.
• PowerToys icon in the Start menu will always show 🙂

Release v0.16.1

This is patch release to fix a few items for 0.16. This release will fix the issues below:

• New utilities are turned on by default for upgrades (#1878)
• Correct localization bug (#1795)
• RDP bug in FancyZones (#1821)
• Focus bug in Window Walker - (#1800)
• Added telemetry to actually know if Window Walker was enabled (#1925)
• Make user aware of dual MSIX and MSI install issue, partial solution (#1920)
• Fixed FancyZone crash with Unity (#1873)

For more details on the 0.16 full update, please look at those release notes.

Release v0.16.0

Our mantra for the 0.16 was adding in new features along with a continual push for quality and stability. We are working toward getting a way to auto-update PowerToys and have a good plan for this. We want to proactively thank the community for quickly identifying a few bugs inside 0.15 and allowing us to quickly release 0.15.1 and 0.15.2.

For the entire commit history, please look at the 0.16 release. Below are just a few of the bullet items from this release.

• FancyZone improvements:
  • Multi-Monitor improvement: Zone flipping switching now works between monitors!
  • Simplified UX: Removed layout hot-swap and flashing feature due to need to improve multi-monitor support
• New Utilities!
  • Markdown Preview pane extension
  • SVG Preview pane extension
  • Image Resizer Window Shell extension
  • Window Walker, an alt-tab alternative
• Fixed over 100 issues!
• Testing improvements
  • 54 UX Functional tests
  • 161 new Unit tests

Window Walker's code is based off of Beta Tadele's Window Walker.
Image Resizer's code is based off of Brice Lambson's Image Rezier.

MSIX / Store Build Update

• We put in a lot of effort here but currently our plan of record is to make the MSI our only installer option and built-in auto-upgrade. MSIX is a great installer / container tech but there are few spots we are working with the team to improve so we can adopt.

Release v0.15.2

This is patch release to fix a few items. This release will fix the issues below:

• Installers now are signed with version number naming (#1444 this fix will also help in longer term stability for build infrastructure)
• IO Exception handling in FancyZone editor (#1472, #1462, #1451)
• Spelling mistake in settings (#1478)

For more details on the 0.15 full update, please look at those release notes

Release v0.15.1

This is patch release to fix a crashing bug introduced in 0.15. #1422 was the tracking bug.

For more details on the 0.15 full update, please look at those release notes