Mac users get spoiled when it comes to finding their computer. MACS has a spotlight search built-in, which they can use to open apps, search files, calculate and find web. Windows has a search bar, but when you compare what they can do, it is not that at all.
Now, however, there is a new tool called command palette, and is a keyboard launcher especially designed for developers and power users. It replaces an uniform feature, called Povertoy Runs, and provides more features, including the ability to run command, search, search files and add custom bookmarks and global keyboard shortcuts.
How to install and enable command palette
The command palette is part of the Paurtoy, a suit of powerful apps and utilities created by Microsoft. These are open sources and are updated much faster than any underlying Windows feature. You can download and install Powartoy from you Github Page, Microsoft StoreOr using Windows Package Manager.
Once the powertoy is installed (or version is updated at 0.9 or higher), open the app and find the command palette option from the sidebar. If you do not see the app window, then right-click on Povertoy Utility in Windows Taskbar and click setting,
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From the command palette screen, make sure the extension is enabled. Here, you will see the default keyboard shortcut for the command palette, which is Stretch , Aung , spaceBut you are free to convert it into anything you want.
Command palette shortcuts and other settings customize
First, open the command palette using the keyboard shortcut, and then click setting Bottom-right button in the corner. From here, you can use the activation key option to remap the keyboard shortcut to simplify the keyboard shortcut, such as, such as Aung , space,
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When you are here, you can also customize the behavior of the command palette. The characteristics that I find most useful is to return the use of backspace, but your mileage may be different.
Now, let’s see that everything can be a command palette.
System Settings and File Search
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Open the command palette and start typing. Whatever you want from a basic keyboard launcher is here. You can use the command palette to open the app, and to search for files and folders.
You can start searching directly apps. But when it comes to files and folders, it is better to choose the first file search option. Just type “file“Choose the option, and then start searching. Similarly, if you use”,“Key, you will enter calculator mode.
Switch between open windows
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The command palette has an underlying window switcher, and it can show all windows in various desktops and monitors. Open the command palette and type at least symbols () And you will see a list of all open windows and apps. You can scroll or search through it, or you can enter the name of a specific app or window to highlight it, then press to switch the enter quickly.
Use bookmarks to open any folder or website
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Bookmarks can be the best feature in the command palette. File search is definitely useful, but most often, you find yourself opening the same folder and files repeatedly throughout the day. For me, this screenshot folder and download folder. Now, I can use the command palette to open these easy.
That is, I can create a bookmark that opens the download folder with only a few letters, or uses a global keyboard shortcut. It works for any folder or file path, and even a website URL.
What do you think so far?
First, navigate on the folder you want to assign a shortcut, right-click on the folder at the top, and choose Copy address To copy the file path. In the command palette, use Add Bookmark Option. Here, paste the file path and give it a name.
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Now, you can give it a unique surname and a global shortcut. Go to the command palette settings, and from the sidebar, choose Extension , BookmarkYou will see your newly created bookmark here.
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Click on it, and now you can record a unique global hotki, or give it a nickname that makes it fast to find in the command palette.
Web search
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Near the command palette, there is a quick way to find a web opening directly into your default browser. enter “,“And then type your query. Press Enter, and this is the case.
Run any terminal command
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If you use more and more signs (,) Before starting typing in the command palette, you will enter the terminal mode. From here, you can enter any command, and it will open in the terminal app, where it will execute the command for you.
Install app using winget
We have already talked about the winget, the hidden package manager inside Windows lets you install any package or app using a single command. Well, now you do not even need to open a terminal for this. Once you have a winget set, you can simply “enter” “Winget“Command in the command palette, then the package you want to install. The command will find the palette and start installing the package for you.
Use extension to add even more features
Finally, you can use third-party extensions to add even more functionality to the command palette. As the feature is new, the collection is quite limited, but here it is expected that developers add new extensions in future. To see your extension, open the command palette and find extensions. You can find extensions on the winget, or on the Microsoft Store.
