What to know

  • PowerToys 0.94 introduces fuzzy search in Settings for faster navigation.
  • It adds hotkey conflict detection, highlighting overlapping shortcuts in red.
  • The new "Gliding cursor" mode enables precise, step‑by‑step pointer control.
  • Installer improvements, Quick Accent updates, and more enhance reliability and usability.

PowerToys 0.94 is out! The latest version of Microsoft's free suite of Windows utilities brings several features that streamline your workflow, improve accessibility, and simplify shortcut management. Here's everything new and updated in PowerToys 0.94.

Fuzzy Search in Settings: Find What You Need Quickly

You no longer have to scroll endlessly to locate settings. PowerToys now includes a search box in the Settings interface with fuzzy matching. Just press Ctrl+F or click the search icon, start typing—even partial names work—and you’ll see suggestions instantly. If more than five results appear, you can view them all in one place.

Shortcut Conflict Detection

PowerToys helps you avoid the frustration of duplicated shortcuts. When a hotkey is already used—either by PowerToys or Windows—it’s marked in red. The new "Shortcut Conflicts" tile on the home dashboard shows how many conflicts you have. One click gives you a full overview and lets you reassign shortcuts so each command works as intended.

Gliding Cursor: Fine Control via Crosshairs

In the Mouse Pointer Crosshairs module, this version adds "Gliding Cursor," an accessibility feature for precise mouse control. When you activate the shortcut, the cursor glides horizontally; pressing the shortcut again slows movement or locks horizontal position. A further press locks vertical movement, and then performs the click. It’s especially useful if precise control is challenging for you. You can customize activation keys, crosshair color, and movement speed.

Under-the-hood enhancements

PowerToys 0.94 also improves how it works behind the scenes:

  • The installer was upgraded from WiX 3 to WiX 5, improving installation security and reliability.
  • Quick Accent now supports the Maltese language and remembers frequently used accents.
  • Windows 10 context menu modules now properly clean up upon uninstall.
  • Hosts Editor gained a “No leading spaces” option.
  • Command Palette benefits from bug fixes, visual improvements, and developer-friendly filters.

What’s next: tease of upcoming features

Microsoft hints that PowerToys 0.95, expected next month, will feature a revamped Keyboard Manager UI and an automatic light/dark mode switcher based on your schedule. The latter has been a long time coming, and even though we wanted it to be baked into Windows itself, we can't wait to get this feature, however it may arrive.