How to use PowerToys Run as a Start menu replacement

The Start menu is one of those things you use every day without thinking about it. It's always there, ready to help, and most of the time, it gets the job done. But then there are times when it drives you crazy. You type in the name of a file you know is on your computer, and it doesn't show up. Instead, you get Bing search results you never asked for. Plus, there are constant performance issues and a lack of customization options.

 

All of this eventually prompted the search for a better alternative. PowerToys Run, part of Microsoft's hidden toolset, turned out to be the perfect replacement for the Start menu.

PowerToys Run changes everything

It does everything the Start menu struggles with, and more.

 

As soon as you start using PowerToys Run, you'll realize how much time you waste on the Start menu. It's blazingly fast. Just press Alt + Space to open the menu and start typing to find your app or file instantly.

But speed isn't the only benefit. PowerToys Run is smarter than the Start menu. You can launch apps, open folders, go directly to websites, and execute shell commands without interrupting your workflow. It can even handle quick calculations and unit conversions without opening a separate app.

PowerToys Run supports keywords that let you filter your searches, so you can narrow your query to files, folders, or programs. It also adapts to the way you work. For example, if you repeatedly select Slack after typing "s" instead of Snipping Tool, Slack will pop up at the top of the results.

Customize PowerToys Run to work better

Make PowerToys Run your own

One of the best things about PowerToys Run is the freedom to customize how it works. Open PowerToys, navigate to System Tools > PowerToys Run , and you'll see a variety of options. For example, Alt + Space is the default shortcut to launch PowerToys Run, but you can assign any key combination you find convenient.

 

Another important tweak is controlling how many results are displayed. By default, PowerToys Run displays four results, which works well on small screens but can cause you to scroll more if there are multiple files or apps with similar names.

Plugins are what make it unbeatable

Improve productivity

Honestly, the features and speed are what make you try PowerToys Run, but it's the plugins that keep you coming back. PowerToys comes with a few built-in add-ons that extend its capabilities beyond a simple launcher, but the real magic happens when you explore the third-party plugins.

For example, the Winget plugin is extremely handy if you like to use WinGet to install new software on your PC. With this plugin, you can search, install, and update apps directly from PowerToys Run. No need to open a browser, Microsoft Store, or Command Prompt .

The Everything plugin takes file searching to the next level. Unlike Windows search, it doesn't rely on indexing file contents, allowing you to locate files and folders almost instantly. Many people have used Everything as a Windows Search replacement, and being able to access it directly through the Run PowerToys makes it even more powerful.

With the Clipboard Manager plugin , you can access your clipboard history directly from PowerToys Run. This way, you can search for copied text, links, or commands, something that the Windows Clipboard doesn't allow.

Finally, there's the ChatGPT plugin . It brings AI support right into PowerToys Run, so you can type your question into PowerToys Run and it will instantly open ChatGPT. These are just a few examples. You can download all of these plugins and many more on the GitHub page .