Microsoft's Command Palette is a Powerful Launcher For Apps, Search

Microsoft has released Command Palette, an enhanced version of its PowerToys Run launcher introduced five years ago. The utility, aimed at power users and developers, provides quick access to applications, files, calculations, and system commands through a Spotlight-like interface.

Command Palette integrates the previously separate Window Walker functionality for switching between open windows and supports launching command prompts, executing web searches, and navigating folder structures. Unlike its predecessor, the new launcher offers full customization via extensions, allowing users to implement additional commands beyond default capabilities. Available through the PowerToys application since early April, Command Palette can be triggered using Win+Alt+Space after installation

Why isn't this built-in?

[ChunderDownunder]

There's already a search box built into the Windows 11 start menu. And they have co-pilot.

Multiple teams working on multiple solutions? I mean I understand that PowerToys is something of a skunkworks project but why don't their brightest minds pool resources!

Re:

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

My Briefcase was like Dropbox for your 3.5" floppy disks. I think I upgraded to a Zip drive around that time. YIPPEE!

Re: Why isn't this built-in?

[UnresolvedExternal]

Ohhh zip drives.... What a thing they were in those days!! Us of those that were lucky enough to have one..... Bliss

Re:

[quonset]

Because who doesn't like having to search for something instead of going right to it.

Perhaps if Microsoft would stop hiding things Windows would be easier to use.

Re:

[luvirini]

because win11 start menu search is useless, co-pilot normally fails at anything involving local actions..

I guess the people working on powertools just got too annoyed at the current idiocy produced by other parts of the company. I mean the different parts do not talk to each other after all.

Re:

[thegarbz]

It's in the name of the package that delivers the feature: Powertoys. It's not meant for ordinary users. Most of what Powertoys offers is amazing for power users but is just high tech noise to everyone else.

Honestly I think there should be more differentiation between Windows 11 Home and Pro. Pro should have Powertoys baked in from the onset.

"Powerful"?

[Mr. Dollar Ton]

As in "making my computer's fans scream and whine for 5 minutes after one single use"?

No, thank you, the shortcut files were powerful enough 20 years ago already.

Re:

[Tony Isaac]

Maybe there's something else going on. My 7-year-old desktop computer didn't even flinch when I ran this thing.

Re:

[Mr. Dollar Ton]

I thankfully don't have to use windows, but some people around me do, and the whine is incessant.

But the marks are so used to the noise that they just don't notice it anymore.

Not sure it improves on the Start button

[Tony Isaac]

It pretty much does all the same stuff. The PowerToys thing is missing a lot of UX niceness. For example, the up/down arrow keys work, but not page up/down or Home/End, to navigate the list.

Re:

[thegarbz]

If all you're doing is web searches and typing numbers into a calculator you would think that. The reality is this does far more, it just may not align with what your needs are. Take a look at the Git example in the animation, or try switch windows with the start menu (not the task bar), or use the start menu to generate GUIDs.

Or ... come up with an idea and write a script and incorporate that into the start menu as a plugin. I think you're massively underestimating the importance of that last point.

Re:

[AmiMoJo]

I am still on PowerToys Run, but it's a vast improvement on the Start Menu. Even when you remove all the crap from the Start Menu search results, they still aren't as good as PowerToys Run. With PowerToys you can choose what you want to see easily, and when you say "just apps" it really does mean just apps.

I have a few other things enabled, like quick registry access and some control commands so I can hibernate or shut down the computer from there.

My command Palette

[Mirnotoriety]

My command Palette consists of a number of aliased commands set up in a DOSBOX.

Re:

[bjoast]

My command palette consists of whatever happens to be in my $PATH at any given moment.

Too little, too late

[commodore73]

Microsoft doing the smallest thing for developers in 2025 is too little, too late. I made the switch this year. I would never go back. Linux is so much better, and so much cheaper, and LLMs can really help in resolving challenges.