15 Windows software tools you’ve never heard of but should be using

Windows is a versatile operating system that allows you to install software from official and third-party sources to enhance its usability. Most users only rely on popular apps like MS Office, Photoshop, Chrome, and more for their work or leisure on Windows PCs. However, there are numerous lesser-known apps that can significantly boost your productivity, efficiency, and overall experience of using Windows OS.

Here are the 15 best under-the-radar Windows tools that you should try.

15

QuickLook

Preview files instantly with just the spacebar

If you have used macOS, you might know about the Preview app, which lets you preview the files without actually opening them. QuickLook provides the exact same functionality on Windows. Select the file you want to preview and press the spacebar to glance over it. QuickLook supports various file formats such as PDFs, JPGs, ZIP, RAR, and more.

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QuickLook

QuickLook enables a very quick preview of file contents by pressing the Spacebar

14

O&O ShutUp10++

Take control of your Windows privacy settings

If you are worried about privacy on your Windows system, ShutUp10++ is the app you’ll love to include in your arsenal. It’s a lightweight app that allows users to change hidden Windows settings, such as disabling telemetry, preventing app tracking, blocking personalized ads, and more. Instead of manually searching and making changes to Windows settings and registry editing, you can do all that under this little app.

The app also gives the option to reverse the changes it made if anything goes wrong. So, if you are concerned about your data, this is the must-have Windows app.

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13

FreeFileSync

Effortless file synchronization and backup

If you are someone like me who likes to back up their crucial data periodically on an external hard disk, FreeFileSync is like a God’s gift to you, and it’s for free. It’s a lightweight open-source tool that simplifies file synchronization between two folders or drives and helps with proper backup.

For example, you back up your work-related files every Friday to your external disk. FreeFileSync will analyze the changes made since last Friday and only sync the new files to the backup folder on the external drive. This makes backup pretty efficient. You don’t have to worry about manually backing up newly included folders and files in the last week.

The best thing I like about FreeFileSync is its real-time sync feature, which automatically syncs changes between folders. That way, I don’t even have to open the app and click the Synchronize button for backup. The app will take care of it.

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12

EarTrumpet

A better volume control for Windows

The native Windows volume control feature is good enough for regular use, but if you want granular control over the output volume of your Windows applications, EarTrumpet can help. It’s a simple tool that lets you independently adjust the volume for each application running on your system. It also lets you control the volume of an external output, like an earphone or speaker, attached to your PC.

I find it pretty useful when I’m working on a video/audio editing project and playing music side by side. I don’t have to open my music app to lower its volume separately. All I have to do is quickly access the EarTrumpet interface from the taskbar tray and make volume adjustments as needed.

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11

TinyTask

Automate repetitive tasks with ease

I absolutely love this fantastic app. It’s a simple automation tool that records your actions on Windows and allows you to save and use the recorded action anytime. For instance, if you regularly need to navigate to Settings -> System -> Power & Battery -> Power Mode, you can record this process via TinyTask and save it as an .EXE file. The next time you want to reach Power Mode, simply run the .EXE file you created.

This tool can automate almost anything you usually do manually on your computer, from clicking buttons to typing text. It is best used to automate tedious tasks like filling out forms.

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10

Folder Painter

Add a splash of color to your folders

Are you bored with the default folder color on your Windows 10 or 11 devices? If yes, the Folder Painter tool lets you customize the folder icon and add color or a different icon. It helps organize the folders in Windows and also quickly recognizes them when required. It is also suitable for the aesthetics of your drive. For example, you can change the color of all your work-related folders into something unique that makes them easy to spot.

Folder Painter is pretty easy to use. After setting it up, you can change the icons of your folders by simply right-clicking the folder and selecting the suitable color or icon from the context menu.

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File Explorer is one of the most essential tools in Windows 11, but you may not know everything about it. Let’s take a closer look.

9

Bulk Crap Uninstaller (BCUninstaller)

Effortlessly remove unwanted programs

If you like to have a lightweight no-nonsense uninstaller tool for your Windows PC, Bulk Crap Uninstaller or BCUninstaller is your answer. This powerful tool helps you declutter your PC by uninstalling stubborn applications, even those whose uninstallers are lost. After uninstalling the apps, it also cleans the leftovers so that no unnecessary data accumulates on your device.

The app allows batch uninstallation, i.e., you can uninstall multiple apps at once with ease. Since I regularly install and uninstall apps on my device, the BCUninstaller helps me to keep my PC clean and spacious.

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8

WizTree

Identify what’s hogging your storage space

WizTree is a handy disk analyzer tool that basically helps you sort out which large files are taking up space on your hard disk. It quickly analyzes the whole disk from the disk’s Master File Table (MFT) and creates a visual tree map. This treemap makes it easy to identify files that are unnecessarily taking up space and quickly delete them. This way, you can easily optimize the disk space and avoid hogging.

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7

f.lux

Protect your eyes from screen strain

Spending most of your day in front of your PC screen can impact your eyes and, in the long term, affect your sleep cycle. f.lux helps you fix this issue by adjusting the screen’s color temperature based on the time of day, reducing the blue light exposure during the evening. It’s pretty easy to set up and works silently in the background. When you open it for the first time, it will ask for your location to adjust the screen’s brightness and color based on the sunrise and sunset time of the day. I personally found it a bit too much at first, but I soon got used to it.

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Related

How to enable night light on Windows 11

A step-by-step guide to help you enable night light on your Windows 11 system.

6

Paint.net

A free yet powerful alternative to Photoshop

Paint.net is a free photo-editing tool that comes with amazing features that help you perform basic to advanced image editing. Though not as robust as Photoshop, Paint.net is still a powerful alternative, especially if you aren’t very involved with image editing work and need a basic tool for occasional editing.

I use it to merge images and create the canvas for my blogs. I love using it because of its short learning curve and simplicity.

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5

Launchy

Find and launch programs faster

This little tool is pretty lightweight yet powerful, making you work efficiently on Windows. After setting it up, you don’t need to open the Start Menu and search for the program to run it. Simply use Launchy’s hotkey to launch it, type the program’s name, and that’s it. If you are in a fast-paced working environment, this tool will significantly help you.

After using it for a day or two, I became used to it, and now I don’t search for programs on Windows Search. Launchy also keeps the search history so that you can quickly open your frequently used program. Further, you can add plugins to it to search and open the hard disk’s folder and perform basic calculations.

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4

Sumatra PDF

A lightweight and speedy PDF reader

Don’t go by its name. Sumatra PDF is not just a regular PDF reader but a full-fledged document and e-book reader tool that supports various formats, such as PDF, ePub, MOBI, CHM, XPS, DjVu, and more. It’s a pretty minimalist app without any ads or pop-ups. Its simplicity doesn’t make it any less feature-rich. It supports bookmarks, annotations, and even tabbed browsing. I installed it to read e-books on my convertible touchscreen laptop and found it exactly what I was searching for.

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3

VisiPics

Find and delete duplicate photos

If you are someone who has a large number of photographs on your computer, VisiPics lets you organize them efficiently. It uses an advanced algorithm to analyze your photo collections to find duplicate images and remove them, thereby saving the tedious task of manually searching for such photos. The program is easy to use and works automatically. You can also set how strictly you want to look for the similarities between the images.

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2

Mouse Without Borders

Control multiple computers with one mouse and keyboard

This is one of my favorite Windows apps when it comes to multitasking. It’s a Microsoft Garage project. If you work on multiple Windows PCs simultaneously, you can control them all with a single mouse and keyboard using Mouse Without Borders. It’s exactly like its name. There’s no border while using it; you can seamlessly move the mouse cursor from one PC to another. The best thing is that you can copy an item on one computer and then paste it on another using the same mouse.

It actually feels like your machines are combined and working together. Mouse Without Borders supports controlling four Windows PCs together.

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1

Bitwarden

A secure, open-source password manager

I know most of you might have heard of Bitwarden, and it’s not exactly a lesser-known tool, but I included it in the list because it’s criminally underrated. It is an open-source and free password manager that, unlike some other similar tools, lets you store unlimited passwords in the vault with powerful encryption. It uses end-to-end encryption and can sync across devices and browsers. Upon finishing the initial setup, you need to create a master password for your account and remember it. There’s no way to recover this password other than the hint; if you forget it, all your passwords will be lost.

Bitwarden also has a dedicated password generator feature that can generate strong and unique passwords using the combination you set. You can also import login credentials from other password managers and browsers and export your passwords from Bitwarden to your PC in JSON, CSV, or JSON (encrypted) formats.

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Bitwarden

Bitwarden is a free, open-source password manager that’s available across different platforms, and works well without any issues. The free version of Bitwarden comes with all the essentials, but you can also upgrade to the paid version for some added features.

Upgrade your Windows toolbox

So, these are a few lesser-known Windows software tools that might transform how you use your PC. The list covers almost every section, from automating your repetitive tasks to boosting your productivity to safeguarding your privacy. These apps might not be in the limelight, but once you get used to them, they might become your go-to apps.

I really loved the fact that almost every tool in the list is lightweight and doesn’t impact the PC’s normal operation at all. Have a look at the list and try the apps that you find useful or worth adding to your arsenal.