How to Type Faster With PowerToys on Windows
With lots to pack into a day, it’s always good to find shortcuts or solutions that could speed up your work. One way to get things done faster on Windows is by reducing your typing time with Microsoft PowerToys.
PowerToys has a few utilities like the Keyboard Manager, Quick Accent, and Shortcut Guide to help you speed up your typing.
What Is PowerToys? How Can You Get It?
Developed by Microsoft in collaboration with its community, PowerToys is a suite of open-source utilities you could install on your Windows 10 or 11 PC. With PowerToys, you can customize your Windows experience and enhance your productivity and efficiency.
PowerToys was launched with Windows 95 and included a utility that enabled users to auto-play CDs. Today, PowerToys comprises many innovative tools, including one that lets youextract text from imagesand another thatconverts your cursor into a handy color picker.
It’s easy to get PowerToys on your PC—look it up in the Microsoft Store and install it or download it from itsPowerToys Microsoft Store page.
Once you have PowerToys, you can use the Keyboard Manager, Quick Accent, and Shortcut Guide to type faster. Remember that PowerToys must be activated and running in the background for these utilities to work.
How to Remap Keys and Shortcuts With the Keyboard Manager
The Keyboard Manager lets you remap keys and shortcuts on your keyboard with the keys you are most comfortable typing with.
How to Remap Keys to Type Faster
To remap your keys with Keyboard Manager:
Remapping a key is also handy if a key stops functioning. You can map it to another key till you get the faulty key fixed or buy a new keyboard.
you may also map shortcuts like Ctrl + I to a key. Click on theplus signunderPhysical Key.Then click on theTypebutton. Next, select a key likeF1by pressing it on the keyboard. Then clickOK.
Now under theMapped tosection, click on theTypebutton. Now pressCtrl + Ior the Italicize shortcut on the keyboard to map theF1key to it.
Now, when you need to italicize a text, instead of Ctrl + I, just press a single key, F1. So you’ll automatically be typing faster.
This way, you could remap many alphabet and number keys, and even function keys to speed up your work. Think of all the milliseconds and seconds you will save whenever you type.
How to Remap Shortcuts to Type Faster
Below theRemap a keyoption you’ll find theRemap a shortcutoption. Click on it to openRemap shortcutswindow. it’s possible to remap common shortcuts to other shortcuts you prefer to use.
For example, instead of pressingCtrl + Bkeys to make a text bold, you’d rather useShift (left) + Z—Shift (left) + Z keys are next to each other and easier and faster to press together. So in theRemap Shortcutswindow, typeShift (left) + ZunderPhysical ShortcutandCtrl + Bunder theMapped tosection.
You can chooseAll Appsas the Target App or an app such asWord, where you want this remapped shortcut to work. But remember to put the executable name orEXE nameof the Word app, which isWinword. You can easily find the EXE names of apps via a Google search.
Finally, click on the blueOKbutton and clickContinue Anywayon the prompt.
Now you may bold text with your preferred shortcut and type faster on your favorite app.
How to Type Accents in a Snap With Quick Accent
There could be times when you need to add an accented character while typing. Maybe while sharing the name of your exotic holiday destination or ensuring the surname of a guest is spelled right.
With Quick Accents, you could do that in a snap while typing with your English keyboard. Yes, it’s easy to use this fast way to type accented characters.
In PowerToys Settings, click onQuick Accentin the left pane and toggle onEnable Quick Accent. you could use theLeft,Right Arrows, orSpaceas theActivation key.
UnderCharacters,Choose a character setyou want to use, like Catalan, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, and more. Or chooseAll availableto get all the options.
To use Quick Accent, first press and hold the key of the character on which you want to add an accent. Then press the Activation Key.
For example, if you want to use the accented characterüto typeMünchen, the German name of Munich—press and hold theukey and then press thespacebar,or theleft or right arrow keys. A toolbar of accented characters for the letteruwill appear on your PC screen.
Move across the toolbar with thespacebaror theleft or right arrow keysto highlight theüaccented character. Then release theukey on your keyboard—andüwill get typed.
How to Keep Shortcuts Handy With the Shortcut Guide
You might not be able to always recall thevarious Windows keyboard shortcuts, even if you are a Windows Power User. But the PowerToys Shortcut Guide has you covered.
First,Enable Shortcut Guidein PowerToys Settings. Then choose to activate Shortcut Guide byholding the Win key down for a set timeor use acustomized shortcut.
While typing, activate the Shortcut Guide. An overlay will appear on your screen displaying keyboard shortcuts that use the Win key. You’ll also see the result of each shortcut written in the guide.
You can use the shortcuts while the guide is displayed. So if you’re holding theWinkey, just press a letter likeE—that would becomeWin + Eand open up File Explorer. Release the Win key to close the overlay.
If you’ve used a shortcut key combination for activation, the guide will stay displayed on the screen. So first enter the Win key, then another key to apply a shortcut.
Once done, press the shortcut key combination again to close the guide overlay.
Type Faster and Enjoy a Speedier Windows Experience With PowerToys
There’s always a lot to do and time seems to fly, especially when you’re chasing deadlines. So save time by using the PowerToys utilities discussed above to type faster and smarter.
And now that you have PowerToys, you can explore the best things to do with these handy tools.
If you’re not using PowerToys, you’re missing out. Here are some of the best features of this handy Windows tool.
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