5 Windows tools and apps you can’t find on other operating systems

While there are alternatives to Windows tools available elsewhere, some features are exclusive to Windows and unavailable on other OSes. Microsoft has open-sourced certain tools like PowerShell, but currently, these tools are Windows-only. If you are using a Mac or Linux system, there may not be enough tools to make you switch, but it is interesting and notable to know what’s going on with Windows, even if you don’t use it. These exclusive tools allow you to do all sorts of cool things like create virtual environments, extract text from images, generate time-stamped logs, and more.

5

Microsoft PowerToys

Get more from Windows for free

While not built into Windows (although they should be), PowerToys contains nearly 20 utilities that offer a lot of functionality that isn’t native to Windows. They are tools created by Microsoft developers and the open-source community, and you won’t find them on any other operating system.

PowerToys allows you to simplify your workflow and be more productive while getting things done. For example, you can use PowerToys Run to replace all but CLI, Windows Search, or Calculator. Awake overrides your current power plan, so your screen isn’t always turned off. PowerToys Rename lets you batch rename multiple files at once. There are modules for keyboard shortcuts, finding your mouse, arranging windows, and more. The PowerToys suite is free to all Windows users, and once you start using and mastering each tool, you’ll wonder how you got things done without them.

4

Windows Sandbox

A sandboxed environment for app testing

As the name implies, Windows Sandbox provides a secure environment decoupled from Windows that allows you to test apps and services. Instead of creating a full VM with Hyper-V, Sandbox is much easier and faster. While the sandbox is a virtual environment, it’s important to note that it has fewer features and is for limited use.

Once set up via Optional Features, you can easily test apps or suspicious files in a secure, sandboxed environment. If you have ever used the third-party app Sandboxie, you will pick this up quickly. In addition to running potentially unsafe software, you can run apps you develop in it to ensure they work. When you create a sandbox, everything is installed automatically, and the OS is what you use on the host system. It’s simple to use and a helpful tool for testing software without hurting your system.

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Windows Sandbox is a Windows 11 feature that deserves much more attention.

3

Windows Notepad

A basic note-taking and coding app

Windows Notepad has been built into Windows for over 40 years. It’s a no-frills way to jot down notes or paste in some code you want to edit and save. It seems like a simple utility at first glance, but there are features like spellcheck and autocorrect, tabs, emojis, right-to-left order, and other Notepad features you might be aware of.

Another important feature to point out is Microsoft’s Copilot-powered Rewrite feature because, you know, AI is being inserted into everything. But you are unlikely to be writing your first novel in Notepad, so it’s essentially a gimmick at this point. Still, it is the same note-taking app you’re used to, and I use it to keep time-stamped logs, which is a cool trick. While there are better alternatives to Notepad (like Notepad++ for coders), it is helpful if you want a simple, clean experience of keeping notes or writing code — despite the AI parlor tricks.

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For screenshots, recording, and extracting text from images

The Snipping Tool is a utility you won’t find anywhere else than Windows. It’s a screen grab utility that allows taking screenshots that auto-save to the clipboard, video recordings, image editing functions, and more. Microsoft also continues to add new features to the built-in app. For instance, you can extract text from images with the OCR capability added to the tool.

Other capabilities with OCR include redacting sensitive information from screenshots. If you take a lot of screenshots that contain private data, this is a welcome feature. Of course, there are other alternatives to the Snipping Tool, but Microsoft has done a good job here with updates and new features that can make it your “go-to” utility for taking screenshots and videos of your desktop.

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How to extract text from screenshots with the Snipping Tool in Windows 11

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1

Windows Subsystem for Linux

Helpful feature for developers and enthusiasts

This is a feature you won’t find anywhere other than on Windows 11. It is a helpful feature for devs and enthusiasts who want to access Windows and Linux environments. Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allows you to run different distributions of Linux without needing a second PC, virtual machine, or dual-boot setup. What’s more, it runs on all major versions of Windows, including Windows 11 Home.

Once installed, you will have a fully functional Linux environment, including system calls, libraries, and the Linux kernel, like on a native Linux system. You can also access Windows files from the Linux environment and Linux distros files directly from File Explorer. Using CLI commands for apps is better, but the virtualization feature lets you install, run, and operate in the GUI.

Even if you are an enthusiast and want to study the features and get started with Ubuntu (although you can install any Linux distro), you can do that using WSL. It’s also important to note that once you have WSL running on your system, removing it isn’t as simple as clicking an uninstall button. Instead, you need to remove the Linux distribution, disable platform components, and uninstall additional components required for WSL.

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Microsoft tools you’ll only find on Windows

Some great tools are included with your Windows 11 operating system that you won’t find on others. Perhaps some of these will eventually be available on GitHub, like PowerShell, which Microsoft made open-source nearly a decade ago. There are good reasons to use PowerShell, even if you don’t use Windows, as it works across OSes.

Seeing these tools and others added to the open-source list would be nice. Currently, these tools aren’t available on Mac or Linux. These built-in OS tools (PowerToys are separate) help you have a productive workflow. As a Windows user, you can enjoy these tools and have some bragging rights.