Microsoft PowerToys 0.51 is here: Expect new mouse utilities, fixes, and more

Microsoft Powertoys
Microsoft Powertoys (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft PowerToys release 0.51 is here.
  • Mouse highlighting, "find my mouse" enhancements, and a bevy of fixes are on the menu for this latest release.
  • The 0.51 notes also mention that behind-the-scenes work on the PowerToys team's end has been underway that will ultimately help with work efficiency.

PowerToys 0.51 is here, and you can check out GitHub for the full notes on what that entails. In short, expect bug fixes as well as a few new perks for mice. Chiefly, your mouse can now be highlighted for easier presenter mode activity, and "find my mouse" now has more settings going for it, increasing customization potential.

Another big item in the changelog discusses the backend operations of the PowerToys team and how they're optimizing their efforts for faster overall work efficiency.

Color Picker and PowerToys Awake also have entries on the changelog, as does FancyZones, which has four entire bullets.

  • New window switching functionality! Now users can assign multiple windows to a zone and cycle between them using the Win + PgDn/PgUp commands by default. Thanks @FLOAT4!
  • Added functionality for zones to adopt system accent color and theme. Thanks @davidegiacometti!
  • Added visual preview of zone appearance in settings menu. Thanks @niels9001!
  • Fixed bug where FancyZones crashes on launch.

As you can see, the PowerToys team likes shoutouts. It gives them in each of its changelog categories, of which there are many. Here's what's been altered for Image Resizer.

  • Fixed bug where resizing images creates empty folders.
  • Added option to remove non-essential metadata. Helps significantly reduce the size of files. Thanks @CleanCodeDeveloper!
  • Fixed bug caused by Image Resizer receiving an unexpected property type or value. Thanks @CleanCodeDeveloper!

There is a lot more in the PowerToys 0.51 changelog, so if you're a power user who cares about these updates, be sure to check out the GitHub writeup for the full scoop on what's what.

Robert Carnevale

Robert Carnevale is the News Editor for Windows Central. He's a big fan of Kinect (it lives on in his heart), Sonic the Hedgehog, and the legendary intersection of those two titans, Sonic Free Riders. He is the author of Cold War 2395. Have a useful tip? Send it to robert.carnevale@futurenet.com.