Stop Typing In The Start Menu — Use This Powerful New Windows Launcher Instead

Microsoft's concealed caller Start paper replacement is awesome — and mightiness moreover beryllium a sneak preview of what's connected nan measurement pinch Windows 12.

The Windows Start paper isn’t nan champion hunt instrumentality erstwhile it comes to master productivity. Sure, it’s convenient — it’s amended than clicking your measurement done nan full paper to find what you need. But much often than not, it mostly conscionable gets successful your way. 

In fact, Microsoft’s Start paper outright disrespects you by ignoring your prime of default web browser and hunt engine, automatically conscionable shunting you to Bing and Edge for web results alternatively of doing what you want. I’d alternatively usage a instrumentality that respects my choices — whether that’s Chrome and Google aliases Firefox and DuckDuckGo.

But location is a amended measurement wrong nan ] Start paper universe, and it’s moreover made by Microsoft. The company’s caller Command Palette instrumentality is simply a polished replacement for nan modular Start menu. It’s a next-gen type of Microsoft’s PowerToys Run tool, a keyboard-focused launcher I’ve spent a batch of clip with. Microsoft is calling it “version 2” of that software.

If you ever deed nan Windows cardinal aliases click nan Start fastener and find yourself typing something, you should springiness it a try. And, arsenic an other bonus, this caller instrumentality mightiness conscionable connection immoderate hints astir Windows 12, too.

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Why Command Palette thumps nan Windows Start menu

I could recount all nan ways nan Start paper fails america — advertisements, embedded web hunt results that require a registry hack to move off, and, of course, that stubborn insistence connected utilizing Bing and Edge. We’ve each utilized it, and we each cognize nan problems.

Instead, let’s talk astir why Command Palette is an astonishing alternative. First and foremost, it’s a power-user tool, and Microsoft’s trading section doesn’t look to person its hooks successful it yet. Beyond precocious features, that intends nary ads — and much respect for your choices.

Specifically, Command Palette empowers you to:

• Search utilizing your default browser and hunt engine: You can’t really usage nan Start paper to hunt nan web unless you really for illustration Bing and Edge. With Command Palette, you get an easy keyboard-focused launcher you tin entree from anywhere in Windows to execute a web hunt — nary Alt+Tabbing to your web browser required. It’s really Windows should activity retired of nan box.
• Launch apps — and move to windows, too: You tin usage this instrumentality to find and motorboat apps conscionable arsenic you would from nan Start menu, but you tin besides switch to unfastened windows from correct wrong it. It’s a keyboard-centric measurement of digging up immoderate buried model — nary matter wherever it mightiness beryllium hiding.
• Install extensions to adhd features: It’s early days for Command Palette, truthful nary extensions are publically available. But you’ll soon beryllium capable to drawback extensions from nan Microsoft Store to adhd other features. The older PowerToys Run instrumentality has a wide assortment of extensions for everything from searching your browser’s bookmarks to uncovering notes successful OneNote.

Each “command” successful nan palette has its ain customizable hunt shortcuts for easy access, too.

Command Palette includes a assortment of “commands” — and you’ll yet beryllium capable to instal more.

Chris Hoffman, Foundry

How to get started pinch Command Palette

Command Palette is easy to use. First, instal Microsoft PowerToys if you haven’t already — it’s free. And location are many different useful devices wrong successful it.

Then, property Windows+Alt+Space. You’ll spot a hunt container successful nan mediate of your screen.

From there, you tin simply type immoderate you want and usage nan arrow keys and Enter to prime a result. Command Palette tin thief you motorboat applications connected your computer, move to unfastened windows, find files, hunt nan web with your default browser and hunt engine, execute speedy mathematics calculations, and more.

To excavation into options and configure things, click nan “Settings” fastener astatine nan bottommost of nan Command Palette launcher window. For example, you tin alteration nan cardinal operation that launches it, if you like. You’ll find options for configuring individual “extensions” — including those that fto you delegate shortcuts to different types of searches — by clicking “Extensions” astatine nan near broadside of nan window.

Note: if Command Palette doesn’t pop up for you astatine all, you mightiness request to motorboat aliases update PowerToys first. To check, unfastened your Start menu, hunt for “PowerToys,” and motorboat it. Then, click nan “General” pane and look for nan “Update” button. Install immoderate disposable updates. (Command Palette was added successful PowerToys v0.90.0.)

Easy web searches were possibly nan champion characteristic successful PowerToys Run, and they return successful nan caller Command Palette interface.

Chris Hoffman, Foundry

Advanced Command Palette tips

Command Palette tin do moreover much than you spot connected nan surface. Here are immoderate ways to really upgrade your experience:

• Use hunt shortcuts: Type nan correct characters earlier a query to hunt successful a circumstantial way. For example, you tin type ?? and past type a web hunt aliases type $ and past type a building (like “Bluetooth”) to hunt for circumstantial settings.
• Assign keyboard shortcuts to individual hunt types: Want an easy measurement to hunt nan web from anywhere? Try assigning a civilization keyboard shortcut to nan web hunt shortcut. You tin do this from nan Command Palette’s Settings model — property Windows+Alt+Space to unfastened Command Palette, click “Settings,” click “Extensions” astatine nan near side, click an action (like Web Search), click nan action nether Commands (like “Search nan Web”) and participate nan hotkey and othername you prefer.
• Make Caps Lock motorboat Command Palette: You tin remap nan Caps Lock cardinal to nonstop a Windows+Alt+Space awesome erstwhile you property it, turning Caps Lock into your convenient Command Palette key. To do this successful conscionable a fewer clicks, unfastened nan PowerToys model and find nan Keyboard Manager PowerToy — past follow these easy steps.

All of this is conscionable scratching nan surface. For more, excavation your measurement done nan settings app. Many parts of Command Palette and galore of its extensions are customizable, and you’ll find ample options there.

You tin delegate world hotkeys and convenient aliases to immoderate bid you like.

Chris Hoffman, Foundry

Why Command Palette smells for illustration Windows 12

Now, for nan other twist: Either Microsoft is abruptly getting measurement much superior astir PowerToys, aliases Command Palette may form nan groundwork for a early Windows 12 feature.

• First, this instrumentality conscionable feels excessively polished. PC powerfulness users for illustration myself loved PowerToys Run — we didn’t need a full caller type of nan instrumentality pinch a much polished, streamlined interface.
• Second, Microsoft has put a batch of activity into nan hold model. It’s built connected the benignant of exemplary that Windows apps use — not conscionable a postulation of enthusiast-style add-on scripts dumped successful a folder, for illustration PowerToys Run. You’ll beryllium capable to get extensions from nan Microsoft Store, while PowerToys Run has a organization hold gallery. It feels arsenic though Microsoft is building up infrastructure here. 
• Third, Command Palette’s settings are designed successful an different way. Rather than having nan emblematic page of settings successful nan larger PowerToys window, Command Palette has its ain settings model you entree from nan launcher. It’s for illustration it’s being designed to beryllium self-contained, truthful it tin beryllium picked retired of nan PowerToys package, modified, and bundled pinch Windows.

Hey, possibly I’m incorrect — possibly Command Palette heralds a caller and glorious property of Microsoft taking PowerToys overmuch much seriously. Maybe Microsoft is invested successful polish arsenic we’re nearing type 1.0 of that software, much than 5 years aft its first nationalist release. That would besides beryllium nice!

Of course, there’s 1 portion of Command Palette that doesn’t feel for illustration it belongs successful Windows 12. I’ll beryllium shocked if Microsoft makes a built-in Windows hunt characteristic that really respects your chosen browser and hunt motor for a change. But, we’ll see. Maybe nan company’s trading section conscionable hasn’t gotten its teeth into this caller characteristic yet.

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