The Start menu is one of those things you use every day without thinking twice. It’s always there, ready to help, and most of the time, it gets the job done. But then there are moments when it can drive you absolutely crazy. You type the name of a file you know is on your PC, and it doesn’t show up. Instead, you get Bing search results you never asked for. On top of that, there are constant performance issues and a lack of customization options.
All of this eventually pushed me to look for a better alternative, and I’m glad I did. PowerToys Run, part of Microsoft’s hidden suite of tools, turned out to be the perfect replacement for the Start menu.
PowerToys Run changes everything
It does everything the Start menu struggles with and then some
The moment you start using PowerToys Run, you realize just how much time you’ve been wasting with the Start menu. It is fast—blazingly fast. You hit Alt + Space to bring it up and start typing to find your app or file instantly.
But speed is not the only benefit. PowerToys Run is smarter than the Start menu could ever be. You can launch apps, open folders, jump straight to websites, and execute shell commands without breaking your flow. It can even handle quick calculations and unit conversions without opening a separate app.
PowerToys Run supports keywords that let you filter searches, so you can narrow your query to files, folders, or programs. It also adapts to the way you work. For instance, if you consistently choose Slack after typing “s” instead of Snipping Tool, Slack will rise to the top of the results.
One of the most useful features, though, is web search—and no, it doesn’t force you to use Edge or Bing. Type ?? followed by your query, and it opens in your default browser using the search engine of your choice. You can also type a specific URL followed by // to open it in your preferred browser.
And there’s more. You can type !! to access recent results, @ to launch your favorite PowerToys utilities, or : to navigate through the Windows registry. For anyone who loves controlling their PC entirely with the keyboard, PowerToys Run feels like a superpower.
Customizing PowerToys Run to work
Make it truly yours
One of the best things about PowerToys Run is the freedom to make it work exactly the way you want. Open PowerToys, navigate to System Tools > PowerToys Run and you’ll see various options. For example, Alt + Space is the default shortcut to launch PowerToys Run, but you can assign any combination that feels natural to you.
Another key adjustment is controlling how many results are displayed. By default, PowerToys Run shows four results, which works well on smaller screens but can mean extra scrolling if multiple files or apps have similar names. You can increase the number of results to view more at a glance. This makes it easier to find exactly what you need, especially if multiple files or apps share similar names.
PowerToys Run also remembers your last search. When you open it again, it can show your previous query, which is useful in some situations but unnecessary in others. You can turn this feature off if you prefer a clean slate each time.
Plugins are what make it unstoppable
Supercharge productivity
Honestly, the features and speed are what get you to try PowerToys Run, but plugins are what make you stay. PowerToys comes with a few built-in add-ons that expand its capabilities beyond a simple launcher, but the real magic happens when you explore third-party plugins.
The Winget plugin, for instance, is incredibly handy if you prefer using WinGet to install new software on your PC. With it, you can search for, install, and update applications directly from PowerToys Run. There’s no need to open a browser, the Microsoft Store, or the Command Prompt.
The Everything plugin takes file searches to a whole new level. Unlike Windows search, it does not rely on indexing file content, which allows you to locate files and folders almost instantly. I already use Everything as a Windows Search replacement, and being able to access it directly through PowerToys Run makes it even more powerful.
With the Clipboard Manager plugin, you can access your clipboard history directly from PowerToys Run. This way, you can search for copied text, links, or commands, something that Windows Clipboard doesn’t allow.
Finally, there is the ChatGPT plugin. It brings AI-powered assistance right into PowerToys Run, so you can type in your question in PowerToys Run, and it instantly opens ChatGPT. These are just a few examples. You can get all of these and many other plugins on the GitHub page.
With my app shortcuts neatly organized on the desktop and taskbar, and PowerToys Run handling all my search queries, the Start menu has become almost redundant. Everything I need is just a few keystrokes or a single click away.
PowerToys also constantly receives updates that improve performance, add features, and expand its capabilities. Even if Microsoft eventually improves the Start menu, PowerToys Run will likely stay ahead.
