5 UNREAL Windows Productivity Hacks You’ve Never Tried (100% Free, No Install Needed!)

Tutorials & Methods
,
1

5 UNREAL Windows Productivity Hacks You’ve Never Tried (100% Free, No Install Needed!)

Why Bother?
We all waste hours on repetitive tasks: digging through files, retyping text, or fumbling during screen shares. These built-in/underrated tools automate the boring stuff. I’ve used them to save 10+ hours/week—no exaggeration. Tested on Windows 10/11.

:wrench: 1. PowerToys: Microsoft’s Secret Swiss Army Knife

The Fix: Microsoft’s free suite of tools that should be native to Windows.

  • FancyZones: Create custom window grids (e.g., 3-column layout for coding/research). Just drag apps into zones.
  • Text Extractor: Grab text from images or unselectable PDFs (Win + Shift + T).
  • Mouse Without Borders: Control 4 PCs with one mouse/keyboard (ideal for multi-device workflows).
    Pro Tip: Use PowerRename to batch-rename 100s of files using regex—saves photographers/developers hours .

:framed_picture: 2. QuickLook: Instantly Preview Files Without Opening Them

The Fix: Hit Spacebar on any file (PDF, video, ZIP, image) for a lightning-fast preview—like macOS.

  • Works in File Explorer: No more waiting for Adobe to load a 50-page PDF.
  • Supports 50+ Formats: Even RAW camera files and code scripts.
    Secret Use: Preview email attachments in Outlook by selecting the file + Spacebar.

:clipboard: 3. Ditto Clipboard: Never Lose Copied Text Again

The Fix: A searchable clipboard history that stores everything you copy—text, images, files.

  • Press Ctrl + ~ to view your last 500 copied items.
  • Sync Across Devices: Paste from your PC to your laptop instantly.
    Lifehack: Pin frequently used snippets (e.g., email templates, addresses) for 1-click access.

:open_file_folder: 4. OneCommander: File Explorer on Steroids

The Fix: A dual-pane, tabbed file manager (free in Microsoft Store) that murders cluttered folders.

  • Column View: Like macOS Finder—drill into folders without backtracking.
  • Built-in Preview Pane: See docs/images without opening apps.
  • Batch Operations: Rename/move 100s of files in 2 clicks.
    For Power Users: Map network drives as local tabs for seamless server access.

:scissors: 5. ShareX: Screen Capture + Auto-Upload Workflows

The Fix: Advanced screenshots that auto-upload to cloud/imgur and copy links to clipboard.

  • Annotate/Blur Sensitive Info: Before sharing (critical for tutorials).
  • Record GIFs/Video: Of bugs or workflows.
  • OCR Text from Screenshots: Built-in!
    Workflow Example: Capture region → annotate → upload to imgur → link copied → paste in Slack. Zero manual steps.

Posted by: @JACK_DENIS

7 Likes