The majority of the apps listed and described on this page have existed for numerous Windows iterations. Despite all the modifications made to Windows, they remain popular because they provide functionalities that are not offered by the operating system, execute tasks more effectively than that of the pre-built tools, or enhance performance.
These tools are not “anti-malware“. The Windows user interface is left untouched. These are not universal programs (such as web browsers, office tools, or image editors). Nope. All of these specialized tools exist only to enhance and facilitate the use of Windows. Each and everyone is free or provides a free version.
CCleaner
CCleaner may instantly remove caching, cookies, browsing history, temporary user passwords’(for social media, iWallet casino sites, etc…), logging, and other backstory items that Windows and web browsers have installed on your system over time but are not required for it to function.
This can allow for the recovery of a considerable storage capacity. It is also a plus because CCleaner enables you to remove the majority of Microsoft products that are included in Windows 10 and 11 but neither OS enables you to do so, such OneDrive and Cortana.
MiniTool Partition Wizard and DiskGenius
You may create, copy, erase, resize, combine, or divide your computer’s SSD partitions or the entire HDD using MiniTool Partition Wizard or DiskGeniusName. For instance, to segregate Windows OS’ shared files, you might want to establish partitions on a sizable network drive.
Other features available in these packages include the ability to move your Windows installation, copy a drive’s whole contents to another drive, and attempt to restore deleted or damaged partitions. The choice between the two tools comes down to whether one has the more appealing interface because they are so similar to one another.
DiskGenius can assist you in transferring your primary Windows installation drive to the tinier drive by automatically downsizing it to fit. For this reason, we incline toward it. Other disk management software typically charge for this useful feature.
Typing the Word “All” After Installing the Everything Tool
You can quickly locate documents on your Windows Machine after installing this program. Watch the number of results decrease as you start putting the file name’s letters into the “All“ search box. As you write additional letters, the listing of results gets reduced until “All“ only returns the file you are looking for.
Everything generates previews of your documents in this preview mode just as quickly as you can view search results like file thumbnails.
LockHunter and IObit Unlock
In Windows File Explorer, there are occasionally files or folders that appear to be ’locked’. It is annoying because, seemingly for no reason, you are unable to delete, transfer, or rename it. Documents, images, and video files can experience this because they are still ’linked’ to the tool you used to access them.
Windows attempted to ’free’ it but failed for some reason. Both Lock Hunter and IObit Unlocker work well to correct this. Additionally, each will unlock a specific file or folder, allowing you to edit or remove it as normal.
KeyFinder
Assume you wish to deploy the licensed program on a different Windows machine after uninstalling it from your present one. Alternatively, you might have to format the hard drive of your computer, which will need reinstalling the licensed program. Run Magical Jelly Bean’s KeyFinder before deleting the application or partitioning the drive if you cannot locate the licensing key for your program.
The program will search your Windows machine for any installed licensed products and provide a comprehensive list with their license keys. Then, you may save all of your license keys in a text file and access it whenever you need to. More than 300 authorized programs’ keys can be recovered using this practical tool.
Recuva
This application can be your best option for recovery if you unintentionally remove a file and it is not in the Recycle Bin. A summary of deleted files identified on the storage where the removed file was originally placed can be seen after Recuva scans the drive. Each data file in this listing will be divided into groups based on color to show how likely it is that you can return the item to its previous state. Green, for instance, indicates that a wiped file is probably recoverable.
The deleted files that Recuva’s search feature turns up will be sorted as well. For instance, you can look through deleted files for particular terms to find a document.
Sandboxie
Built-in safeguards in Windows 10 and 11 significantly reduce the likelihood of malware or other programs harming your computer. If you are required to be extremely cautious, particularly if you run or execute an application you do not like, Sandboxie can offer a more direct approach.
To execute that questionable program, Sandboxie creates a “sandbox“, a resource that is separated from the remainder of your programs and data. Sandboxie keeps all potentially hazardous operations contained within the sandbox even if a program attempts to execute malware or your internet browser downloads anything undesirable. By doing so, malware will not prevent your computer from doing its regular tasks by erasing, restricting, or overwriting data.
Additionally, Sandboxie adds a useful shortcut to your desktop that you may use at any time to open the default sandbox browser.
Seer
The Quick Look feature of macOS, which Mac fans adore, is copied over to Windows by the Seer application. Seer displays a sneak peek of the file after you tap on a source file and simultaneously press the spacebar.
You can see the image hovering on the Windows desktop if it is a picture. If it is a text, PDF, or RTF document, Seer uploads it into a straightforward viewer program. By looking at their file list, you can also see compressed files (like ZIP). Even though playback does not perform as well as using a media player, Seer can play video and audio files.
Additionally, you may install add-ons to enable this application to scan a variety of file kinds, including Microsoft Office documents.
Speccy
Running Speccy completely examines your computer and categorizes its hardware by RAM, CPU, storage, motherboard, and other factors. To view this component’s technical specifications, click on a category.
For instance, under “Motherboard“, Speccy will provide information on your BIOS version, motherboard’s chipset, and the number of expansion slots. All of these specifics can be printed or saved as a text file.
Wi-Fi Password Revealer
The procedure of locating the Wi-Fi network credentials stored on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer is difficult and requires navigating the network settings of the operating system. The best kind of application is Magic Jelly Bean’s WiFi Password Revealer because its name clearly states what it does.
Simply start it, and it will show all of the Wi-Fi connections you have linked to your computer, along with any passwords they may have, all at once. For each Wi-Fi network, Revealer also displays the authenticating and security encryption procedures.
