I've been using Windows long enough to accumulate an embarrassing list of software recommendations that didn't last.I've tried apps that looked revolutionary for a week, productivity systems that demanded more maintenance than the work they were supposed to organize, and utilities that seemed essential right up until I stopped opening them.The software that sticks around tends to be much less exciting.
It's the app I install for one feature and end up using for five others.The tool that's been with me for so long that I barely think about it anymore.So when I set up a new PC nowadays, I don't spend much time wondering what to install.
Years of trial and error have already made that decision for me, and these are the seven free apps that always make the cut.PowerToys I installed it for one feature and stayed for the others Close I originally installed PowerToys for FancyZones, which lets me arrange windows into custom layouts.Since then, however, I've found myself relying on several other utilities, and now I'd miss them if they disappeared.
PowerRename is my favorite, mostly because I send so many photos from my phone to my PC, and they always end up with unhelpful names.It lets me give them all a sensible prefix without losing the numbering.Light Switch flips Windows between light and dark themes around sunset and sunrise, and Find My Mouse rescues my cursor when it wanders off across two screens.
I use Peek and Always On Top more than I expected, too.Apparently, there's no such thing as a finished Windows setup when PowerToys is involved.Bulk Crap Uninstaller I don't want to spend my afternoon uninstalling apps Every so often, I go through my installed apps and clear out the ones I no longer need.
The last thing I want is to open "Settings," find one app, uninstall it, and repeat the whole performance.Bulk Crap Uninstaller lets me select multiple programs with checkboxes and deal with them in one go.I can sort and filter the list, then check my selections before anything gets removed, which is a relief when I'm in a ruthless mood.
It also offers to create a system restore point first, so I have a fallback if something goes wrong.Individual programs may launch their own uninstallers, so there's still some clicking involved.But at least I'm not hunting through "Settings" for every app.
It's free and open source, too, which suits me fine.Joplin I keep my writing life in one place Joplin started out as a note-taking app, but it's now where I draft entire How-To Geek articles and keep the research that goes with them.Everything is satisfyingly organized into notebooks and subnotebooks, whereas previously, my notes and work were scattered across random files and forgotten folders.
I tag things, search for keywords, and keep images and documents right next to the writing they belong to.Templates save me from starting familiar projects from scratch, and when my research turns into a to-do list, I can convert a note into a task with a deadline.I sync everything between my Windows PC and iPhone through OneDrive.
Considering it's free and open source, I'm impressed by how much of my writing life I've managed to move into Joplin.Alt-Tab Terminator I have far too many windows open I use Alt+Tab so often that I probably owe it a small thank-you card.The trouble starts when I have several windows open from the same app and the Windows switcher turns finding the right one into a guessing game.
Alt-Tab Terminator gives me a list of windows with larger previews, so I can see where I'm going before I switch.If the list gets unwieldy, I can search it or filter by app.I can also hold Alt and scroll the mouse wheel to move through the list.
The free version does everything I need.My window-hoarding habits remain a separate problem.Screenpresso I can make screenshots look like I know what I'm doing I've used Screenpresso since I first started writing about tech, and it's become second nature.
I have it set to open whenever I press PrtScn, because taking a screenshot is often only half the job.I usually need to crop it, cut something out, or add arrows and boxes so people know what they're looking at.Screenpresso lets me do all that in its built-in editor.
I can also blur or cover areas to obscure information, include the mouse cursor when it matters, or use the countdown timer for a more elaborate capture.I usually save my finished screenshots as JPGs, and the little bar at the top of the screen gives me quick access to the gallery.VLC I like having a player that can handle the awkward stuff VLC is the media player I want on a new PC because it handles a wide range of audio and video formats.
It's free and open source, and it's reassuring to have a player ready for the file that Windows' default app decides it doesn't fancy.VLC also has a built-in converter, so I can change audio or video files into other formats without hunting around for an online conversion site.It can even process multiple files in one batch.
And if I only need a short section of a longer video, its recording controls let me capture a clip without firing up a full video editor.Super Productivity I want to manage my work, not my task manager I'm perfectly capable of turning a simple to-do list into an elaborate project.That's one reason I appreciate Super Productivity: it gives my tasks a structure without inviting me to spend an afternoon building the system myself.
I can organize work into projects, break tasks into subtasks, set deadlines, estimate durations, and schedule recurring jobs.It also tracks how long I actually spend working, which helps me see whether my plans bear any resemblance to reality.The Planner and Schedule views help me spread work across days, while focus sessions and reminders keep me on track.
It's free and open source, and my data stays on my PC by default.That's one less thing for me to fiddle with.These are the apps that keep making the cut I've tried plenty of Windows apps over the years, and most didn't last long before being replaced, forgotten, or uninstalled.
These seven are different.They've survived new PCs, fresh Windows installs, and countless attempts to find something better.That doesn't make them right for everyone, but it does mean they've earned a permanent place on my PC—and they haven't cost me a cent.
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