Windows has a bit of a bad reputation for not being as clean as Linux or as polished as macOS. But at its core, Windows is still an indisputable operating system (OS).
Especially when you add third-party tools, you can make a strong case that Windows is the most productive platform.
While Windows itself may not be able to meet many of your needs, the five tools listed below can help you turn Windows into a better productivity OS than any other OS.
1. EarTrumpet: Reduce the Struggle with Sound Settings
These days, being able to quickly adjust the volume of applications isn’t a feature of any OS. In fact, it’s a shame.
Windows’ Volume Mixer used to be great. It allowed you to change the volume levels of all your audio devices and each application running on your system from a small, functional window.
While that’s all anyone needs, Microsoft has made Mixer too big and hidden a lot of functionality.
macOS and Linux aren’t much better either. While Linux can handle customization better, it really depends on the desktop environment you’re using.
On Windows, the solution is simple and free. EarTrumpet is a lightweight tool that brings back a lot of the functionality related to sound settings, while removing unnecessary extras.
- Want to turn up your music and make Discord louder? Got it.
- Want to mute Chrome’s audio without affecting the rest of your system’s audio? Just one click away.
In addition, this tool can also follow the configuration for each output. So you can send some audio to your headphones and others to your speakers. It’s a must-have for any Windows machine.
2. Everything by voidtools – Find What You Need Quickly
Windows Search is still a frustration for many users. The once-useful utility has been transformed into a platform that powers online searches via AI assistants and Bing.
In short, Windows Search should be for everything on your computer and nothing else. While Spotlight Search on macOS is a little better, there’s still a lot of room for improvement.
Everything Search by voidtools completely eliminates the frustration of searching for what you need on your system.
- It indexes your drives instantly and returns results as soon as you start typing, without any lag, no looping, and no “Search Index Rebuilding” messages.
If your job involves searching for files on your system, Everything is a must-have tool. It supports Regex, Filters, and Command-Line Arguments, Works with network-attached or external drives.
3. PowerToys Run – A Free Version of a Great Tool
PowerToys is more of a collection of tools than a single tool. PowerToys Run stands out as one of the most useful tools for productivity-minded users.
It’s a lightweight launcher that lets you open applications, files, and run system commands with just a few keystrokes.
While there are tools on macOS like Alfred that offer similar functionality, PowerToys Run (and the entire PowerToys suite) is completely free. And it integrates tightly into Windows.
PowerToys is essentially a collection of tools that provide features that are available only on macOS. While there are free alternatives that offer similar functionality, most of the best features are available only with a paid subscription.
4. ShareX – Making it Easier to Work with Screenshots
Taking screenshots is an essential part of everyone’s workflow. I admit that the Snipping Tool has improved quite a bit. But for me, there are still some requirements.
Basically, I need a tool that can quickly take a picture, make some adjustments, and upload or save it to a location.
While Snipping Tool can do that, ShareX does it much more smoothly. All the customization you can do after taking a screenshot is what sets ShareX apart from other screenshot utilities.
- You can automatically upload the file to Imgur, copy it to the clipboard, add watermarks, write notes, or even run custom scripts.
- It supports OCR to extract text from images, and it also includes screen recording with audio.
- It also offers workflows that can replace many separate tools.
Compared to macOS’ native Capture Shortcuts or third-party recorders like CleanShot, ShareX feels like it offers the same full range of features without having to pay for them.
5. Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) – The Best Hybrid Environment on Windows
Tools like WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) are a great representation of how far Windows has come as a platform. It’s not a trick or a convenience layer.
It’s a true Linux environment with kernel support and hardware access that runs natively on Windows.
You can download a distro (Linux distribution) from the Microsoft Store or from the command-line, open a WSL instance, and start using Linux commands right away.
Developers can compile code, use Git, run Docker, or start servers without having to dual-boot (use two OSes) or struggle with virtual machines.
macOS has a native Unix-based terminal, which is great for some things. But WSL brings a much closer experience to a real Linux.
This may be controversial, but I prefer Linux Instances that can be shut down and restarted quickly rather than something that feels like Linux-Lite.
Also Read: How to Make Money With ChatGPT: 10 Real Methods
The Bottom Line
Windows may not win every design award, but when it comes to performance, Windows has the edge.
With a few free tools and a few tweaks, Windows can become a faster, easier to use, and more capable platform than most people realize.
It may take time to get it right for you, but if that time makes it easier to get the job done, it’s time well spent.