PowerToys 0.98: Better performance and new dock for command palette

The developers of PowerToys promise better speed in all areas for the newly released version 0.98.

Powertoys bundles useful tools for Windows.

(Image: heise online / dmk)

Mar 18, 2026 at 3:53 pm CET

2 min. read

By

Dirk Knop

The powerful and open-source tool collection PowerToys has been released by the developers in version 0.98. They promise improved performance across all components and, for example, a new dock for the command palette.

In the release announcement of PowerToys 0.98, the programmers list the most important changes. The command palette now features an optional dock, allowing it to be permanently pinned to the top of the desktop as a kind of own taskbar and remain accessible – but it can also be pinned to the left, right, or bottom. The developers explicitly describe the dock as a preview version. The Keyboard Manager has received a new editor that does not work through two separate windows but offers a single, unified view.

PowerToys: Improved Functions

In addition, the programmers have improved the multi-monitor support for “FancyZones.” This should now allow more complex multi-monitor configurations to be set up correctly. New options allow, among other things, disabling FancyZones when only a single monitor is connected. The Always-On-Top function can be activated more easily. Right-clicking the title bar of a window now displays the entry “Always on top” after activating the new option, allowing it to be pinned to the top level of the desktop. The recording function of the ZoomIt feature now allows cropping the length of the recordings. The release announcement lists various other minor optimizations and fixes.

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The update to the new version can be initiated within the software itself. Under “General,” you will find the “Check for updates” button under “Version and Updates.” In addition, as usual, updated installation packages are available for download on the project pages on GitHub:

In January, the previous version PowerToys 0.97 saw the light of day. It introduced the new tool “FancyZones,” which prevents the cursor from getting stuck at the monitor edge and reappearing on the other side. The developers also released the two hotfix versions 0.97.1 and 0.97.2, which resolved minor issues with PowerToys.