Essential Windows Utilities Microsoft Should Include by Default

Many useful applications developed by Microsoft aren’t pre-installed with Windows, leaving users to discover and install them separately. This is particularly noticeable with tools that enhance productivity and customization. Here are three utilities that would significantly improve the Windows experience if included as standard features.

PowerToys: A Toolkit for Power Users

Microsoft PowerToys[1] is a set of freeware system utilities designed for advanced users. Despite being a well-established and feature-rich application, it doesn’t come pre-installed on Windows. PowerToys offers functionalities like previewing SVG and STL files directly within Explorer, a feature currently available on macOS but not natively on Windows until PowerToys. Beyond file previews, PowerToys includes tools like FancyZones for custom window snapping layouts, PowerRename for batch file renaming using regular expressions, a system-wide color picker, key remapping and the ability to pin windows to stay on top.[2] Essentially, PowerToys addresses many common user needs that aren’t met by default Windows features.

VS Code: The Developer’s Standard

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) has become an industry-standard code editor, powering tools like Cursor, Antigravity, and GitHub Codespaces. [2] Despite its widespread use among developers, VS Code requires manual installation on Windows. While Notepad comes pre-installed, and WordPad was previously included, VS Code offers a far more robust and modern coding experience. Bundling VS Code with Windows would align with Microsoft’s efforts to position Windows as a developer-friendly operating system. Though Microsoft may perceive VS Code as a niche tool for power users, its inclusion would be a significant benefit for the developer community.

Microsoft To Do: A Robust Task Management App

Microsoft To Do is a free, cross-platform task management application that evolved from the popular Wunderlist, which Microsoft acquired in 2015 and subsequently discontinued in 2020.[2] It offers features like repeating tasks, smart lists, groups, reminders, file attachments, and “Steps” – subtasks that break down larger tasks. Microsoft To Do integrates seamlessly with the Microsoft ecosystem, including Outlook, Teams, and Copilot. Despite its capabilities, many users remain unaware of its existence, highlighting the benefit of pre-installation.

Microsoft’s current approach to pre-installed software often prioritizes less-used applications like games and Netflix. A shift towards including genuinely useful tools like PowerToys, VS Code, and Microsoft To Do would significantly enhance the Windows user experience. Ideally, Microsoft would also offer users more control over pre-installed software during the Windows setup process, allowing them to customize their installation based on their individual needs. [3]