Microsoft PowerToys Crop and Lock Feature: Elevating Your Productivity on Windows 11

Microsoft PowerToys is a set of tools offered by Microsoft, designed specifically for power users. With its wide range of features, it enhances your productivity while using Windows 11. One of its latest additions is the Crop and Lock feature. In this article, we will delve into what the Crop and Lock feature is and how you can leverage it to unlock your potential as a proficient Windows 11 user.

Understanding the Microsoft PowerToys Crop and Lock Feature

PowerToys Crop and Lock allows you to crop a specific application window and utilize the cropped area within your chosen boundaries. This feature enables you to keep the cropped window on top of other apps, empowering you to multitask effectively and efficiently on Windows 11.

There are numerous applications for Crop and Lock. You can use it to monitor your game downloads, receive market updates, or create a compact version of any app you desire. This feature was introduced in PowerToys version 0.73.0. To get started with Crop and Lock, follow the steps below:

How to Use the Microsoft PowerToys Crop and Lock Feature

1. Open PowerToys and navigate to the Crop and Lock feature. To do this, click on “Open Settings” as highlighted below:

2. Make sure the Crop and Lock toggle is enabled. You can edit the shortcuts to activate the Crop and Lock feature according to your preferences.

3. Use the “Win + Ctrl + Shift + T” keyboard shortcut to activate the Crop and Lock feature.

4. Select the area of an application window that you want to crop and use in a smaller window. For example, you can monitor your game download progress on the Windows Store while simultaneously browsing the web.