microsoft/PowerToys v0.96.0

Release v0.96.0

Repository: microsoft/PowerToys

Tag: v0.96.0

Published: 2025-11-19T08:25:41Z

Prerelease: no

Release notes:

[github-next-release-work]: https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues?q=is%3Aissue+milestone%3A%22PowerToys+0.97%22 [github-current-release-work]: https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues?q=is%3Aissue+milestone%3A%22PowerToys+0.96%22 [ptUserX64]: https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/download/v0.96.0/PowerToysUserSetup-0.96.0-x64.exe [ptUserArm64]: https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/download/v0.96.0/PowerToysUserSetup-0.96.0-arm64.exe [ptMachineX64]: https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/download/v0.96.0/PowerToysSetup-0.96.0-x64.exe [ptMachineArm64]: https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/download/v0.96.0/PowerToysSetup-0.96.0-arm64.exe

!Hero image of what's new in version 0.96

In the v0.96 release cycle, we focused on new features, stability, optimization improvements, and automation.

Installer Hashes

| Description | Filename | sha256 hash | |----------------|----------|----------| | Per user - x64 | [PowerToysUserSetup-0.96.0-x64.exe][ptUserX64] | b4bfd22e7a467ab07be8388648c8b084b67669ff6f3db80b2b9b56ad95eb7a12 | | Per user - ARM64 | [PowerToysUserSetup-0.96.0-arm64.exe][ptUserArm64] | 4822f905879c786aef5ca325f1e8a0ba81bd863bdb5a610795816d8ca571e852| | Machine wide - x64 | [PowerToysSetup-0.96.0-x64.exe][ptMachineX64] | 2dba44e6caffc95713766c6b157a2e92bb3c430cf9b0bc798397e8ab3fb984a8 | | Machine wide - ARM64 | [PowerToysSetup-0.96.0-arm64.exe][ptMachineArm64] | ac2d7841ee27cb237d0f00270719f80887c77f177bc931a90563f6aa897739e2 |

Highlights

For an in-depth look at the latest changes, visit the release blog.

• Advanced Paste now supports multiple online and on-device AI model providers: Azure OpenAI, OpenAI, Google Gemini, Mistral, Foundry Local and Ollama.
• Command Palette received extensive improvements including file search filters, better clipboard history metadata, context-menu styling, and dozens of bug fixes and enhancements.
• PowerRename can now extract and use photo metadata (EXIF, XMP) in renaming patterns like %Camera, %Lens, and %ExposureTime.

Release notes

Advanced Paste

• Advanced Paste now lets you connect to multiple AI providers instead of being limited to a single OpenAI provider. See Advanced Paste documentation for usage.

Awake

• The Awake countdown timer now stays accurate over long periods. Thanks @daverayment!
• Fixed Awake context menu positioning. The fix removed the conversion of the mouse cursor from screen to client-window coordinates, instead using the raw screen coordinates returned by GetCursorPos; the context menu now appears at the correct screen position. Thanks @lzandman!

Command Palette

• The search field in context menus now matches the look of the Command Palette, with a smoke backdrop and improved padding.
• Fallback items such as math calculations or the Run command now appear in results more quickly. Thanks @jiripolasek!
• Ensured the command bar updates correctly after navigating to another page and commands are displayed correctly. Thanks @jiripolasek!
• The Command Palette settings page has been reorganized. Activation-key options are grouped under an expander and extension settings are framed for improved readability.
• When you modify a command, its alias, hotkey, and tags now update in the top-level list, keeping the displayed information in sync. Thanks @jiripolasek!
• Press Ctrl + , to open Command Palette settings from anywhere. Thanks @jiripolasek!
• You can use Page Up and Page Down to navigate the list while focus is in the search box. Thanks @samrueby!
• Fixed an issue where the search box could disappear when navigating pages. Thanks @jiripolasek!
• Ensured search text is selected when *Go home when activated* and *Highlight search on activate* are both enabled. Thanks @jiripolasek!
• Fixed an issue where Command Palette window occasionally appeared on the taskbar under certain Windows settings. Thanks @jiripolasek!
• Ensured that labels and icons of list items and menu items update when they change. Thanks @jiripolasek!
• Fixed visibility of list filters when navigating to a content page. Thanks @DevLGuilherme!
• Added search to the extension list and a link to extensions on the Microsoft Store. Thanks @jiripolasek!
• Added options to open the Command Palette window at its last position or re-center it.
• The Command Palette now remembers its window size after restarting.
• Added a global error handler that logs fatal errors and provides feedback when unexpected failures force Command Palette to close. Thanks @jiripolasek!
• Fixed forms and extension settings not showing on some machines due to a missing VC++ runtime.
• Restored ranking of fallback commands for built-in extensions (Sleep, Shutdown, Windows settings, Web search, etc.). Thanks @jiripolasek.
• Improved and unified labels and texts across the application!
• Maintainance: Resolved numerous build warnings in Command Palette projects; no user-visible impact. Thanks @jiripolasek!
• Maintainance: Fixed a logging issue so exception messages are properly recorded instead of placeholder text, improving troubleshooting. Thanks @jiripolasek!

Command Palette Extensions

• Bookmarks: Added hints about bookmark placeholders to the Add/Edit Bookmark form. — Thanks @jiripolasek!
• Bookmarks: Improved migration of bookmarks from older versions and fixed an issue where aliases or keyboard shortcuts could be lost after restart. Thanks...