The 10 Best Windows Productivity Apps in 2022

[@Loumo]

00:30 - Steps to achieving flow: 1) Type furiously 2) Move irrelevant window on 2nd monitor slightly to the right 3) Repeat. Thanks Tom!

[@Thomasfrank]

I’m building a GUI interface in Visual Basic to track the criminal’s IP

[@Loumo]

@@Thomasfrank You should really up your wpm if you’re having trouble hacking the source code of their DNS, those are rookie numbers. (This is now my favourite b roll footage of yours)

[@prinzexisalowqualityytber]

​@@Loumobro 💀💀💀

[@jamiesimpson1676]

ShareX is an amazing tool, and incredibly useful, but you should know that by default it will automatically upload all the screenshots you take anonymously to Imgur, because in the screenshot capture workflow it has “upload image to host” turned on by default. If you’re screenshotting sensitive information, you should disable this by going to “preferences-> advanced -> disableUpload” and set it to “true”

[@AndMe82]

The “upload image to host” is no more turned on by default. Furthermore you can change that behavior in "After capture tasks" without touching the advanced preferences you mentioned. If you set "disableUpload" to "True" the OCR functionality doesn't work anymore. Hope it helps 🙂

[@JoeCastellon]

Good to know, thanks! I just installed it and was about to tinker with the settings. I'll look for this before anything else.

[@AbrarShaikh2741]

And I was using this app for past 1 year

[@jamiesimpson1676]

@@AbrarShaikh2741 oh no! Hopefully stuff didn’t get uploaded for you! If you did end up accidentally uploading something, you can open the sharex app, right click on the image, then in the dropdown go to copy -> deletion URL, then paste that in your browser and it will allow you to delete the uploaded image

[@boaek]

You can use build-in program snipping tool for taking screenshots

[@io_roboto]

For me, the biggest productivity tool is PowerToys. More powerful window tiling/layouts (a must on ultrawide), key/shortcut remapper, OS-wide color picker, Explorer upgrades with file previews and group renaming, etc.

[@jego207]

me too, one installer contains multiple useful utilities.

[@HeinrichYoshio]

sizer is great as well

[@opx4real]

Yeah, power toys is a critical install on new builds.

[@AngusMcToon]

Ya. I was wondering how the Flow Launcher differs from the power toys launcher. Helpful video thanks

[@rafaellopez8851]

Also, there's a Everything plugin for Powertoys Run, just like Flow Launcher!

[@francisco.j]

That´s the best productivity content that I've seen in years. Props for paying some attention to all the Windows folks out there.

[@Yigit_Ugur]

Exactly man. I don't understand why other content creators assume all of us have MacOS. Like it's all expensive and I'm not sure all worth it.

[@simonvutov7575]

@@Yigit_Ugur I thought that too, until I got an m1 MacBook Air lol

[@Oldyellowbrick]

Suprised Windows Power Toys wasn't on this list. I could not live without some of the tools it comes with such as Fancy zones, Bulk Image resizer, PowerRename, Color Picker and so many more and it's so well integrated into Windows it feels like they should just include it as standard.

[@Swoahu]

THANK YOU! The basic utility of QuickLook is exactly what I have been missing since I sold my Mac and built a PC. Absolutely key for photographers. I LOVE that I can pin the window and use arrow keys to navigate. This is going to make looking through my SD card after a photoshoot so much easier. I'm ashamed that I used to open dozens of Paint 3D windows just to view each photo.

[@josephtimberly9949]

W

[@RShahProductions]

7:00 Not true anymore about Chrome. You can actually click the down arrow (first icon in the top-right-hand corner before "Minimise") and see and search all of your tabs now. It is amazing!!!

[@GertjanVanderKelen]

Can't thank you enough for this list. Flow Launcher and QuickLook are literally the only parts of Mac OS I've missed since switching to Windows. Makes a world of difference!

[@presenceofeden2949]

I am using Mack book but for some reason Windows is a better software it has things that Mac just makes it harder to do

[@hopestreet3452]

1:05 Optical Character Recognition in ShareX has been a gamechanger for my study - thank you so much :)

[@chesshooligan1282]

For automation nothing beats Autohotkey, nothing even comes close. It can re-map keys, send strings of keystrokes, detect the colour of a specific pixel on the screen, detect whether a file or folder exists, detect whether a window exists, detect the state of a window (maximised, minimised, hidden, etc), move and copy files or directories, recycle or delete files, open files, execute programs (with or without parameters), and a lot more. And the best part is it can be triggered to do different things (or nothing at all) depending on context, like which window is active, the colour of the screen at a specific point, whether a file exists, whether a window exists, and so on. It's also free and open source. I reckon this program has saved me millions of keystrokes and mouse clicks over a lifetime.

[@markusross3858]

11:36 Hey! Blue light blocker is already on windows and it works pretty fine

[@nicoocin85]

shareX the best one. Automaticly upload my Screenshot in a URL. This is the best one. Thank bro

[@cichlidspecies]

I can tell you from 20 years of experience, that windows app everyone must have (also all are free) PowerToys - Absolute must, its the swiss army knife of tools. Ditto - Clipboard manager PatchMyPC - update manager | or simply use powershell win-get Share X - snapshot tool Davinci Resolve - video editing Discord - communications OneNote - note taking app, cross platform, no limitations And there are also QOL small tools like f-lux and others, but the basic ones should cover most of the needs.

[@Sergij_Vari]

clipdiary try for clipboard

[@L.I.T.H.I.U.M]

An app I recommend is Tick Tick. It's a to-do, calendar, habit tracking, pomodoro, project managing & note talking app all at the same time. Plus, it's cross platform.

[@k4piii]

Looks very clean, I will take a look at it

[@TheDhammaHub]

That's the central theme in programming too! You want to do ANY work exactly once - it really works wonders thinking that way

[@KogureDevilchan]

Microsoft Powertoys is a must for me personally.

[@SebastiaanVaz]

I mean. What can I say. I came here because I was about to purchase a paid snapshot tool because snip and sketch just doesn't cut it for me. And I ended up installing 5 new apps and spending hours and hours configuring everything. You literally got me so excited. All these shortcuts!!! I love what you do and you are my new favorite KZbinr. Yup. I'm just happy I'm straight, because otherwise I'd still be fantasizing about you even now when I'm about to go to bed! Thanks :P

[@helloblake]

Thank you so much for making this video! There is definitely not enough content out there about productivity tools for Windows. I switched to windows recently and was trying to find an alfred alternative and this was exactly what I was looking for.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Thomas! Super useful tips. Already installing a few of them :)

[@joaogritti2199]

Dude! So cool to see you here! your content absolutely rocks(or jazzes, more approprietly)

[@JensLarsen]

@@joaogritti2199 Thank you! Thonas makes amazing content :)

[@chronicallycoxing]

thomas frank still going strong! first subbed in middle school, now i'm in college and i still use his tips, love the guy

[@paprika_ame]

Such an underrated video topic! It's a blessing to see an amazing list of productivity apps that isn't macOS-exclusive 👏. I'm just glad to see a content creator who didn't forget the existence of Windows users :)

[@ignatcommaignatov]

Such a great list, thank you. And half the apps I hadn't heard of. I would add Stardock's Fences and Groupy, very useful utilities.

[@zREZ44]

Would love to see a more in depth look into flow launcher and exspanso; seems incredibly versatile for both personal or professional settings

[@irishpolyglot]

Windows love! So rare to see among American creators - thanks TF! Excellent suggestions here. Downloading a few now!

[@zahraelok5932]

My friend's been convincing me to switch to Edge, and I'm pretty convinced now... Thank you for the informative content! Adding this channel right next to Lead Learn Leap.

[@ionutboss1266]

8:20 flow launcher echivalentul pt mac bartolomeu 9:40 espensor de descarcat shortcuts/text expansion scrii un cuv si inlocuieste cu adresa Sharex screenshots mai bune cu text copiat 10:30 everyting pt cautat fisiere rapid pe windows

[@LeftyPencil]

If you're locked from installing third party apps, there is an OCR function in OneNote. Paste the image there, right click, copy text from image, paste. X-mouse to control extra buttons on a mouse (even per program if you like) also sweet. Can have middle wheel click to paste system wide, but in autocad be default (pan) and have a side button HIDEObjects another UNHIde

[@KhaosVFX]

F.Lux isn’t really needed anymore since Windows has a native night light function built in. You can turn it on and off set it’s schedule and intensity in the windows notification centre. Night light also properly covers all of windows instead of flux which just runs an overlay (your cursor isn’t covered by flux whereas nightlight is)

[@randysadiwajr.1815]

There used to be a somewhat quicklook function in windows wayback in Windows 7. Document files (word, powerpoint, spreadsheet) contents cann be seen on the side just like quicklook

[@faithrhodes4427]

Thank you for this! I’m a new windows user, moving from a Mac, and have been trying to find productive apps for my new Dell. Definitely hope you make one for 2023 👏🏽

[@Ron-tp7em]

This was great and much needed. Thank You!

[@summoner2100]

F.lux is basically in windows native. Microsoft call it "night light" and it's under your display settings

[@Thomasfrank]

Oh dang, good to know! I knew about the built in clipboard history but missed that.

[@summoner2100]

@@Thomasfrank also got a toggle on\off from the notifications section on the right

[@thomasdemontlivault5647]

Ok this is hands down one of the best videos I've seen recently ! So much interesting stuff : quicklook, flowlauncher, espanso, everything. Really really valuable stuff! Thanks !

[@sumitshukla6489]

Thomas, I love your videos. I specially like how you find topics which are extremely relatable. I have two questions. 1. Are you hiring? 2. Is there any guide in the world where I can start notion from zero?

[@sal702]

I absolutely love the way you structured the comment 😂❤️

[@sumitshukla6489]

@@sal702 I want him to read it. Thanks for acknowledging though. :)

[@iamshikhersrivastava]

You don’t need F.lux Night light is built into Windows. All others are great suggestions!!

[@EarthworksAudio]

Great video as always! You sound & look great with that ICON Pro!

[@connormccarter9581]

Notion looks really interesting. Been using OneNote but Notion looks easier.... So if you like quicklook, you can activate something similar in windows 10 in file explorer under the view ribbon. Second from left on the view ribbon is the Preview Pane button. You can also change the content display of that folder, like large icons for images or a detail list with file meta data, with the buttons to the right of that. (Which you can scroll through by holding the control key and scrolling the mouse wheel.

[@tvenningmedia4334]

Preview pane is ok for many, but Quicklook supports a much wider range of file types. Finally I can see my photoshop files quickly without open big big programs

[@Albin_Evald]

2:58 preview in exporer is actually built into windows by pressing alt+p. Dont know how good it is compared to other systems, I dont think it let you preview videos for example, but works well enough-ish for me

[@Katherine0hara]

Yay finally a Windows Video! Thank you Thomas!!!!

[@abulferr]

This video came in the right time… as I’m trying to expand my KZbin content, and started on writing a novel, I wanted to have some good apps to help increase my productivity and make my workflow smoother… I work on a Windows laptop and an iPad and this video came in the absolutely perfect time… Thanks Thomas!!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@mfrankel8321]

Everything is clear and above the best of the apps you mention.

[@rizkiameliafitriyani6959]

When you're in doubt to go back to windows from mac, this list makes it smooth

[@leandro_80]

I gotta say that this is the first productivity content dedicated to Windows users I've seen in a long time. Kudos for that! Thanks a lot. All the other guys in YT use only Mac, but here in my country (Brazil), the vast majority of people use Windows, since Apple products are ridiculously expensive and unaccessible

[@MemphisJones]

I just stumbled across you and I've watched several vids in a row. You are on top of it buddy!!!

[@iloveyellow7214]

Windows 😍🤩FINALLY one of my fave youtube creators makes this kind of video (cause most of em creators prefer apple 🤷🏻‍♀) Thank youuuu I knew Im in the right place since I found you while doing my solo thesis 😍😘

[@derptweaker945]

Edge also has a very capable text to speak function. With tons of different voices that actually sounds great and professional. I do not remember if I added extra voices to windows and that's why I have loads of alternatives. I like the Irish lady voice clear and calm. It's good that you can listen to an article while doing other stuff, like art or food for example

[@ponponyaya7890]

Thx, This video really helped a lot! Especially 08:09(Flow Launcher)and 10:10(Everything). 👍

[@Vivaswaan.]

True... there aren't many such, let alone good, videos for Windows users.

[@whoozie]

Thanks for the tips, I've been using flow launcher for months now, it is awesome, but there is something wrong with my PC which always pisses me off, the launcher doesn't startup on login always And also, I highly recommend levelling up your typing speed if you wanna be more productive in front of your PC

[@johnnyede]

This is setting new frontier of video that you haven’t really done before, I like it

[@Darkrose42]

Please do more of this. This is amazing and very helpful, even for my work life.

[@suraj8612]

Hey Thomas, So thankful for this video 😊 . *I think you should make a FLOW LAUNCHER TUTORIAL* . It will be really helpful. Thanks. 💝

[@su.mmer19]

THANK U SO MUCH for this. I am a mac user, and my office laptop which is a windows seem to be lacking in so many ways. This helps to bridge the gap

[@sammii7509]

This video was amazing!! The WIN +V is a WIN!

[@ayushisharan480]

Loved Flow Launcher... Thank you !!

[@savant6635]

Can you please tell me how you can have so much storage on your PC? Do you install a hard drive or something like that, and how? Please make a video on it.

[@nycrsny3406]

Amazing list! Flow Launcher and Espanso are godsends!!

[@petermarin]

This is fantastic!!! Do you have a Mac version as well?? These are genuinely useful, not very well known, and Free!! I love you

[@papl20]

I use a combination of opera (my main one) and edge. Edge is AMAZING for text to voice reading. It's great for all of us ADHD peeps.

[@katarinabilota548]

Hahah I love the Finding Nemo refrence at 9:32

[@DrJimmyBob]

On FlowLauncher, it's part of Windows Power Toys which is something a team at Microsoft put together. I love the color picker it adds, too.

[@therapywithisabel]

I'vd have Flex at night on all devices for years but you're right! All the other basic needs need to be attended to as well. I haven't watched you in close to a decade! I made it further faster and with so much appreciation - Thank you!

[@coffeenbass]

Thank you so much for this video! You’re absolutely right that it’s harder to find apps like these for Windows so really appreciate this!!

[@edoardodepiccoli3004]

quicklook is a must have for video/photo editors

[@jaaferelsadig]

This list was surprisingly useful!

[@bensadler2436]

Some of these are really useful, especially QuickLook and FlowLauncher :) Thank you!

[@samanthaong7222]

i love edge alot, ever since I made the switch. I'm glad that edge is my besy friend now

[@sem11139]

I would recommend changing the URL link for, for example "everything" that you've pasted in the description. Rather post the website from the original content creator instead of a softonic website.

[@kaursfootball]

Hey amazing hoodie. Where’d you get it from?

[@karimshawky1368]

I'd be really interested in Linux version of this kind of video, or even open source focused 😁

[@Thomasfrank]

I don’t use Linux so probably couldn’t do a Linux version, but a huge portion of this list is already open-source!

[@karimshawky1368]

@@Thomasfrank Do you know by any chance KZbinrs who have similar content to yours but focus/use Linux?

[@brazenserpent7]

@@karimshawky1368 Infinitely Galactic

[@stevesloan5935]

Excellent recommendations; I was surprised to hear about the switch to Edge. I'll give it a go. Thanks!

[@musicatation2254]

Best video I've seen in a long time. Great productivity tips, thank you for that really !

[@haiduong092]

I love these videos of you, i found many app that can use for general case in a smarter ways. Thanks so much Thomas Frank!

[@charliecharlie1]

I love the wallpaper on your desktop - would you be able to share where we can get it too? Thanks, great work!

[@especr8007]

Wow, I didn't know some of them. Really useful, thank you!

[@Sakr_TP]

Thanks a lot for sharing this very informative video, this has saved me a lot of time of searching for alternative apps to switch from Mac to Windows, great job man :D.

[@Wilespro1]

Love your videos! They are really helpful

[@sphee-r6g]

off topic but I MISS YOUR PODCAST TALKS SOOOOO MUCH!!

[@Lorran5]

Excellent video! Thank you. Awesome content.

[@HighTimesTrader]

Fantastic video brother. Much appreciated.

[@exploretheworldasmr5238]

So many great tools! Definitely including them in our workflow!

[@daveemery12]

Great tool tips. Thank you.

[@hiarvingarcia]

Thanks for the windows list.

[@GoodMorningButch]

Oh flow launcher sounds really exciting! I'll definitely get my hands on that tonight

[@YudhaRuuzami]

Thanks for the recommendation ShareX, Everything, Espanso are amazing software

[@masterio5]

Quick Look can be replaced by just clicking the file you want to open and pressing alt+p . Also flow launcher is just one feature of the amazing PowerToys that also has the always on top option of sharex but you can do it with any app(i.e file explorer). I am surprised that powertoys isn't in this list. the everything app is an elegant solution but you can just change the file explorer settings and get done with it. I liked this video and i hope that the preevious things that i wrote are more like ideas for a next video and (i want to believe) constructive critisism. Good video this one was it.

[@Thomasfrank]

Hang on, flow launcher can work on top of power toys? I was under the impression power toys was the same type of app and it’d be better to pick one or the other. A friend did point me to it during this video’s research but it seemed that it didn’t support community plugins such as the Spotify controller.

[@masterio5]

PowerToys is amazing but its search feature lacks a lot of features and system digging compared to flow launcher's. You CAN run flow launcher and powertoys but to use the flow launcher and not trigger them at the same time(the shortcut is the same but only powertoys run for me, idk maybe because i downloaded the portable version of flow launcher i supose) you can just disable the PowerToys Run(that is the flow launcher copy powertoys' tool) and with alt+space you will trigger just flow launcher and not the powertoys run. Yes flow launcher does the work much better and doesn't have the community plugins(but both are on github i don't see the reason why is not available yet on powertoys too). But powertoys is much more than flow launcher. As i mentioned the flow launcher-like feature of powertoys is one of the great features this app has. I strongly recommend you to try powertoys, you will surely love fancy zones and the always on top feature.

[@heyJordanParker]

Oh nice, I'm already using those, but not Espanso. It does look dope, I'll try it! An extra tip from me: ShareX is cool, but for most intents and purposes you can use Win + Shift + S to use the snipping tool that's now builtin in Windows 10 and Windows 11. No Gifs but excellent for everything else!

[@honestjoe632]

The other best feature from Edge is the built in “read aloud” function which is the best across any browser…

[@haoaa06085]

just wondering if there's a better launcher for Windows 11, stumbling upon this, and getting bunch of recommendations, and they're eye-opening! Thanks a lot!

[@rakibtonmoy242]

Night mode (built-in) is better than F.lux. Love your suggestion btw

[@truthhammer4451]

Here’s a hack. I program my shortcut keystroke to my mouse button. I am a very heavy screenshot user. So by clicking an alt button on my mouse, I can screenshot to the clipboard and use the other alt mouse button click to paste. (Evoluent Mouse is AMAZING)

[@Yeeeeeehaw]

Thank you very much for your attention to windows users !

[@ZaferBAHADIR]

I learned a lot of useful applications. Thank you very much. 👏

[@spellerlittlewing]

Thanks for doing apps on windows

[@MrCruzeiroDoSul]

Hey Dude! Great video. Thank you very much!

[@Veo87]

While F.Lux sounds good, I'm already able to do what it does just by going into the Windows settings. Is there any reason to use F.Lux to change the light over using Window's own settings tools? All the other apps sound great. I'm going to try them!

[@karemfigo5830]

Perfect video and apps... Keep it up Boss

[@Busterblade20]

Thank you for recommending flow. it's a game-changer

[@OneSipReviewOfficial]

In my experience Listary is better and faster than Flow Launcher. You can also search inside of folders for files. It's lighting fast! This one app can replace Everything and Flow Launcher, but you may still need Espanso for clip board search.

[@__Ryoto__]

Thomas, what's the difference between Flow Launcher and Wox? Are they the same thing or is one better?

[@Thomasfrank]

Flow Launcher seems more stable and is more actively developed. I was using Wox before, but it got booted off this list when it kept crashing on me. Otherwise they’re quite similar - most community plugins for FL are ports of Wox plugins.