> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/microsoft/powertoys/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# PowerToys Run

> A quick launcher for Windows that helps you search and launch applications, files, and execute commands instantly.

PowerToys Run is a fast, keyboard-driven launcher that helps you search your machine and the web instantly. Activate it with a keyboard shortcut to search for applications, files, folders, execute calculations, and more using a plugin-based architecture.

## Activation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Default Activation">
    Press `Alt + Space` to open PowerToys Run from anywhere in Windows.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Customize Shortcut">
    Open PowerToys Settings > PowerToys Run > Activation shortcut to configure your preferred hotkey.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  PowerToys Run must be enabled in PowerToys Settings for the activation shortcut to work.
</Note>

## Core Features

### Global and Direct Query Modes

PowerToys Run supports two query modes:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Global Query">
    Search across all enabled plugins without using action keywords:

    ```
    notepad
    ```

    Results from all plugins (Programs, Folder, Indexer) are combined.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Direct Query">
    Use an action keyword to target a specific plugin:

    ```
    = 2 + 2
    < chrome
    ? localhost:3000
    ```

    Only the targeted plugin returns results.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Search Position Options

<Accordion title="Window Positioning">
  Configure where PowerToys Run appears on screen:

  * **Primary Monitor**: Always appears on the primary display
  * **Cursor Position**: Appears on the monitor containing the mouse cursor
  * **Focus**: Appears on the monitor with the currently focused window

  Enable "Remember last launch location" to pin the window position.
</Accordion>

### Search Performance

<Accordion title="Search Input Delay Settings">
  PowerToys Run implements throttled search for better performance:

  * **Fast results delay**: Default 150ms - shows quick results from lightweight plugins
  * **Full results delay**: Default 300ms - executes all plugin queries including slower ones
  * **Disable delay**: Set "Search query results with delay" to off for instant search

  From source `/src/modules/launcher/PowerLauncher/MainWindow.xaml.cs:273-277`:

  ```csharp theme={null}
  .Throttle(TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(_settings.SearchInputDelayFast))
  .Do(@event => Dispatcher.InvokeAsync(() => PerformSearchQuery((TextBox)@event.Sender, false, @event)))
  .Throttle(TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(_settings.SearchInputDelay))
  .Do(@event => Dispatcher.InvokeAsync(() => PerformSearchQuery((TextBox)@event.Sender, true, @event)))
  ```
</Accordion>

## Built-in Plugins

PowerToys Run includes 20 built-in plugins. Each can be enabled/disabled independently.

### Calculator Plugin

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Action Keyword" icon="equals">
    `=`
  </Card>

  <Card title="Global Query" icon="check">
    Enabled
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

**Examples:**

<CodeGroup>
  ```text Direct Query theme={null}
  = 2 + 2
  = sqrt(144)
  = sin(pi/2)
  = 0x2A + 0b101010
  ```

  ```text Global Query theme={null}
  2 + 2
  100 * 0.15
  pi * 4^2
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<Accordion title="Calculator Features">
  * Supports basic arithmetic, trigonometric functions, logarithms
  * Hexadecimal (`0x`) and binary (`0b`) number formats
  * Trigonometry modes: Radians (default), Degrees, Gradians
  * Constants: `pi`, `e`
  * Input/output format options (English vs. locale-specific)
  * Replace input mode: Type `=` at end to replace query with result

  Plugin ID: `CEA0FDFC6D3B4085823D60DC76F28855`
</Accordion>

### Program Plugin

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Action Keyword" icon="dot-circle">
    `.`
  </Card>

  <Card title="Global Query" icon="check">
    Enabled
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Searches installed applications, Win32 programs, and UWP apps.

**Examples:**

```
chrome
vscode
. calculator
```

Plugin ID: `791FC278BA414111B8D1886DFE447410`

### Window Walker Plugin

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Action Keyword" icon="less-than">
    `<`
  </Card>

  <Card title="Global Query" icon="check">
    Enabled
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

Search and switch between open windows.

**Examples:**

```
< browser
< untitled
code
```

Plugin ID: `F737A9223560B3C6833B5FFB8CDF78E5`

### Shell Plugin

Execute shell commands directly.

**Examples:**

```
> ipconfig /all
> dir C:\Users
> netstat -an
```

### Folder & Indexer Plugins

Search for files and folders using Windows Search index.

**Examples:**

```
report.docx
C:\Projects\PowerToys
%APPDATA%
```

### URI Plugin

Open URLs and URIs directly.

**Examples:**

```
https://github.com
file:///C:/temp/test.html
mailto:example@email.com
```

### Unit Converter Plugin

Convert between units of measurement.

**Examples:**

```
100 cm to inches
5 kg to lbs
32 fahrenheit to celsius
```

### Value Generator Plugin

Generate UUIDs, GUIDs, hashes, and base64 encoding.

**Examples:**

```
uuid
guid
md5 hello world
base64 encode test
```

### VS Code Workspaces Plugin

Quickly open VS Code workspaces and remote SSH connections.

### System Plugin

Execute system commands.

**Examples:**

```
shutdown
restart
lock
sleep
empty recycle bin
```

### Time & Date Plugin

Display current time, convert timestamps, and manage timezones.

**Examples:**

```
time
date
timestamp
unix 1234567890
```

### Windows Settings Plugin

Quickly access Windows Settings pages.

**Examples:**

```
settings display
settings bluetooth
settings wifi
```

### Windows Terminal Plugin

Open Windows Terminal profiles directly.

### History Plugin

View and re-execute previous PowerToys Run queries.

### Registry Plugin

Navigate to registry keys.

**Examples:**

```
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
HKLM\System
```

### Service Plugin

Search and manage Windows services.

**Examples:**

```
service windows update
service print spooler
```

### OneNote Plugin

Search and open OneNote notebooks and pages.

### PowerToys Plugin

Quickly access PowerToys utilities and settings.

### Web Search Plugin

Search the web using configured search engines.

## Advanced Features

### Context Menu Actions

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Keyboard">
    Use arrow keys to navigate results:

    * `↑` `↓` Navigate results
    * `←` `→` Navigate context menu actions
    * `Enter` Execute selected action
    * `Tab` Cycle through results
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Mouse">
    * Click result to execute default action
    * Right-click or hover to show context menu
    * Drag files from results to other applications
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Accordion title="File Drag & Drop">
  PowerToys Run supports dragging file results to other applications. From source code (`MainWindow.xaml.cs:349-378`):

  * Detects `IFileDropResult` context data
  * Creates drag data object with file path
  * Generates thumbnail as drag image
  * Supports standard drag-drop operations
</Accordion>

### Auto-Complete

PowerToys Run shows auto-complete suggestions based on the selected result. The gray text after your query indicates the full match.

### Plugin Overview

When PowerToys Run opens with an empty query, it displays an overview of available plugins with their action keywords.

<Tip>
  Navigate the plugin overview with `↑` `↓` or `Tab` keys, then press `Enter` to start a query with that plugin's action keyword.
</Tip>

## Configuration

### Global Settings

<Steps>
  <Step title="Maximum Results">
    Configure how many results to display (default: 4, max: 16).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Clear Input">
    Choose whether to clear the previous query when opening PowerToys Run.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Hide on Deactivate">
    Automatically hide when focus is lost (enabled by default).
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Per-Plugin Settings

Each plugin can be:

* Enabled or disabled
* Configured with custom action keywords
* Set to global mode or direct query only
* Given plugin-specific settings (varies by plugin)

<Warning>
  Disabling all plugins will make PowerToys Run non-functional. Keep at least one plugin enabled.
</Warning>

## Keyboard Shortcuts

| Shortcut                | Action                                |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| `Alt + Space`           | Open/Close PowerToys Run (default)    |
| `Esc`                   | Close PowerToys Run                   |
| `↑` `↓`                 | Navigate results                      |
| `←` `→`                 | Navigate context menu                 |
| `Enter`                 | Execute selected result               |
| `Tab` / `Shift + Tab`   | Cycle through results                 |
| `Page Up` / `Page Down` | Jump through results                  |
| `Ctrl + C`              | Copy result (when supported)          |
| `Ctrl + Shift + Enter`  | Run as administrator (when supported) |
| `Backspace` (hold)      | Clear input                           |

## Use Cases

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Quick Calculations">
    Use PowerToys Run as a calculator without opening a separate app:

    * Convert units: `100 usd to eur`
    * Calculate tips: `= 45.50 * 0.18`
    * Hexadecimal: `= 0xFF + 256`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Developer Workflows">
    * Generate UUIDs for code
    * Encode/decode base64 strings
    * Open project folders quickly
    * Launch VS Code workspaces
    * Open terminal profiles
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="System Administration">
    * Manage Windows services
    * Execute shell commands
    * Navigate registry
    * Access Windows Settings
    * Lock, shutdown, restart
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Window Management">
    * Switch between open windows by name
    * Find windows across virtual desktops
    * Access applications by typing partial names
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Performance Optimization

<Tip>
  If PowerToys Run feels slow, try these optimizations:

  1. Disable plugins you don't use (especially Indexer on slow drives)
  2. Reduce the search delay to 0ms for instant results
  3. Limit the maximum number of results
  4. Disable "Include in global result" for resource-intensive plugins
</Tip>

## Telemetry

PowerToys Run collects anonymous usage telemetry:

* Activation count and timing (cold/warm state)
* Plugin enabled/disabled state
* First delete event (to measure discoverability)

From source `MainWindow.xaml.cs:100-121`, `MainWindow.xaml.cs:806-814`.

## Source Code

Location: `/src/modules/launcher/`

* Main window: `PowerLauncher/MainWindow.xaml.cs`
* Plugin manager: Plugin system in `/launcher/Plugins/`
* View model: `ViewModel/MainViewModel.cs`