Microsoft releases PowerToys update with Window Hopper utility

Window Hopper is activated with a default shortcut of Alt + backtick, which can be customized. It filters among multiple windows of the currently active app, such as several browser windows or Word documents, unlike Alt + Tab, which cycles through all running applications.

The update also refines existing tools. Command Palette gains a compact mode that expands as the user types; PowerDisplay can now adjust brightness on multiple monitors simultaneously; and Mouse Highlighter adds a ripple effect to clicks. The overall interface has been polished.

TechRadar notes that Window Hopper is a prime example of a PowerToys feature that could be integrated natively into Windows 11. The publication has argued that some utilities should be available directly in the operating system, since PowerToys remains little known among average users. Features like PowerDisplay were also cited as candidates. Since PowerToys is modular, users only activate the tools they need, and Microsoft could implement similar options as optional, disabled-by-default features in Windows 11.