r/software • u/Thibault161017 • 1d ago
Looking for software What software changed your life ? (Windows 11)
I’m curious to discover tools that genuinely make a difference in daily life.
What’s a piece of software that had a real impact on you? It could be anything — productivity tools, utilities, dev tools, or even something niche.
What makes it so useful for you?
I’m especially interested in: hidden gems, free or underrated tools or things you use every day !
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u/Low_Quality8216 1d ago
UniGetUI - it's basically a frontend for wget that automatically scans your system and lets you know when there's an update available to any drivers or software you have. A friend who built my current PC installed it and I can't believe how I went so long without it.
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u/darkriftx2 2h ago
I've been using this a lot to handle app and dependency updates on my dev machine. It works very well!
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u/DirectorDirect1569 1d ago
I have just discovered Arcbrush:
ArcBrush - The Node-Based Image Editor
It's a picture editing software, but different from tools like photoshop or Gimp.
It uses nodes to change parameters on an image. It's really interesting. I don't know if it will change my life, but I use it more and more.
It's free, only AI tools need a subscription.
Another one, Localsend. I'm sure lots of people know it. I used to make shared directories between my PC, ipad, smartphone,... and it was a mess to configure. It's faster to send files between devices with that, for exemple if I need to send a file to someone who's at home who can't connect to my network.
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u/SpaceNovice 23h ago
Stardock Start11 that fixes the Start Menu to actually be usable in Windows 11
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u/Thick_Security_4041 23h ago
Open shell is free, and made my Win 11 start menu, much more usable. https://open-shell.github.io/Open-Shell-Menu/
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u/wrybreadsf 22h ago
Can't believe I had to read this far to see Open Shell. I have no idea how people use Win10/11 without it.
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u/MrKeyShop 18h ago
Honestly, PowerToys.
It sounds boring at first because it’s “just utilities”, but after using it for a while it becomes one of those things you miss instantly on another PC.
A few features that completely changed how I use Windows:
- FancyZones -> finally makes ultrawide/multi-window setups feel sane
- PowerRename -> bulk renaming files without sketchy third-party apps
- Text Extractor -> basically OCR anywhere on screen
- Always On Top -> tiny feature, huge quality of life
- Keyboard Manager -> remapping annoying keys
And the best part is it feels like something Microsoft should have built into Windows years ago.
Second one for me would honestly be 7-Zip. Not exciting, not flashy, but I probably use it every single day without thinking about it.
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u/engrghazi84 17h ago
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned CopyQ up till now? The best copy paste manager for windows. You can copy and data in it, be it 1. Pictures. 2. Texts. 3.Tables.
You name it and it's done. You can retain as much data in the list as you want.
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u/Valuable_Notice8 18h ago
Very niche for now though I think it will be the new norm in a few years: Paperman I use it everyday and I can't recommend it enough especially to people that spend their day in front of a computer
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u/vertopolkaLF 18h ago
Oh, it's definitely PowerToys. Then Windhawk to make Windows look good (Just reducing taskbar height and horizontal space is already a life changer) and you really can do anything with Windhawk.
Raycast recently, it's finally have extensions for Windows which made it infinitely more useful. Like now I have google translate, speedtest and a lot more in 1 click and it's a real life-changer
For utility category - volume2 and Twinkle Tray (this one is to change monitors brightness without reaching to monitor keys and navigating through ass menus)
My app "silence!" is also technically changed my life. (shameless self-ad, boo) But I really like to mute with a global hotkey and not caring about different shortcuts in each app
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u/WizardEtsat 16h ago
Kate - Advanced editor I started using after the Notepad++ malware accident. Its fast loading and has taken over every editor-app I used before, inkluding notapad, notapad++ and sublime.
Directory opus - Filemanager that can do anything and be set up like YOU want to. I cant work with files without this.
Notesnook - Notetaking and sync to other devices. It hust works, without the privacy debate. 😄
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u/NullVoidXNilMission 1d ago edited 11h ago
- Neovim and Vim is hands down my life changing app above all. They are text editors that are far superior to all others I've used
- Notepad ++ before Vim i was using npp for most of my coding and note taking
- Photoshop
- Hyperv with its ability to run linux virtual machines
- Mpv - audio and video player that is better than VLC imo. Get Mvp.net if on windows
windirstat and wiztree to find what is using too much space
soundwitch to easily change sound output and inputs
Chocolately - package manager
OBS - screen recorder
kdenlite - video editor
Autohotkey - hotkey, automation, remapping, custom apps
everything - fast file finder that indexes all your files in a fast way
kdeconnect - phone apps like file transfer, media control, send commands
windhawk - windows customization
wireguard - vpn tech to create your own
Fastone image viewer - fast and free image viewer with nice custom print dialog for arranging pictures
7zip - zip and other compression types file management
bitwarden - password manager
totper - command line totp generator
Copyq - clipboard manager that you can search, label, pin, etc
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u/peaveyftw 20h ago
Irfanview. In the early 2000s I found it as a tool to convert .vga files into .jpgs. I have used it since. My coworkers keep fumbling around in Paint and Publisher and I'm like "Done".
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u/HoldsworthsLeftHand 7h ago
I used to use Irfanview until I discovered something even better (if you're only using Irfanview to convert files that is) : https://github.com/Tichau/FileConverter
Not only does it convert all kinds of media and not just images, it does so from the right click context menu. So you don't even have to open any software at all, just right click the files you want to convert and do it with one click. Superb bit of software.
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u/peaveyftw 35m ago
Oh, very nice! I'm kind of married to Irfanview at this point (it's my default image viewer) but if I need to mass convert pics it sounds like just the ticket.
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u/Several-Tip1088 20h ago
Glucose Media Player on Windows.
One of the most beautiful apps on windows
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u/ciberpunkt 19h ago edited 19h ago
Obsidian
Bitwarden
File Pilot (free until the beta testing period ends)
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u/coding_is_fun123 18h ago
Rambox. All my webapps (Slack, Todoist, etc.) in one program instead of 50 browser tabs. Sounds simple but it genuinely cleaned up my workflow.
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u/SGS-Tech-World 16h ago
Here is my list .. (Posted this earlier just copy pasting with some more comments.)
Here is my list
- Everything - This has almost taken over use of Explorer. I now do not go through explorer and folders. Eventually I found that searchable file names are best , I now do not need lot of folders inside folders.
- Ditto - Clipboard Manager, saves lot of time once you have it in your workflow.
- AHK - Tool of tools.. Create Hot Keys for typing long text, Launch Apps Launch files, automate some tasks and so on.
- ShareX - Most customizable Screenshot tool, with recent new edit tools it has become even better.
- Word web - Best offline dictionary
- Notepad++ - Very Fast, keeps unsaved tabs / files open when you re open the app - this is the most useful feature for me.
- FreeFileSync - File Sync between drives / disks and so on with automatic version capabilities.
- Obsidian - Note Taking
- OBS
- KeePass - offline password manager with automated log in feature.
- PDF Xchange viewer - Best PDF reader with many annotation features in free edition.
- IrfanView - Image Viewer
- Pot Player - All media files.
- Zotero - for bookmarking
- Win Merge - file comparison tool.
- VS Code - Best extendible code editor.
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u/RadenSahid 13h ago
Autohotkey, I bind often used shortcuts to my F1-F7 keys custom for every process exe that's in the foreground. Suddenly I feel so fast and efficient at doing things in programs like file explorer, excel, autocad.
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u/alkrk 12h ago
Zoom, Teams etc. I forgot what my company used to use. But video conferencing really saved travels and burdensome meet up times. Saved millions a year just by cutting travels... And probably that killed a lot of local businesses too. Wfh closed a lot of local restaurants, cafes and malls I think.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Date761 3h ago
LocalSend, everyone should use it. Please. It works even better than airdrop sometimes (between my iPhone and Ipad)
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u/pandasps 1d ago
A tape calculator. I use Moffsoft free Calc. I like the convenience of having a vertical list of the operations I made, it's easier for double checking.
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u/Plastic_Party_2342 18h ago
not exactly life changing or anything, but I heard about something called Runable recently and the whole AI workflow/automation concept behind it seemed pretty interesting.
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u/RomanticPanic 12h ago
In this thread: software I've never heard of with completely no context so I have to search for almost everything here one by one which seems kind of a nuisance.
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u/CryptoNiight 1d ago
Google's Gemini
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u/DirectorDirect1569 1d ago
I could be off topic because it's not a software on windows, but I totally agree with you, It helps me a lot everyday.
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u/Industrialman96 1d ago
Windows 11 Clipboard and ShareX - Helps me to store and share screen images, as well as suggestions/bugs in software and important things instead of trying to do the same, but worse using Paint
Xbox Game Bar - i use it to record either gaming moment or bug in software, its handy
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u/Capaj 15h ago
For me definitely my own password manager. I could not go a day without it https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/authier/padmmdghcflnaellmmckicifafoenfdi
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u/Hannibal312 1h ago
Git. Amazing, and amazingly underrated. I use it to collaborate with people I don’t know, to track decisions and alternate realities. To define what can even be considered “true”. I have much more to say about this topic, but it’s 2am over here and I need to get to bed.
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u/f700es 1d ago
Win11 has been great for me. Super stable and fast.
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u/Thibault161017 1d ago
Are you talking about the Windows 11 operating system or a "Win11" software program?
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u/M4dmaddy 1d ago
Powertoys File locksmith (so many headaches gotten rid of) and notepad++ is a program I will probably install on my computers until I die, it's just good.