Windows 11 Taskbar PowerToys
A new PowerToys taskbar add‑on for Windows 11 adds a command palette, quick app search, Winget integration and system monitoring — the early‑access tool promises faster context switching and easier app launches for heavy multitaskers. Microsoft plans broader improvements but the add‑on already shortens routine workflow tasks. (youtube.com)
PowerToys’ preview release that introduced the persistent Command Palette Dock shipped as part of PowerToys v0.98 in March 2026, with Microsoft documenting the new Dock alongside the Command Palette utility. (windowslatest.com) The Dock is built on the Windows AppBar API and intentionally reserves desktop space so other windows cannot overlap it, and current preview behavior does not allow dragging, resizing, or auto‑hide. (pureinfotech.com) Microsoft and reviewers note the Dock surfaces live telemetry (CPU, GPU, memory, network) alongside pinned items, and interactive metric tiles open richer animated graphs or jump to Task Manager. (techtrickz.com) Enabling the Dock requires PowerToys 0.98 (preview) and the option appears under System Tools → Command Palette; PowerToys itself can be installed or updated via WinGet using the CLI command shown in official installers (for example: winget install -e --id Microsoft.PowerToys). (techtrickz.com) The Command Palette includes a published extension model with Microsoft documentation for creating and submitting third‑party extensions to both the Microsoft Store and WinGet, allowing developers to add custom commands and integrations. (learn.microsoft.com) The keyboard shortcut to summon the Command Palette remains Win + Alt + Space, and Microsoft positions the palette as the successor to PowerToys Run with broader extensibility and workflow integrations. (learn.microsoft.com)
