Performance Improvements in PowerToys 0.92: Speed Test and Windows 11 24H2 Default Browser Fix

Microsoft has officially launched the latest iteration of PowerToys, designated as version 0.92. This update introduces a useful toggle feature, granting users the ability to add the application to the system tray easily. Alongside this enhancement, performance improvements have been made to the Command Palette, thanks to optimizations in ahead-of-time (AoT) compilation. Microsoft emphasizes that this update brings compatibility upgrades for all first-party extensions, enhanced extensibility, and important core UX fixes, leading to enhanced performance and stability across various commands.

In addition to PowerToys, the. NET libraries have been upgraded to version 9.0.6, contributing to overall performance enhancements. The Windows App SDK has also received an update to version 1.7.2, promising greater stability for users.

The updated PowerToys Run now includes a Speed Test feature powered by Ookla’s Speedtest CLI, which allows users to gauge their internet connection speeds, a capability we had anticipated based on earlier announcements.

Key Features of PowerToys 0.92

The settings menu now features a toggle for displaying the system tray icon, allowing users to customize its visibility to suit their preferences.
The Command Palette has been enhanced with improved AoT compatibility for first-party extensions, along with better extensibility and core UX fixes for improved performance and stability in command operations.
The Color Picker now offers customizable actions for mouse buttons, fostering personalized workflows by enabling users to assign specific functions to left, right, and middle clicks.
The Bug Report Tool has been revamped to ensure a more efficient reporting process with features like progress indicators, enhanced log compression, automatic cleanup of old trace logs, and integration of MSIX installer logs for better diagnostics.
File Explorer add-ons have seen improvements in rendering stability, addressing issues with PDF previews, blank thumbnails, and preventing crashes associated with text files during browsing.

Enhancements in the Command Palette

Performance enhancements have resolved page loading regressions.
Unified hotkey handling for all Command Palette commands ensures a smoother user experience.
Improvements have been made for the graceful closure of the Command Palette.
Consistency issues concerning extension aliases are addressed, allowing for better localization understanding for “Direct”and “Indirect”.
Visual clarity has been enhanced by properly styling critical context items.
Focus is now automatically directed to the input field when only one is present on the content page.
Stability and efficiency have been improved when loading file icons in SDK ThumbnailHelper.cs through the removal of unnecessary processes.

Updates for Command Palette Extensions

Resolved outdated results in the Time & Date extension.
Fixed a bug causing Web Search to default to Microsoft Edge rather than the user’s specified default browser on Windows 11 24H2 and subsequent versions.
Introduced a “Restart Windows Explorer”command within the Windows System Commands provider, allowing for a graceful termination and relaunch of explorer.exe.

To access the latest update, visit the official GitHub repository for Microsoft PowerToys, where you can also find the complete changelog detailing all modifications and enhancements.

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