Windows Essentials

Essential applications for Windows OS. They're the first applications to be installed on any new machine I'm starting to use.

Dawid Ferenczy
Dawid FerenczyList by Dawid Ferenczy, last updated 
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  1. XnView MP icon
     Like

    Comprehensive photo management software for viewing, batch converting, editing and resizing images and creating thumbnail sheets.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    XnView MP screenshot 1
    XnView MP screenshot 1
    XnView MP screenshot 2
  2. Rapid Environment Editor (RapidEE) is an environment variables editor. It includes an easy to use GUI and replaces the small and inconvenient Windows edit box.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Rapid Environment Editor screenshot 1
  3. Vivaldi icon
     Like

    Highly customizable browser with built-in ad and tracker blockers, Chromium compatibility, advanced tab management, cross-device sync, and strong privacy features.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Android Auto
    • Flathub
    The only web browser powerful enough for you!
    Vivaldi on desktop Welcome screen
    Vivaldi on desktop Speed Dial
    +38
    Vivaldi v7.0 on desktop
Dashboard
  4. App that unifies Backup and Sync, which was built primarily for consumer users, and Drive File Stream, which was built for business users.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Google Drive for Desktop screenshot 1
  5. SpeedCrunch is a free, fast, high precision open source algebraic calculator with an intuitive interface and many features, such as variables, syntax highlighting, functions, persistent input history & more.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    Dark Mode
    A built-in formula book allows to you to review and insert commonly used formulas, such as the volume of a cone.
    on kde
    +2
    on mac osx
  6. Atom icon
     Like

    Atom is an open-source, Electron icon Electron based text editor with a massive ecosystem of plugins and themes that are easily accessible through a built-in package manager. Being built with Electron, it uses web technology (HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Node.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • Electron / Atom Shell
    Intro screen
    Command palette
    Choose from scores of community made themes
    +2
    Project view
  7. KeePass icon
     Like

    Free and open source password manager storing passwords in a local encrypted database with strong AES or Twofish encryption and master key access.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Mono
    Entry Templates Plugin
    Main window
    Login Screen
    +5
    Built-in Password Generator
  8. Listary icon
     Like

    Listary is a revolutionary search utility for Windows that makes finding your files and launching applications blazing fast, for casual and power users alike!.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • File Explorer
    Global Search
    Web Search
    Listary screenshot 2
    +1
    General Settings
  9. Comprehensive file manager with built-in FTP, file compare, archive navigation, multi-rename tool with regular expression support, and side-by-side windows.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Total Commander screenshot 1
    Total Commander screenshot 1
    Total Commander screenshot 2
    +1
    Total Commander screenshot 3
  10. The Sysinternals Troubleshooting Utilities have been rolled up into a single Suite of tools. This file contains the individual troubleshooting tools and help files. It does not contain non-troubleshooting tools like the BSOD Screen Saver or NotMyFault.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Sysinternals Suite screenshot 1
    Sysinternals Suite screenshot 1
    Sysinternals Suite screenshot 2
  11. Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start menu to modern versions of Microsoft Windows.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Open Shell screenshot 1
    Open Shell screenshot 1
    Open Shell screenshot 2
    +2
    Open Shell screenshot 3
  12. The simplest and fastest ALT-TAB replacement.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Switcheroo screenshot 1
    Switcheroo screenshot 1
    Switcheroo screenshot 2
    +1
    Switcheroo screenshot 3
  13. This compact utility displays real-time CPU, RAM and disk drives usage meters right on the taskbar notification area, or next to the system clock, that is always visible.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    System tray info
    CPU Information
    Settings
    +3
    About
  14. CLCL icon
     Like

    CLCL is clipboard caching utility.

    • All clipboard formats are supported.
    • Template can be registered.
    • Pop-up menu is displayed by "Alt+C."
    • Menu can be customized.
    • Item is paste automatically.
    • Picture is displayed on a menu.
    • Tool.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    CLCL screenshot 1
  15. HotKeyP icon
     Like

    You can assign a keyboard shortcut, a mouse shortcut or a joystick shortcut to any executable file, document, folder or WWW page. You can also use all multimedia keys, the fourth and fifth mouse buttons and a remote control (if you install WinLIRC).

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    HotKeyP screenshot 1
  16. clink icon
     Like

    Clink enhances your productivity in Microsoft Windows' "cmd.exe". If you're familiar with Bash then you will be familiar with the changes that clink brings to "cmd.exe" (it uses the same 'Readline' library that Bash uses). It is a small utility.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    clink screenshot 1
  17. ConEmu icon
     Like

    Windows console emulator with tabs, which presents multiple consoles and simple GUI applications as one customizable GUI window with various features.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    ConEmu screenshot 1
    ConEmu screenshot 1
    Alpha transparency in ConEmu
    +2
    Windows 7 Jump list
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