Windows Handheld Compendium

If you just got a Windows-based handheld like e.g: Lenovo Legion Go, ASUS ROG Ally, MSI Claw, or you're just looking for apps that would make your Windows gaming experience more convenient, then you have found the right place!

Za
Zari37List by Zari37, last updated 
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  1. Game launchers

    Software for collecting, organizing and launching your games.

  2. Steam icon
     Like

    Leading distribution platform for PC that lets you buy, download, and manage your game library, with features like cloud saves, achievements, also including Steam Input for advanced controller remapping and gyro support, and Big Picture mode for a controller-friendly full-screen interface ideal for couch or handheld gaming.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • SteamOS
    • Snapcraft
    Steam Store
    Steam Community
    Library
    +1
    Big Picture Mode
  3. Another great launcher which mission is focusing at preserving the older titles in compatibility with modern OS and without DRMs. GOG can also unify the libraries of games from Steam and other launchers.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    GOG GALAXY screenshot 1
  4. Playnite icon
     Like

    Playnite is an open-source game library manager that unifies games from multiple platforms (Steam, GOG, Epic, and others) into a single interface, with a full-screen mode especially useful at handhelds.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Playnite screenshot 1
    Playnite screenshot 1
    Playnite screenshot 2
    +1
    Playnite screenshot 3
  5. EmuDeck icon
     Like

    EmuDeck is an all-in-one emulation setup tool that automatically installs and configures multiple emulators (RPCS3, PCSX2, Yuzu, and others) with optimized settings, saving you from manual configuration.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • SteamOS
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    EmuDeck screenshot 1
    EmuDeck screenshot 1
  6. Cloud and remote gaming services

    Your device can utilize the streaming services to play the newest or more demanding games on ultra graphics settings, wherever you have a stable network connection!

  7. GeForce Now is a cloud service that streams games you already own on platforms like Steam or Epic Games to any device, running them on Nvidia's remote servers instead of your local hardware.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Online
    • Tizen OS
    GeForce NOW screenshot 1
    GeForce NOW screenshot 1
    GeForce NOW screenshot 2
  8. Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) is Microsoft's cloud gaming service included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate that lets you stream a large catalog of games directly to any device without needing to download or own them.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Xbox
    • Fire TV
    Xbox Cloud Gaming screenshot 1
    Xbox Cloud Gaming screenshot 1
    Xbox Cloud Gaming screenshot 2
    +2
    Xbox Cloud Gaming screenshot 3
  9. Parsec icon
     Like

    Parsec is a low-latency remote desktop and game streaming application that lets you connect to another PC and play games on it from anywhere, also enabling local co-op games to be played online with friends.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Computers tab - Your and friends' computers
    Parsec while connected to a game
  10. Moonlight is an open-source game streaming client that lets you stream games from your Nvidia GeForce-enabled PC to another device over your local network or the internet.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • HP webOS
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Apple TV
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Xbox
    • Tizen OS
    Moonlight Game Streaming screenshot 1
    Moonlight Game Streaming screenshot 1
    Moonlight Game Streaming screenshot 2
    +3
    Moonlight Game Streaming screenshot 3
  11. Chiaki icon
     Like

    Chiaki is a free and open-source remote play client for PS4 and PS5 that lets you stream and play PlayStation games on Windows, Linux, Android, and other platforms — serving as an alternative to Sony's official Remote Play app with support for more devices.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Chiaki screenshot 1
  12. System management software

    The essential software that will help you with regular system management activities like handling the archives, removing software, cleaning, cloning the disk and improving the Windows sleep/hibernate feature, etc.

  13. 7-Zip icon
     Like

    Efficient file archiver offering superior compression and encryption. Supports multiple formats such as TAR, ZIP, with a unique self-extracting feature.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • ReactOS
    Main Window
    Add to Archive
    Options
  14. TreeSize icon
     Like

    Analyze disk space usage with in-depth insights and interactive visualizations across local and network drives, including mobile devices' and is a very popular disk usage analyzer in the system & hardware category.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    The main window is split into the file system tree on the left and the details view on the right.
    Details view offers valuable information about the disk usage like the folder size, the disk space wasted due to the file system structure, the last access date, the NTFS compression rate and the owner.
    The tree map is an hierarchical chart visualizing the size of all subfolders.
    +5
    Treesize Professional can scan Mobile Devices via MTP
  15. Full-featured partition manager. It also lets you edit UEFI entries with ease, so if you want to install a different bootloader like Clover, DiskGenius can help set it up quickly. You can clone the disk if you want to change the SSD without data loss.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Apple TV
    Main Window
    Create New Partition
    Right Click on a Partition
    +6
    Format Partition
  16. Everything is a lightweight desktop search tool for Windows that indexes file and folder names almost instantly and lets you find any file on your drives in real time as you type.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Locate files and folders by name instantly.
  17. SuperF4 icon
     Like

    SuperF4 is a lightweight utility that instantly force-kills the active foreground application with Ctrl+Alt+F4, bypassing Windows' standard close request that unresponsive programs can ignore — useful as a quick alternative to opening Task Manager.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
  18. Nyrna icon
     Like

    Suspend your game at any time, and resume whenever you wish - at the push of a button. You can save some resources on demand from apps working in background. Check also Windows Hibernate feature to preserve working games and software.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Nyrna screenshot 1
  19. ShareX icon
     Like

    ShareX is a free and open-source screen capture and recording tool that supports screenshots, scrolling capture, screen recording, and a wide range of post-capture workflows like annotation, uploading, and OCR.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • Steam
    Main window
    ShareX screenshot 1
    ShareX screenshot 2
    +29
    ShareX screenshot 3
  20. System and devices tweaking

    Tweak some of annoying Windows features, or improve the devices that need a fine-tuning, like on-board speakers!

  21. FxSound icon
     Like

    Free and open-source software to boost sound quality, volume, and bass. Including an equalizer, effects, and presets for customized audio.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Menu
    Settings
  22. Winaero Tweaker is a universal tweaker software for each modern Windows OS. You can with it e.g. Disable Microsoft's telemetry, Disable ads and unwanted app installation, To launch an app as Administrator without a UAC confirmation, and many many more.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Winaero Tweaker screenshot 1
    Winaero Tweaker screenshot 1
    Winaero Tweaker screenshot 2
    +2
    Winaero Tweaker screenshot 3
  23. Sometimes the build-in Windows On-Screen Keyboard acts rather unpleasant.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Free Virtual Keyboard screenshot 1
  24. Handheld management

    Windows without Xbox Fullscreen Experience is not so gamepad friendly. These apps will help you to tame the controls, performance and manage all the important settings in one place, even in-game.

  25. Handheld Companion is an application designed for Windows-based handhelds that provides a controller overlay with gyro support, TDP and GPU clock management, per-game profiles, and a Steam Deck-like on-screen menu accessible during gameplay.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    You can create a profile for all your games or apps, pin up the favorite ones, change the appearance of the cover, manage the layout of the list and launch games through the interface.
    The cover and look of the profile can be customized utilizing SteamGrid and IGDB libraries.
    Controller mapping lets you create, modify, save and export an in-depth mapping for each game.
    +10
    Performance overlay can be customized in-game through the quicktools widget.
  26. Lightweight CPU/GPU tuning software, alternative to Ryzen Master app.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • SteamOS
    Universal x86 Tuning Utility screenshot 1
    Universal x86 Tuning Utility screenshot 1
  27. G-Helper icon
     Like

    Lightweight alternative to Armoury Crate, performance and settings management app specifically for ROG Ally devices.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    G-Helper screenshot 1
    G-Helper screenshot 1
  28. Gaming experience software

    Some older or newer, demanding games may require a touch of magic to work properly, or to work whatsoever.

  29. Versatile tool designed to enhance your gaming experience by allowing you to play games in borderless-fullscreen mode. This mode combines the benefits of both fullscreen and windowed modes, providing a seamless and interruption-free gaming session.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Steam
    Borderless Gaming screenshot 1
    Borderless Gaming screenshot 1
    Borderless Gaming screenshot 2
  30. This app is scaling windowed games to full screen using state-of-the-art spatial scaling algorithms, sharpening algorithms and machine learning. It can help you achieve much better framerate in more demanding titles.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Steam
    Dark Mode
    Settings
    Upscaling Modes
    +2
    Main Interface
  31. Custom Resolution Utility (CRU) is a tool that lets you define custom resolutions and refresh rates for your monitor by directly editing its EDID data, bypassing driver limitations.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
  32. Magpie icon
     Like

    Magpie is a lightweight tool that upscales any window using algorithms like FSR, Anime4K, or Lanczos — useful for forcing upscaling on games that don't natively support it. Free alternative to Lossless Scaling.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Magpie screenshot 1
  33. dgVoodoo icon
     Like

    dgVoodoo2 is a wrapper that translates old graphics APIs (Glide, DirectX 1–9) to modern Direct3D 11/12, fixing compatibility issues and enabling features like forced resolution or MSAA in legacy Windows games.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    dgVoodoo screenshot 1
  34. DXVK icon
     Like

    DXVK is a translation layer that converts Direct3D (DX9/10/11) calls to Vulkan, which on Windows can improve performance in older games by leveraging a more modern graphics API. Also check DxWrapper.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Wine
  35. Xbox App icon
     Like

    Stay connected to the Xbox Live community, see what your friends are playing, share game clips and screenshots, and view achievements across. Install and play games utilizing the Xbox Play Anywhere feature, or stream them with Cloud Gaming.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Xbox App screenshot 1
    Xbox App screenshot 1
    Xbox App screenshot 2
    +4
    Compact Mode for Handhelds
  36. You can manage your Xbox and Windows settings, record clips, all while being in-game. Supports some great widgets like GoTweaks.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
  37. Game modding

    Your Windows device can handle the regular, non-Steam Workshop modding. Sky is the limit!

  38. Vortex icon
     Like

    Dedicated Nexus Mods software. It can manage the mods arranged in profiles or collections that may be exported from the site.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Vortex screenshot 1
    Vortex screenshot 1
    Vortex screenshot 2
    +1
    Vortex screenshot 3
  39. External, open-source solution to install and organize mods for many different titles.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Mod Organizer 2 screenshot 1
    Mod Organizer 2 screenshot 1
    Mod Organizer 2 screenshot 2
  40. Useful sites

    Treasure grove of knowledge, tweaks and mods.

  41. Wikipedia for all things PC gaming. You will find here any PC game you can imagine, with tips, tweaks, compatibility troubleshooting and mods. Check this site if you want to play some older games that may or may be not compatible with modern screens, or OS.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    PCGamingWiki Homepage in October 2019
  42. The Nexus Sites are a large network of community driven websites that support the free and open sharing of video game mods and downloadable content in a welcoming environment.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Linux
    Nexus Mods screenshot 1
    Nexus Mods screenshot 1
    Nexus Mods screenshot 2
  43. Mod DB icon
     Like

    The largest website dedicated to supporting independent development of games including user generated game content, mods, addons and DLC. The aim of Mod DB is to unite developers, players and their ideas, empowering them to shape the games we play.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Mod DB screenshot 1
    Mod DB screenshot 1
  44. MyAbandonware is a website that archives and offers free downloads of old games from the 1980s and 1990s for platforms like DOS, Windows, Amiga, and various consoles, preserving titles that are no longer commercially available.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    Homepage
  45. SteamDB icon
     Like

    SteamDB is an unofficial database and tracking tool for Steam that lets you browse detailed information about games, monitor price history and sales, track player counts, and inspect technical details of Steam apps and packages.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • Google Chrome
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Steam
    SteamDB screenshot 1
    SteamDB screenshot 1
    SteamDB screenshot 2
    +3
    SteamDB screenshot 3

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