Every Windows User Must Install These 5 Essential Apps is the central idea of this guide, because these five tools truly improve the Windows experience. If you want your PC to run faster, feel smoother, and help you work more efficiently, these apps can instantly transform your daily workflow. Many people rely only on the default Windows programs or a few familiar apps, but the Windows ecosystem offers far more than that. With the right software, you can unlock new features and boost your productivity.
Windows offers thousands of applications—free, paid, open-source, and commercial. Some are available through the Microsoft Store, while others are scattered across different platforms online. This makes discovering quality software difficult, and most users end up sticking with Chrome, VLC, or basic built-in tools. But there are much better alternatives that can speed up your system, enhance Windows features, and simplify your tasks.
Below are five essential Windows apps that every user should seriously consider installing. Each one fills gaps in Windows or improves everyday tasks.
1. Everything – Ultra-Fast File Search
Windows’ built-in search is slow, heavy, and often frustrating. Indexing takes too much time, and results come late. Everything, a completely free tool, replaces the default search experience with incredible speed. It indexes only file and folder names, allowing it to scan millions of files in seconds.
You can enable content search if needed, and it also supports advanced search operators, wildcards, and network drive indexing. For anyone who constantly searches for files, Everything feels like a must-have upgrade.
2. Flow Launcher – Spotlight-Style Launcher for Windows
For users who want a fast, universal launcher, Flow Launcher brings macOS Spotlight-like speed to Windows. With a simple shortcut like Alt + Space, you can open apps, search files, check bookmarks, run commands, perform calculations, or make quick web searches.
It becomes even faster when combined with Everything indexing. With customizable themes and hundreds of community plugins—like Steam search, GitHub notifications, or Obsidian tools—it’s one of the most powerful open-source launchers available.
3. NanaZip – A Modern Alternative to Windows Compression
If you often work with archive files, Windows’ built-in compression tools can feel limited. NanaZip, a modern fork of 7-Zip, offers a refreshed interface and support for many more formats.
You can create ZIP, 7z, TAR, GZ, XZ, and other archives, while also opening RAR, ISO, and WIM files. It integrates with the right-click menu, supports dark mode, offers strong encryption, and compresses large files more efficiently than standard Windows tools.
4. Microsoft PowerToys – A Toolbox of Advanced Windows Features
Microsoft PowerToys is a collection of powerful utilities designed for Windows users who want more control and customization. Instead of installing a dozen separate apps, PowerToys offers them all in one package.
Popular PowerToys tools include:
- Command Palette – A quick launcher similar to Flow Launcher
- PowerRename – Rename hundreds of files at once
- FancyZones – Create custom window layouts
- Peek – Preview files instantly
- Always on Top – Keep any window pinned
If you want Windows to feel more flexible and powerful, PowerToys is essential.
5. Ferdium – All Your Web Apps in One Window
We all use many web apps daily—messaging, productivity tools, social platforms, work dashboards—and switching between tabs quickly becomes chaotic. Ferdium, an open-source fork of Franz, organizes all your apps into one clean interface.
You can switch between services easily, run multiple accounts of the same app, create workspaces, or add custom services. It also includes a to-do list, password lock options, and optional cloud sync for your settings.
