Free Windows apps worth installing

Small, free tools that cover everyday jobs Windows doesn't handle well on its own. Every one is free with no subscription, and all but Everything are open source.

1. 1

   7-Zip

   Free file archiver that packs and unpacks 7z, ZIP, TAR and many other archive formats.

   Opens almost any archive and makes 7z and ZIP files. Free for any use, including at work, with no registration. It can unpack RAR files but not create them.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try 7-Zip (opens the 7-Zip website in a new tab)Read our take
2. 2

   Everything

   Free Windows file search tool that finds files and folders by name almost instantly.

   Finds files and folders by name almost instantly, and the index updates in real time. It searches names, not what's inside your files.

   • Free
   Try Everything (opens the Everything website in a new tab)Read our take
3. 3

   Microsoft PowerToys

   Free Microsoft collection of Windows utilities such as FancyZones, PowerToys Run and PowerRename.

   Microsoft's own free bundle of over 30 utilities, such as window layouts, bulk renaming and key remapping. Install it and switch on only the ones you need.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try Microsoft PowerToys (opens the Microsoft PowerToys website in a new tab)Read our take
4. 4

   ShareX

   Free open-source Windows tool for screenshots, screen recording and uploading captures.

   Screenshots of a region, a window or a scrolling page, plus screen and GIF recording, with no ads or account. It has a lot of options, so expect to spend a little time setting it up.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try ShareX (opens the ShareX website in a new tab)Read our take
5. 5

   Notepad++

   Free source code editor for Windows, built on Scintilla, that can replace Windows Notepad.

   A fast text and code editor that can replace Windows Notepad, with support for many programming languages. It's an editor, not a full development environment.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try Notepad++ (opens the Notepad++ website in a new tab)Read our take
6. 6

   VLC media player

   Free, open-source player that plays most video and audio files, discs and network streams.

   Plays most video and audio files, DVDs and network streams without hunting for codecs. Its site states no spyware, no ads and no user tracking.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try VLC media player (opens the VLC media player website in a new tab)Read our take
7. 7

   Sumatra PDF

   Free, small Windows reader for PDF, ebook and comic files, with a portable version.

   A small reader for PDFs, ebooks and comics, with a portable version that runs from a USB drive. It reads files but doesn't edit them.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try Sumatra PDF (opens the Sumatra PDF website in a new tab)Read our take
8. 8

   HandBrake

   Free open-source video transcoder that converts video to MP4, MKV or WebM with device presets.

   Converts video to MP4, MKV or WebM with ready-made presets for phones and other devices. It can't process copy-protected DVDs or Blu-rays.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try HandBrake (opens the HandBrake website in a new tab)Read our take
9. 9

   Rufus

   Free Windows utility that formats USB drives and creates bootable USB media from ISO images.

   Turns an ISO file into a bootable USB drive, for example to install Windows or Linux. No installation needed; it runs on Windows 8 or later.

   • Free
   • Open source
   Try Rufus (opens the Rufus website in a new tab)Read our take
10. 10

    qBittorrent

    Free open-source BitTorrent client with a built-in search engine and web interface.

    A BitTorrent client with no ads, a built-in search engine and a web interface. Use it for files you have the right to download, such as Linux ISOs.

    • Free
    • Open source
    Try qBittorrent (opens the qBittorrent website in a new tab)Read our take