PowerToys to Windows offers a set of tools that are necessary and almost mandatory for many. This tool is now receiving a new feature that wants to change the way we use apps. Crop & Lock is now available and can be used by everyone.
Proof of Microsoft's ability to create solutions with the community is clearly present in PowerToys. This is a series of tools that integrate with Windows and are fueled, debugged and improved by various programmers who submit their work to the software giant.
To demonstrate this union and creativity, another tool now appears. It's called "Crop and Lock" and, according to Microsoft, "lets you crop the current app into a smaller window or just create a thumbnail." Users just need to select the target window and press the shortcut to start cropping.
Crop and Lock has two modes, non-interactive thumbnail crop which is basically a live feed of the area you select that updates with the page. The other mode, “Reparent,” is a mode that Microsoft describes as more interactive, but may have compatibility issues with some apps.
after Install or update PowerToys, this tool is available immediately. Users then just need to choose the appropriate shortcut for the mode they want to use:
- Thumbnail: Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + T
- "Reparent": Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + R
Users should just make sure they select the application window they want to crop before using the shortcut. You can't just draw the area and then choose which app you want to use.
“Crop and Lock” is interesting for everyone who wants to create their own windows with their own dimensions for some area of the application. A good example of this is to create a browser window, containing only a few areas of the page that you want to monitor or control.
This is another excellent PowerToys tool that adds to an already well-stocked collection. The Crop & Lock feature is sure to grow and get better, giving you more control over your Windows apps.
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