#Microsoft PowerToys Gets Video Conference Mute Tool, at Last

Microsoft has released a new update for PowerToys, and it brings the Video Conference Mute we’ve been waiting for. It also adds a mouse utility and a refreshed PowerRename UI that looks more like the rest of Windows 11.

Windows power users love Microsoft PowerToys because it adds lots of great functionality to their operating system. Whenever there’s a new update, it’s fun to see exactly what Microsoft will add and how it’ll change the way we use our computers.

In the latest update, Microsoft has made some significant changes, the most notable is the Video Conference Mute. With so many of us relying on virtual meetings to do our jobs nowadays, having a convenient tool to hide a webcam and mute a mic is worthwhile.

Microsoft describes the feature as providing the ability to “Quickly mute your microphone (audio) and turn off your camera (video) with a single keystroke while on a conference call, regardless of what application has focus on your computer.”

While the feature is being added to the stable release of PowerTools in version 0.49.0, it’s not quite ready for primetime. Microsoft says, “As Video Conference Mute becomes available in the stable releases, there are still known bugs that we are actively working to address. These bugs are tracked on our GitHub, and we welcome any and all feedback as we work to isolate and resolve the cause.”

The new mouse utility tool allows you to quickly find your mouse position by double-pressing the left control key. Microsoft says this is “ideal for large, high-resolution displays and low-vision users.”

There’s plenty of other nifty goodies in the latest version of PowerToys, and you can check out the changelog on Github to get the full breakdown.