A List of Must-Have Windows Software That I Personally Use

With great programs recommendations scattered over more than one hundred posts, I decided to list every software for Windows PCs that everyone should try in a single place .

This is powerful stuff I use. All the programs below are installed on my laptop right now.

Take five minutes to check every single program on this list. Really. They are amazing. I bet you will discover a new personal favorite.

So, let’s cut to the chase, and start with the list.

Driver Booster

Useful for: Performance/Troubleshooting

What it does: Ensure that all your hardware devices run perfectly by updating all outdated drivers at once.

Why it matters:

• Outdated or wrong drivers are the reason for 60-70% of hardware-related issues.
• Windows and other driver updaters only update one driver at once; Driver Booster updates multiple drivers at once even in the Free version.

ExplorerPatcher

Useful for: Windows 11

What it does: Brings Windows 10 Start Menu, taskbar and productivity back to Windows 11

Why it matters:

• You can your taskbar just like in Windows 10, or you can move it to the top, left or right of your screen.
• It allows you to ungroup Taskbar icons.
• Allows you to switch your Start Menu to the classic Windows 10 version.

(Read my article on how to move the taskbar or how to bring back Windows 10 Start menu to Windows 11 to learn how to use ExplorerPatcher.)

FileSize Tree

Useful for: Free up disk space.

What it does: Instantly locate big files and folders you didn’t even suspect were consuming your disk space.

Why it matters:

• It allows you to instantly visualize the folders which are taking up the most disk space.
• Windows still don’t show folder size in Windows Explorer, but FileSize Tree does.

Everything

Useful for: File Search/Free up disk space.

What it does: It helps you to find any file (or folder) with lightning speed by replacing the slow default Windows search engine.

Why it matters:

• Everything is way faster and more efficient than Windows search, and it does not include web results.
• Since Everything indexes all files on your PC, you can filter by size to find the largest files on your PC to free up disk space.

IObit Uninstaller

Useful for: Free up disk space/Performance.

What it does: Uninstall multiple programs and Windows apps at once.

Why it matters:

• Batch uninstalling greatly saves your time. To uninstall multiple software in Windows might take hours.
• Its clean leftovers files of uninstalled programs that are often forgotten by the  default Windows uninstaller.

MalwareBytes

Useful for: Security

What it does: Protects your PC against malware infections and all sorts of online threats.

Why it matters:

• It is widely regarded as the best ant-malware tool in the world.
• You can run Malwarebytes with Windows Defender at the same time to have complete antivirus + anti-malware protection.
• The paid version adds real-time protection.

Express VPN

Useful for: Privacy/Security.

What it does: The only true way to protect your internet privacy and keep your browsing really anonymous (plus some extra perks.)

Why it matters:

• Your ISP (or employer, etc) won’t have a clue about what you are doing whenever you are connected through your VPN.
• Companies and websites won’t be able to track your browsing behavior.
• Access content not available in your country as shopping opportunities or file sharing.

IMPORTANT: Stay away from free VPNs. Not only do they lack the amount of work that goes into the paid ones, but they also earn money by selling your data to advertisers

QTTabBar

Useful for: Productivity.

What it does: It adds tabbed browsing to Windows Explorer just like in Google Chrome.

Why it matters:

• It greatly improves your productivity by freeing up space on your taskbar. You won’t be able to live without it.
• Especially useful for laptops, devices with small screens.

(Read my article on how to have tabs in Windows Explorer to learn how to enable QTTabBar.)

SumatraPDF

Useful for: Read PDF files.

What it does: Fast and light PDF reader. Use this instead of the slow Adobe Acrobat Reader to read PDF files as fast as word files.

Why it matters:

• Adobe Acrobat Reader is bloatware. It is extremely sluggish and installs unwanted software on your PC. SumatraPDF opens PDF files instantly, and it takes only 19MB of disk space.
• Open many file extensions besides PDF, including ePub, MOBI, CHM, XPS, DjVu, CBZ, and CBR.

F.lux

Useful for: Productivity.

What it does: It automatically adjusts night light on your screen according to your current location to reduce eyestrain.

Why it matters:

• It reduces eyestrain at the night and it helps you sleep better by reducing the blue light coming from your screen.
• Way superior to Windows night mode.

(I’ve written an article with everything you need to know about the best F.lux settings.)

O&O ShutUp 10++

Useful for: Privacy

What it does: It prevents your usage data from being shared with Microsoft in order to improve future versions of Windows. This is done by permanently turning off Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry.

Why it matters:

• It gives you full control over how much data you are willing to share with Microsoft.
• Easy to use for beginner PC users, but also provide a lot of functions for advanced users.

(If you want clear instructions on how to turn off Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry by using O&O Shutup 10++, I’ve written an article on it.)

Paint.net

Useful for: Photo editing.

What it does: Simple and perfect free photo editor for those who don’t want (or don’t have the money) to use Photoshop.

Why it matters:

• Simple interface, like an evolution of Paint, but with a lot of advanced photo editing features like layers or allowing you to return to any stage of photo editing.
• Very light when compared to other photo editors.

Greenshot

Useful for: Screenshots.

What it does: The best tool to take screenshots in Windows. It allows you to take adjustable screenshots, save them, and send them to your clipboard or any photo editor.

Why it matters:

• Take screenshots with a shortcut and quickly add text, and arrows to your pictures.
• You can send your screenshot directly to a photo editor like Paint.net, Microsoft Office apps ,or Imgur.