When you think of essential PC apps, PowerToys, HWiNFO, and Equalizer APO probably spring to mind. However, the world of PC software is vast and interesting, and filled to the brim with obscure applications that you may or may not know about. If you've already outfitted your system with all the common utilities and tools, here are ten extremely useful but underrated apps you might want to check out.
10 Lossless scaling
Downloading more FPS is more legitimate than you might have thought
If your graphics card is struggling to run games at decent FPS, you can try to make up for the lack of raw GPU power through frame generation and upscaling. However, not all games are compatible with Nvidia or AMD's frame generation algorithms, and you'll also need to invest in newer graphics cards to take advantage of this technology.
That's where Lossless Scaling comes in, a $7 application that can add frame generation capabilities to any application or game of your choosing! Of course, the app is far from perfect and is prone to a lot of artifacts, latency, and ghosting issues. But for anyone who wants a smooth experience on slower games without reducing the resolution to the max, Lossless Scaling is more than worth the money, especially since the app now supports x4 frame generation.
9 Ventoy
Ideal for distro hoppers
As someone who switches between multiple operating systems every week, Ventoy has easily become one of my most used apps since downloading it a few months ago. Without Ventoy, you'd have to write a USB stick with new operating system files every time you need to install a new operating system on your PC.
However, Ventoy eliminates this tedious process by allowing you to load multiple operating system images onto the USB drive and switch between the different operating systems with ease. Plus, it's not locked behind a paywall, making it a worthwhile addition to any hobbyist's toolkit.
8 AutoHotkey
For all your automation needs
Windows 11 supports a handful of keyboard shortcuts to make your life easier, and you can set some keyboard macros with PowerToys if you want further customization. However, few applications can boost your productivity as much as AutoHotkey.
Although the learning curve is steep, AutoHotkey offers a full-fledged scripting language that can help you automate all your tasks. With a little practice, you'll be writing your own code in no time. From setting up simple macros to scheduling frequent backups, AutoHotkey is a powerful application that's more than worth it.
7 WinSCP
A quick and easy way to share files across devices
File managers that support cross-platform file sharing are incredibly useful when you need to share a handful of files between devices over a LAN network. Having used a number of applications for my FTP and SFTP needs, WinSCP beats everything else hands down with its simple yet robust user interface.
In addition to its open source nature, WinSCP supports a handful of file sharing protocols, including WebDAV and AWS's S3 service.
6 DisplayFusion
The ultimate app for multi-monitor setups
DisplayFusion may be the most expensive app on this list, but it has enough features to make it worth the money. In addition to a number of options for fine-tuning the wallpapers and screen savers for each monitor, the app does a significantly better job than Windows 11 at positioning each monitor.
Additionally, DisplayFusion allows you to create multiple monitor profiles and save custom taskbar settings for each of your displays. It's even possible to split a single monitor into smaller screens, making DisplayFusion an absolute recommendation for ultrawide setups.
5 synchronization
Difficult to set up, but an absolute game changer
Another app that might scare you off with its high level of difficulty is Syncthing. It is perfect if your computing environment consists of multiple PCs and devices that require real-time data synchronization. This open-source program not only supports numerous operating systems, but also places no limits on the number of files you can sync at once.
Having recently configured Syncthing to transfer files between my home lab, NAS and PC, I must admit that the initial setup can be a bit complicated. But once you have it set up, you'll be amazed at how well this application can simplify your file sharing needs.
4 WizTree
To analyze the files that occupy your valuable storage space
Disk analysis tools that scan your storage drives and generate detailed reports on the space used by all your files can be a godsend if you want to make room on your HDD/SSD for more games and apps. After testing many such tools, WizTree is easily the best option on the market – and that's mainly due to its lightning-fast scanning speed.
Compared to TreeSize and WinDirStat, WizTree can examine your drives, including ultra-slow hard drives, in seconds. It also has a simple interface that's easy to navigate even for absolute beginners. Although commercial use technically requires a paid license, the average PC user will have no trouble using the free version of WizTree.
3 Fan control
To keep your PC nice and cool
By controlling the fan speed of all the components of your PC, you can improve airflow and save it from the plague of bad heat buildup. However, fine-tuning the GPU fans, CPU cooler, and intake/exhaust case fans is easier said than done.
Thankfully, Fan Control makes the process less tedious by providing a unified interface that lets you optimize the speed of the fans connected to your PC components. Even better, Fan Control also lets you set up custom fan curves to dynamically change fan speeds at different temperature ranges.
2 Parsec
With greetings to Sunshine and Moonlight
There are a handful of ways to remotely access your PC over LAN, but none can match the simplicity of Parsec. Of course, you'll have to pay extra to unlock the advanced features, but you can enjoy 4K 60FPS game streaming even with the basic version of Parsec.
I will admit that the Sunshine server and Moonshine client apps offer a slightly better gaming experience than Parsec, but the latter offers a much better experience in non-gaming tasks and setting it up is a breeze.
1 Super God Mode
When normal God mode isn't good enough
The default God Mode in Windows 11 is a nice feature that provides instant access to advanced settings so you don't have to dig through a flood of menus to change specific system settings. The Super God Mode script takes this a step further by giving you access to thousands of hidden settings on your Windows 11 computer.
Once you run the Super God Mode script, it fetches every CLSID link, shell link, and a number of hidden menus and shortcuts, allowing you to tweak every aspect of your system with the click of a mouse. As if that wasn't enough, Super God Mode is easy to configure and available for free on GitHub.
What is your favorite app that no one uses?
Aside from these recommendations, there are plenty of other applications that deserve more recognition. As someone who writes articles for a living, CLCL is my favorite clipboard caching software and I prefer using it over the default Windows+V clipboard. Chocolatey is a decent app that can fill the need for Linux package managers, while Ninite offers a much easier way to update your apps.
For gamers, HWiNFO offers top-notch monitoring capabilities for all your hardware, while MSI Afterburner is a great way to push your GPU beyond its normal limits. And finally, Hard Drive Sentinel is an amazing tool that can run thorough write tests on your hard drive and look for bad sectors.