Windows 11 adds Quick View feature to view photos in another way

Whether you use Windows or Mac, Microsoft or Apple, sometimes a function in the operating system that has its direct competitor is lost. It can be an application, a menu or a small function that will greatly help the user's performance within it. Fortunately, they often copy each other for the benefit of all. A clear example is Quick View that macOS has, a way to view photos that can be enjoyed on Windows 11 sooner rather than later when added to Microsoft PowerToys.

In Apple's words, “Quick View offers a quick and complete preview of virtually all types of files without having to open them.” Hence its name. It is very convenient when you have some images and you have to see more details of them. Instead of opening it with the image editor, it can be done with a quick view. At least on macOS.

Therefore, some Microsoft developers have developed an equivalent of macOS Quick View to integrate it with Windows 11. This way, you can view photos in their original size directly from Windows without opening a specific application. All this without having to leave Windows Explorer in its versions for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

A great improvement for Windows that users were asking for

Interestingly, this add-on for Windows 11 will require Microsoft PowerToys to be installed. A collection of small utilities that change everything in Windows, add new features and, in general, make life easier.

These are improvements to windows that are not integrated into the operating system, but must be installed with this free software that can be downloaded from your GitHub.

Each new feature is added to Windows 11 with its own name. Currently, there are twelve notable ones, and those who perform small missions, but different from Windows 10 and Windows 11 operate by default:

- Always on Top: block windows so that they are seen above the rest.

- Color Picker: a tool to import color from any window or application.

- FancyZones: improves the way you organize windows on the screen.

- File Explorer Add-ons: Adds new features to Windows Explorer.

- Image Resizer: enlarge images from a handy context menu.

- Keyboard Manager: works to remap the keyboard keys.

- Mouse utilities: works to find and highlight the mouse cursor on screen.

- PowerToys Awake: Keeps the computer on despite power and shutdown options.

- PowerRename: an app to batch rename files.

- PowerToys Run: a tribute to Mac's Spotlight, a universal desktop search engine.

- Shortcut Guide: shows the keyboard shortcuts associated with the Windows key.

- Video Conference Mute: Turn off the microphone and turn off the camera with keyboard shortcuts.

This is how Preview will work on Windows

In future versions of Microsoft Powertoys, a new application will be available. Its name is now cut and handled quickly on macOS so that it can be used on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

It works by selecting an image in Windows Explorer. Pressing Shift+Spacebar opens a new window showing this full-size image.

While there are some feature details, it will work with the most common image formats of Windows 11, which Explorer can preview.

The announcement took place on Reddit. One of the developers on Windows uploaded a test video that shows how this feature called Peek works. However, it is not known when it will be integrated into Microsoft PowerToys so that everyone can enjoy Quick View on Windows.

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