5 ignored Home windows 11 apps that lightened my workload totally free

In 2025, the Microsoft Retailer is crammed with several excellent third-party applications, and lots of the most helpful ones are completely free to obtain and set up. Over time, I’ve gathered a fantastic many packages that elevate my very own private computing expertise, with every bit of software program neatly nested away inside my PC’s Start Menu.

Listed below are 5 Home windows 11 apps specifically that make my life simpler on the common, regardless of not costing a single penny and whereas additionally being freed from ads and pesky upsells as well.

FlairMax

Fluently wrapped music recognition for PC

FlairMax is a free Home windows 11 music recognition app that works equally to the favored Apple-owned Shazam service. In truth, below the hood, FlairMax can faucet into Shazam’s wealthy audio database, along with providing ACRCloud core recognition assist. Whereas technically nonetheless in beta, FlairMax is sort of polished from a person interface perspective, being constructed utilizing Microsoft’s Universal Windows Program (UWP) app expertise and making use of a number of Home windows 11 and Home windows 10 design rules for a clear and intuitive end-user expertise.

With Microsoft having eliminated Cortana-powered music recognition from the core of Home windows again in 2018 (via Windows Central), FlairMax is one of the best different I’ve but come throughout. It options customizable interface components, it surfaces varied music streaming hyperlinks for every music recognized, and it even ships with assist for synced lyrics.

Easy QR Code Maker

Having a QR code generator can turn out to be useful

Easy QR Code Maker is a free Home windows 11 software that does precisely what it says on the tin. By feeding this system a web site URL, plain textual content, or quite a lot of different knowledge factors, it may spit out a custom-made scannable QR code inside seconds. QR codes can turn out to be useful for rapidly accessing on-line sources or paperwork, and the flexibility to create and customise codes through a devoted app is the form of factor that you simply may discover utility for if you least count on it.

Now, there are a number of different QR generator companies obtainable each on the internet and inside the Microsoft Retailer itself, however I am personally a fan of Easy QR Code Maker due to its clear, minimalistic design language, its means for use whereas absolutely offline, and its promise of an ad-free expertise and no hidden charges or different strings hooked up.

Monitorian

An important device for multi-monitor PC setups

Monitorian is a free and light-weight Home windows 11 utility that permits you to modify the brightness of particular person shows inside a multi-monitor desk setup with ease. A devoted flyout showcases all related screens inside a single area, with choices to manage every show’s brightness independently or, alternatively, all collectively in unison. Monitorian does require exterior screens to be Show Knowledge Channel (DDC) / Command Interface (CI) appropriate with a purpose to perform appropriately, and so particular person mileage could range. In any case, having a show brightness slider for my Dell monitor inside arm’s attain is a real time saver, and it is extra intuitive than counting on the show’s clunky in-line {hardware} controller.

EarTrumpet

Granular, highly effective management over your PC’s audio

EarTrumpet is a deceptively easy Home windows device that punches well above its weight. Serving as a alternative for Home windows 11’s default quantity management interface, EarTrumpet gives fast entry to superior audio settings, presents a wide range of hotkey shortcuts, and ships with a robust audio mixer. As a free and light-weight utility, it is onerous to complain about EarTrumpet, although I do want its interface was modernized with up to date Fluent Design principles for some added bonus factors within the fit-and-finish division.

Fluent Flyouts

The flexibleness of Home windows 10 with the design sensibilities of Home windows 11

Again in the Windows 10 days, necessary system utilities every had their very own corresponding flyout interfaces inside the Home windows Shell. Accessible through the taskbar’s system tray part, there have been bespoke popups for audio, date and time, battery, networking, and extra. As of Home windows 11, most of those flyouts have been consolidated into the all-purpose Fast Settings pane, which presents a extra streamlined expertise on the expense of flexibility.

The free and open-source (FOSS) Fluent Flyouts software, which continues to be being actively developed and improved upon, goals to port the multi-flyout habits native to Home windows 10 whereas sustaining a slick WIndows 11-style design language within the course of. On the time of writing, obtainable flyouts embrace a basic clock with seconds displayed on-screen, a calendar, and an impartial brightness slider. In a future replace, a devoted battery flyout can also be anticipated to reach, which can enable for simpler management over a PC’s varied energy profiles.