These 5 apps make Windows 11 a better operating system

Windows 11, first released in 2021, is a solid evolution of Microsoft's legendary desktop operating system. The operating system brought with it a new coat of paint, a modernized design language, and a revised start menu, among other notable optimizations and improvements.

Some of these changes were welcomed with open arms, while others – particularly the redesigned taskbar – drew a lot of criticism. While Microsoft is busy improving Windows 11, including through the 2024 Feature Update released this month, third-party developers have also been hard at work.

There are a number of excellent third-party apps that enhance Windows 11 overall and introduce quality of life features that make using the operating system a more pleasant everyday experience. Here are 5 apps in particular that I always download with every new PC install.

1 Battery Percentage – battery-only add-on

To display your current battery percentage directly in your taskbar

Battery Percentage – battery-only add-on

A simple app that activates a battery percentage icon on your Windows 11 taskbar.

One of the strangest omissions in the modern Windows operating system is the lack of an option to display a special battery percentage icon in the taskbar. By default, to access this important system information, you need to click or tap the Quick Settings button. There, the percentage will appear next to your quick settings tiles.

The Battery Percentage – Pure Battery add-on is a simple app that solves this problem once and for all. It offers a simple interface with options to customize the size, color, and style of the icon itself. Until Microsoft gets the message and integrates this feature natively into Windows, I think this free third-party app remains a necessity.

2 Automatic dark mode

Keep your eyes comfortable after the sun goes down with this essential dark mode tool

Automatic dark mode

A useful app that automatically switches your Windows mode from light to dark.

Another strange feature in Windows is the lack of a scheduling option for switching between light and dark modes. Microsoft has been integrating a native dark mode into Windows for years, albeit implemented in an inconsistent manner. The ability to switch to dark mode when the sun goes down is an operating system mainstay that's sorely missing from Windows.

Luckily, there's a free third-party Auto Dark Mode app in the Microsoft Store that integrates exactly this functionality. Getting started with the app is fairly easy and offers some advanced options for scheduling the switch based on time, location, and more. There is also a chance that your wallpaper will change alongside the color mode itself. If you're tired of having to manually turn on dark mode in the evening to protect your eyes, automatic dark mode is a near-perfect tool.

3 Calendar flyout

Fixing a major omission in Windows 11

Calendar flyout

A native Windows 11 app that enables digital calendar integration into the taskbar flyout.

Unfortunately, when Microsoft rebuilt the taskbar in Windows 11 from scratch using modern code, some useful features didn't survive the transition. One of these features is the ability to integrate your cloud calendar events into the built-in calendar flyout. Currently, the native flyout lacks any calendar service integration, which is a real shame given the origins of Microsoft Outlook and Office software.

The free third-party calendar flyout introduces this basic functionality into the Windows shell in a way that feels perfect. This app is well executed and works exactly how I would like an integrated solution to work. There are some additional settings in the app for personalization and account management.

4 Twinkle Tray: brightness control

An essential tool when doing a multi-monitor PC setup

Twinkle Tray: brightness control

A useful tool that allows you to adjust brightness on any multi-monitor PC setup.

Twinkle Tray is a simple and lightweight app that introduces a dedicated flyout on the Windows 11 taskbar. It is specifically designed to manage the brightness levels of a multiple monitor configuration. There are some advanced settings within the app's main interface, but the flyout by default keeps everything nice and uncluttered.

If your PC setup requires the use of more than a single monitor, be sure to download the free Twinkle Tray app. It's a handy tool and a real time saver. And as a bonus, it looks and feels like it's connected to the system as it takes advantage of Microsoft's Fluent Design system.

5 Fire flyouts

Take back control of your PC's performance mode

Fire flyouts

A helpful battery flyout for Windows 11 that reintroduces the Windows 10 power mode slider.

Fire Flyouts, formerly known as Fluent Flyouts, is another lightweight app that integrates a simple flyout into the taskbar area of ​​the taskbar. This flyout provides some extremely useful battery-related metrics, including remaining WH capacity, discharge rate, and an estimated remaining usage time. Similar to Twinkle Tray, Fire Flyouts follows Windows 11 design principles for a native look and feel.

The app also brings back a popular Windows 10 feature: a slider interface for adjusting your power mode on the fly. Fire Flyouts is free to download and the developer plans to introduce additional system flyouts in future updates. The ability to switch between high-efficiency and high-performance modes without having to delve into the settings is, in my opinion, the sole reason why this app is worth it.