Microsoft’s PowerToys now lets you quickly control your microphone and camera
The video conference mute feature is back in the latest build of Microsoft’s PowerToys.
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What you need to know
Microsoft’s PowerToys just received an update to version 0.46. The latest build includes everything from the v0.45.0 release wesaw last week, plus support for the video conference mute feature.
The video conference mute feature allows you to toggle your microphone or camera on and off with a keystroke. You can set shortcuts to toggle audio and video off at the same time or to control them separately. When using shortcut keys for this feature, you’ll see a toolbar that displays if your microphone and camera are on or off.
Here’s everything that’s new in PowerToys version 0.46.0:
Microsoft also has afull page explaining the video conference mute feature, including how to use it and how it works under the hood.
There are some known issues for this build of PowerToys:
PowerToys version 0.46.0 is an experimental release of the program. If you want a more stable build, you should stick with version 0.45.0 that shipped last week.
The video conference mute feature initially rolled out in version 0.22 of PowerToys, but has been removed and brought back several times.
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A power user’s dream
This collection of tools gives power users more control over their PC. Its latest version lets you quickly toggle your microphone and camera on or off with keyboard shortcuts.
Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
