Must Have Software for Windows
Below you will find a list of my must have software the I install whenever I wipe my PC or get a new PC or laptop. Will try to keep this nice and simple and straight to the point.
This list will be a WIP (Work In Progress) so if I ever find a new and interesting app that is a must have in my opinion I will be adding it to this list.
Unchecky
Unchecky is the absolute first application that I install before I even do anything else on my PC. If you are tired of having to carefully click next during every installation then you need this! Unchecky will uncheck those boxes that install a crapload of bloatware to your system so you don't have to worry in case you miss one of those boxes and you get tricked of having something that you don't want installed on your system.
https://unchecky.com/
ShareX
If you frequently take screenshots then ShareX is the best app out there for you! Easy to use and you have everything organized and easy to access if you ever need to look back for something that you had screenshotted months ago.
https://getsharex.com/
PeaZip
We all at some point need a program that will be able to open .zip, .rar or any other compressed/archived files and lets be honest we are all tired of having to dismiss that annoying message that WinRar will display after your trial is up. PeaZip was recently updated and has a brand new UI look and is the main compressing/arching application I am using currently.
https://peazip.github.io/
Obsidian
Obsidian was one of those apps that I kept hearing as one of the best note taking apps. After I did my research and show some of its capabilities such as customization, community plugins and its selfhosted sync option I had to give it a try. Once I installed it and configured it for my personal needs I never looked back to any of my previous note taking applications.
https://obsidian.md/
OBS
If you need to do any livestreaming or screen recording then OBS is the software you are looking for. Enough said OBS has been a staple for those uses mentioned above.
https://obsproject.com/
Da Vinci Resolve
Da Vinci Resolve has been my video editor of choice for about 2-3 years. When I decided to move away from the subscription based Adobe CC and Premiere (my video editor of choice of that time) Da Vinci Resolve like it was suggested by many as one of the best video editors and I decided to give it a try. After couple uses I really enjoyed Da Vinci Resolve and realized that there was nothing missing compared to Adobe Premiere. The free version will work just fine no need to pay for their "pro" edition.
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve
Medal
If you are into PC Gaming then Medal.tv is something you will really enjoy grabbing those great plays or fun moments without having to worry about having to run another software like OBS record the whole session.
https://medal.tv/
Discord
Best chat client specially if you are into video gaming but not just for gaming. With Discord you can create the community of your dreams or just a safe space where you can meet and talk with your firends.
https://discord.com/
WizTree
Just like their website says “The Fastest Disk Space Analyzer”.
https://diskanalyzer.com/
Rufus
If you are often finding your self downloading ISO images that you need to "burn" into a USB to make it bootable this is the perfect tool. You can use it to install OS like Windows, Linux etc. Rufus currently is my favorite because if you load a Windows ISO it will give the option to allow you to create true local account for Windows 11 during the installation.
https://rufus.ie/en/
UniGetUI
One thing that I always liked on most of the Linux distros is that they have a nice software manager where you can download your favorite programs without having to visit all the different pages to download the installation and also update or remove all the programs from a central location. Well UniGetUI does all the above for Windows and I love it.
https://github.com/devolutions/unigetui
Vivaldi
I was on the market for a new web browser cause Firefox and Chrome just felt to sluggish till I discovered Vivaldi. Based on Chromium Vivaldi is highly customizable and had everything I was searching for so its highly recommended by me.
https://vivaldi.com
Affinity
If you don't have the budget for Adobe's Creative Cloud Suite then Affinity is just perfect and pretty much just as good or capable I might say. IF you trying to work on a photo or want to do some vector work and want a free program then Affinity is the answer.
https://www.affinity.studio
Screenbox
I will keep this short and simple. After many years I found the program to replace VLC with. A great free and lightweight video and music/audio player. Can't go wrong with it.
https://github.com/huynhsontung/Screenbox
Everything
A blazing fast search tool for Windows that instantly locates files and folders on your computer. Unlike the built-in search, it indexes your entire system in seconds, letting you find documents, images, videos, and apps almost instantly. Lightweight and efficient, it’s perfect for anyone who wants to navigate large file systems without wasting time.
https://www.voidtools.com/support/everything/
Wiztree
A super fast disk space analyzer for Windows that helps you see exactly which files and folders are taking up the most space. It scans your drives quickly and presents the data visually with charts and treemaps, making it easy to identify large files, clean up clutter, and optimize storage. Perfect for keeping your system organized and avoiding low disk space issues.
https://diskanalyzer.com
LocalSend
With LocalSend you can easily send documents, images, videos, or any files from your PC to other computers or smartphones without relying on the internet or cloud services. With a simple interface and end-to-end encryption, it’s perfect for secure, quick file sharing between your devices.
https://localsend.org
RustDesk
A free and open-source remote desktop software that lets you securely access and control other computers from anywhere. You can provide remote support, manage files, or collaborate on tasks, all with end-to-end encryption for privacy. Lightweight and easy to set up, RustDesk is an excellent alternative to paid remote desktop solutions.
https://rustdesk.==com==