PowerToys.PowerLauncher.exe

Application ProcessMicrosoft Corporation

Also called powerlauncher, powertoys run, powertoys.powerlauncher

WindowsApplication

PowerToys Run. The default hotkey is Alt+Space. It is the launcher box, not the FancyZones snap engine.

What you need to know

PowerLauncher is Run, not the FancyZones snap engine.

PowerToys.PowerLauncher.exe is PowerToys Run. Alt+Space opens the search box. PowerToys.FancyZones.exe snaps windows to layouts. Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.exe is Command Palette (Win+Alt+Space by default). Ending Run does not undo FancyZones zones.

Safe?: Yes, from PowerToys Run
Is it FancyZones?: No. This is Run
Is it Command Palette?: No. That is Microsoft.CmdPal.UI

Feex says

If Alt+Space opens a PowerToys box, I am looking at PowerLauncher. I do not end FancyZones to close Run, and I do not treat CmdPal as the same launcher.

What is PowerToys.PowerLauncher.exe?

PowerToys.PowerLauncher.exe is PowerToys Run, not FancyZones. It is also not Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.exe. Run is the Alt+Space box.

What does it do?

It indexes apps, folders, and plugins for a quick launch. It does not snap windows. FancyZones does that. Command Palette is a newer palette with its own exe.

Why is it running?

PowerToys Run is enabled. The process can stay resident so Alt+Space is instant. A PC with only FancyZones on should not need this image.

Is it safe?

Usually safe

A Microsoft-signed PowerLauncher under PowerToys is Run. PowerToys.PowerLauncher.exe in Temp is not. This is still not FancyZones.

A legitimate copy normally runs from:

C:\Program Files\PowerToys\PowerToys.PowerLauncher.exe

Default activation: Alt+Space
Runner is PowerToys.exe
Not FancyZones and not Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.exe

Can I end it?

Alt+Space Run closes until the runner starts it again

Ending PowerLauncher stops Run. FancyZones can keep snapping. Disable Run in PowerToys Settings if you do not want it back.

Can I remove it?

Turn off Run, or uninstall PowerToys

Disable PowerToys Run in settings. Deleting PowerLauncher.exe breaks that module. Uninstalling FancyZones is the wrong product toggle.

Should it start with Windows?

The PowerToys runner starts Run when the module is on. It is not a separate Startup Apps row named PowerLauncher.

Normal resource behavior

These are contextual labels, not universal averages.

CPU: A plugin or a huge index can spike on Alt+Space
Memory: Resident so the box opens fast
Disk: Indexer plugins
Network: Only if a plugin queries the web

File information

PowerToys.PowerLauncher.exe file information
Executable name	PowerToys.PowerLauncher.exe
Common legitimate path	C:\Program Files\PowerToys\PowerToys.PowerLauncher.exe
Publisher	Microsoft Corporation
Signature expectation	Signed by Microsoft Windows

Common problems

People disable FancyZones because Alt+Space annoys them

Wrong module. Run is PowerLauncher. Zones are FancyZones.

Confused with Command Palette

Win+Alt+Space is CmdPal by default. Alt+Space is Run. Two utilities, two exes.

Troubleshooting

Diagnose before you change anything destructive.

PowerToys Settings > PowerToys Run

Change the activation shortcut or turn the module off. FancyZones settings will not hide this box.

If Win+Alt+Space is the palette you meant

That is Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.exe. This article is Alt+Space Run.

Technical details

PowerToys.PowerLauncher.exe technical details
Image name	PowerToys.PowerLauncher.exe
Role	PowerToys Run
Default shortcut	Alt+Space

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

Microsoft Learn: PowerToys Run · Alt+Space launcher, not FancyZones
Microsoft Learn: Command Palette · CmdPal is a different utility
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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