Microsoft PowerToys just dropped version 0.98 and buried inside this update is a feature that honestly should have been built into Windows from day one. It’s called the Command Palette Dock, and once you set it up, you might not even need the regular Windows taskbar anymore. I’m going to show you exactly how to enable it, customize it, and extend it with extra features from the Microsoft Store.
Key Takeaways
- The Command Palette Dock is a brand new feature in Microsoft PowerToys 0.98 that acts like a fully customizable second taskbar you can place on any edge of your screen.
- The dock supports built-in transparency, live system resource monitoring (CPU, RAM, GPU, and network speeds), and free extensions from the Microsoft Store to expand what it can do.
- It is still in preview so expect the occasional crash, but it is stable enough to use daily and has real potential as a genuine Windows taskbar replacement.
Requirements
- Microsoft PowerToys version 0.98 or later — available for free from the Microsoft Store.
- Windows 10 or Windows 11 — Windows 11 will give you the best experience, especially with the transparency features.
Why Use the PowerToys Command Palette Dock?
The default Windows taskbar gets the job done, but it has always been limited when it comes to real customization. You can’t easily add system monitors to it, freely move it to different sides of the screen, or make it properly transparent without reaching for a third-party app. I’ve covered how to make the Windows 11 taskbar transparent using a tool called TranslucentTB, and while that works great, the new Command Palette Dock has that built right in — no extra app needed.
On top of that, the dock doubles as a launcher, a calculator, a clipboard manager, a file searcher, and a live system monitor all rolled into one bar. If you’ve ever wanted a cleaner and more powerful alternative to the standard taskbar, this is worth trying. You can even auto-hide the regular Windows taskbar completely and just run the dock instead.
How to Set Up the Command Palette Dock in PowerToys
Step 1: Download and Install PowerToys 0.98
You’ll need PowerToys version 0.98 or later installed on your PC. If you don’t have it yet, open the Microsoft Store and search for Microsoft PowerToys. It’s a normal download and installation. If you already have PowerToys, just make sure it’s updated to the latest version.
Step 2: Open the Command Palette in PowerToys
Once PowerToys is open, find and click on the Command Palette option in the left-hand menu. This opens the Command Palette interface. From there, click on Settings to get into the configuration options.
Step 3: Enable the Dock
Inside Command Palette Settings, click the Dock tab on the left side. You’ll see a note that this feature is still in preview — meaning bugs are to be expected. Go ahead and flip the Enable Dock toggle to turn it on.
You’ll see the dock appear on your screen right away. By default mine was positioned at the top, which is where I kept it. When you first enable it you might notice a white line at the bottom of the bar — just click on it and it disappears once the dock repositions itself.
Note: Because the dock is in preview, crashes can happen. If it crashes, open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, end all PowerToys-related tasks, then relaunch PowerToys. The dock will come back up automatically.
What’s on the Command Palette Dock by Default
Right out of the box, the dock already comes with some useful stuff on it. Here’s what you get straight away:
- Command Palette button — opens the full Command Palette, which works almost like a replacement for the Start menu.
- WinGet search — lets you search for apps using WinGet, Microsoft’s built-in package manager.
- System resource monitors on the right — showing live CPU usage, memory usage, GPU usage, and your network upload and download speeds.
- Date and time — clicking on it lets you copy the current time or date directly from the dock.
Customizing the Command Palette Dock
Change the Dock Position
You can position the dock on any edge of your screen — top, bottom, left, or right. Just go into the dock settings and pick wherever it suits your workflow best. I keep mine at the top of the screen.
Make the Dock Transparent
One of my favorite things about the new dock is the built-in transparency option. I’ve used third-party apps in the past to get a transparent taskbar on Windows 11, but with the Command Palette Dock you don’t need anything extra. In the dock settings, just switch the theme mode to Transparent and you’ll see your full desktop wallpaper through the bar. It looks really clean.
You can also set a custom background color or even use an image as the dock background. Keep in mind though — if the dock is set to transparent, a background image won’t show through anyway, so I’d just stick with transparent.
Auto-Hide the Windows Taskbar
Since the dock handles most of what the standard taskbar does — and then some — you might want to hide the Windows 11 taskbar to free up screen space and let the dock take center stage. This gives you a noticeably cleaner desktop.
Using the Command Palette
The Command Palette itself is where a lot of the power is. You can set a keyboard shortcut to open it quickly — I changed mine to Ctrl + Enter because it just felt more natural. Here’s a quick look at everything you can do with it:
- Search for and launch installed apps
- Run commands (works like the Run dialog box)
- Use it as a calculator — type an equal sign (=) to enter calculator mode and do math on the fly, then copy the result to your clipboard
- Search for files on your computer
- Search the web
- Add and open bookmarks
- View and paste from your clipboard history
Each function in the Command Palette shows its shortcut key on the right side. Once you learn these shortcuts, it becomes a very fast way to get things done. The Extensions tab in the settings shows you everything that’s enabled by default.
Tip: For the Command Palette’s own appearance, I’d recommend setting it to the Mica Alt option. This lets your wallpaper colors bleed through the Command Palette window, which looks a lot better than a plain opaque background.
Adding Command Palette Extensions from the Microsoft Store
This is where it gets really interesting. You can expand what the Command Palette and the dock can do by downloading free extensions from the Microsoft Store. There are already quite a few available, and more are being added over time. You can even build your own — Microsoft has a page on Microsoft Learn explaining exactly how to register a custom extension — but for most people, the Store has everything you’ll need.
Note: I tried searching for Command Palette extensions using the WinGet search function on the dock itself and didn’t get useful results. I’d recommend going straight to the Microsoft Store and searching for “Command Palette” — that’s the easiest and most reliable way to find and install extensions.
Example: Installing the Media Controls Extension
As an example, I downloaded the Media Controls for Command Palette extension from the Microsoft Store. Here’s how to install it and get it on the dock:
- Open the Microsoft Store and search for “Command Palette.”
- Find the Media Controls for Command Palette extension and download it. It installs just like a normal app.
- Once installed, open the Command Palette with your keyboard shortcut. The media controls extension will already be active, showing you the currently playing song and giving you controls to pause, play, or skip tracks.
Adding the Extension to the Dock
Installing the extension makes it available in the Command Palette, but to pin it permanently on the dock itself you need to do one extra step:
- Right-click on the dock and select Edit Dock.
- Click the plus (+) sign to see everything you can add to the dock.
- Select the extension you want — in this case, the Media Player — from the list.
- Click Save and it will now appear permanently on your dock.
To reorder items on the dock, right-click the dock again, choose Edit Dock, click and drag the item to the position you want, then click Save.
Troubleshooting Command Palette Dock Crashes
I experienced a crash myself when I right-clicked the dock to edit it — the whole Command Palette just quit. This kind of thing is to be expected since it’s still in preview. Here’s exactly what to do if it crashes on you:
- Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Find and end all PowerToys-related tasks that are still running.
- Relaunch PowerToys from the Start menu or your desktop shortcut.
As soon as PowerToys starts back up, the dock reappears automatically and everything is back to normal. It’s a minor inconvenience, not a dealbreaker — and it’ll only get more stable as Microsoft continues to develop the feature.
Take Your Windows Customization Further with Winhance
If tweaking and improving your Windows setup is something you enjoy, you should also check out Winhance — the free, open-source Windows Enhancement Utility I created. It gives you hands-on control over Windows privacy settings, taskbar customization, bloatware removal, startup optimization, and more, all from one clean interface. It pairs really well with tools like PowerToys if your goal is a fully optimized Windows experience.
Conclusion
The PowerToys Command Palette Dock is one of those features that, once you use it for a few days, you won’t want to go back. Yes, it’s in preview and yes, there are some rough edges — but the core of it is genuinely useful. Having a transparent dock at the top of my screen with live system monitors, a quick launcher, and media controls all in one place has changed how I interact with Windows on a daily basis.
I’m planning to keep using it and try out more extensions from the Microsoft Store over the next week or so. If you want a follow-up post on the best Command Palette extensions I find, drop a comment on the video above. And if you haven’t already, grab the latest version of PowerToys from the Microsoft Store and give the Command Palette Dock a try.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What version of PowerToys do I need for the Command Palette Dock?
You need at least Microsoft PowerToys version 0.98. You can download or update PowerToys for free from the Microsoft Store. The Dock tab won’t appear in earlier versions.
Is the Command Palette Dock stable enough to use every day?
It’s usable daily, but since it’s still in preview you should expect the occasional crash. The fix is quick — just kill the PowerToys processes in Task Manager and relaunch. Everything comes back right away so it’s more of a minor annoyance than anything serious.
Can I use the Command Palette Dock to replace the Windows taskbar?
Absolutely. Once the dock is set up the way you want it, you can auto-hide the standard Windows taskbar and use the dock as your main bar. It covers app launching, file searching, system monitoring, and more — everything the taskbar does, plus extra functionality the taskbar never had.
Where do I find extensions for the Command Palette Dock?
The best place is the Microsoft Store. Search for “Command Palette” and you’ll find a growing list of free extensions you can install. I’d avoid using the WinGet search on the dock to find extensions — the Microsoft Store search gives you much better results.
Can I create my own extension for the Command Palette?
Yes, you can. Microsoft has a dedicated page on Microsoft Learn that walks through how to register and build your own Command Palette extension. It’s an advanced option aimed at developers, but it’s a great option if you want to build something fully custom for your workflow.
