You never know when a certain Windows application can help solve an immediate problem. You may not always have time to download and install what you need. But luckily, there are several useful ones with portable versions that can fit on your USB drive.
Portable applications run directly from a USB drive without installation, providing flexibility and convenience. These programs can keep your settings across different computers by storing them on your USB drive, leaving no trace on the system. Here’s a collection of 10 powerful portable apps, from productivity suites to troubleshooting utilities.
LibreOffice Portable
When you need a portable office suite, LibreOffice is one of the best open source applications you will come across. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet application, and presentation tool, making it a cost-effective replacement for Microsoft Office.
LibreOffice also has a drawing application, database management and a mathematical formula writing tool. In addition to Open Document Format (ODF), it supports various other popular file formats (e.g. DOCX, XLSX, PPTX and PDF), ensuring that you can work on almost any document anywhere.
Notepad++
The portable version of Notepad++ provides a great way to quickly write Markdown, edit configuration files and scripts, or debug code. Right out of the box, you get important features like syntax highlighting for dozens of programming languages, multi-tab editing for working with multiple files simultaneously, and macro recording to automate repetitive tasks. In addition to having a small file size, Notepad++ is known for its excellent performance, which is especially useful when working with low-performance computers.
ShareX
ShareX is a great app for capturing your screen, whether you’re capturing the entire screen, a specific window, or a custom section. It also lets you quickly annotate your captures with arrows, text, and shapes: this is what I use when writing guides.
ShareX also allows you to upload your screenshots or recordings to a wide range of platforms like Imgur, Dropbox and Google Drive with just one click. You can even automate the process if you want to save time.
All
Windows Search can sometimes be slow, and Everything is a faster alternative that indexes files instantly on any Windows computer, no installation required. The fact that it saves your custom filters, favorites, and search history is what I like the most because it allows me to jump right into my feed wherever I go.
I also use Everything when I need to quickly find a file on unknown PCs or help a friend find lost files. I can use Command Palette just fine, but not everyone has PowerToys installed on their computer. That’s why I always keep it on a portable disk.
CrystalDiskInfo
If a friend is having trouble with a failing hard drive or worn SSD, CrystalDiskInfo can provide a reliable diagnosis of what’s really going on. It can identify healthy drives and those at risk of failure using Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART) data. CrystalDiskInfo even allows users to configure an email alert or system warning in case of an imminent failure.
FixWin11
Are you experiencing issues with File Explorer, Internet connectivity, and various system components? Do you need to use a specific troubleshooting tool or reset something (for example, Notepad, Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Edge, or Group Policy settings)?
FixWin11 is a handy and lightweight application that can help you apply a variety of quick fixes or access Windows’ built-in tools with a single click. You never know what problems you’ll encounter on another person’s computer, so it’s great to always have a tool like this on hand.
HW MonitorMonitor
Windows Task Manager can provide important information about the hardware installed on your computer, but it is limited. HWMonitor, on the other hand, provides more detailed key information including CPU temperature, voltage, fan speeds, GPU stats, and battery levels. It’s a great tool for peeking under the hood if you’re curious about the PC or need to quickly diagnose problems.
7 zippers
7-Zip offers greater compression and extraction than the default Windows option. It supports a wide range of formats, including obscure ones like 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, WIM and AR. It also has file encryption and can handle large files more efficiently than Windows’ built-in compression tool.
Fell
Krita is a powerful 2D drawing app that has improved my sketches and line drawings over the years. It contains hundreds of brushes (100 preloaded and more you can download), as well as advanced drawing and animation tools. Krita is also a great alternative to paid drawing apps, and when I’m not drawing I use it to edit images, taking advantage of the same features that make it a powerful digital art tool, such as layers, selection tools, and CMYK support.
VLC
VLC media player is known for its ability to play virtually any media you can think of, making it a handy app to keep on your USB drive. You don’t need to install codecs or convert your audio and video files: it can even handle high-definition streams and partial downloads. The portable version retains all these features while preserving your personalized settings and playlists when you move between different computers.
Having a USB drive with all your favorite portable apps ensures you can work right away on any Windows computer. You should also consider having a bootable disk with you at all times. This can be useful in an emergency, especially when it makes your computer unstable and requires troubleshooting, repair, or reinstallation of Windows.
