microsoft/PowerToys

command palette can't find portable apps

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#40,508 opened on Jul 9, 2025

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 (3 comments) (1 reaction) (0 assignees)C# (133,154 stars) (7,978 forks)batch import
CmdPal - All AppsCmdPal-Inbox ExtensionsHelp WantedIssue-BugNeeds-Team-ResponseProduct-Command Palette

Description

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.92.1

Installation method

PowerToys auto-update

Area(s) with issue?

Command Palette

Steps to reproduce

I have several apps which were not installed, but I'm using them in "portable". Downloaded as zip file and stored in a custom location i.e. c:\Programs. I have this location indexed:

✔️ Expected Behavior

Standalone applications should be found using command palette if the location is indexed.

❌ Actual Behavior

Standalone application is not found:

while directly in the start menu I can find it:

Additional Information

No response

Other Software

No response

Contributor guide

Tech stack
csharp
Domain
desktoptooling
Issue type
bug
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
3
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
1-3 hours
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
fresh
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
clear
Prerequisites
Familiarity with C#Basic knowledge of Windows search indexing
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
70
Research direction
Investigate how the Command Palette's app enumeration handles portable executables. Check if the indexing logic in the Command Palette module (likely under src/modules/CommandPalette) skips files without installation metadata. Look for any filtering that might exclude non installed .exe files from indexed locations. Review recent changes or related issues in the repository for clues.