The Windows Utilities That Still Matter in 2025 — And Why Windows 11 Hasn’t Replaced Them

Windows 11 has come a long way. Between the built-in features and Microsoft PowerToys, many old utilities we relied on for years have been replaced… or quietly retired. But some tools remain irreplaceable because they simply do a better, cleaner, more reliable job than anything Microsoft has offered.

Here are the utilities that still earn their spot on your computer in 2025 — including safe download links and why they still matter.

🎥 VLC Media Player — Plays Everything You Throw at It

Windows’ built-in Media Player is fine for basics.

VLC is what you choose when you want total compatibility.

Why VLC Still Matters

Plays every video/audio format

Zero codec downloads

Survives corrupted files

Converts between formats

Streams from websites, servers, or local networks

📥 Safe Download:

https://www.videolan.org/vlc/

🖼 IrfanView — Fast, Lightweight, and Shockingly Powerful

Windows Photos is slow and clunky.

IrfanView is fast enough to keep up with you.

Why IrfanView Still Matters

Opens images instantly

Advanced batch renaming and resizing

Huge plugin library

Lightweight and reliable

Perfect for quick edits or previewing big folders

📥 Safe Download:

https://www.irfanview.com/

🎬 ScreenPal — The Best Tool for Tutorials and Video Creators

Windows’ built-in recording tools are bare-bones.

ScreenPal gives you real editing control.

Why ScreenPal Still Matters

Full timeline editing

Voiceover recording

Annotations, highlights, captions

Multi-track audio/video

Perfect for tutorials, senior education, and YouTube creators

Easy upload to YouTube

📥 Safe Download:

https://screenpal.com/

📸 ShareX — The Screenshot Tool Windows Wishes It Had

Snipping Tool is simple.

ShareX is your screenshot command center.

Why ShareX Still Matters

Scrolling webpage screenshots

GIF recording

Full video capture with real settings

Auto-blurring for sensitive info

One-key workflows (watermark → resize → save → upload → copy URL)

Deep automation for creators

📥 Safe Download:

https://getsharex.com/

🧩 Patch My PC — The Easiest Way to Stay Secure

Here’s the one most people forget — but shouldn’t.

Windows Update only updates Microsoft software.

Everything else — browsers, utilities, office tools, media apps — is left behind unless you manually update them.

That’s where Patch My PC shines.

Why Patch My PC Still Matters

Updates hundreds of popular apps

Silent, quick, automatic updating

Helps close security holes from outdated software

Lets you skip bloatware and optional components

Lightweight and safe

Perfect for seniors, creators, and anyone who wants “set it and forget it” security

You use the Home Updater version, which is the right choice — free, easy, and very effective.

📥 Safe Download:

https://patchmypc.com/home-updater

⭐ Final Word

Windows 11 has replaced a lot of the little tools we used back in the day… but not the ones that matter most.

These utilities are still irreplaceable in 2025:

VLC, IrfanView, ScreenPal, ShareX, Patch My PC

Each fills a gap Microsoft still hasn’t closed — and likely never will.

Stay safe, stay secure and keep these tools in your daily workflow; they remain the best in their class.

(AI was used to aid in the creation of this article.)

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