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VA Technical Reference Model v 26.1

Microsoft PowerToys

General Information

Technologies must be operated and maintained in accordance with Federal and Department security and privacy policies and guidelines. More information on the proper use of the TRM can be found on the TRM Proper Use Tab/Section.

Website:	Go to site
Description:	Microsoft PowerToys is a set of utilities for power users to tune and streamline their Windows experience for greater productivity.
Technology/Standard Usage Requirements:	Users must ensure their use of this technology/standard is consistent with VA policies and standards, including, but not limited to, VA Handbooks 6102 and 6500; VA Directives 6004, 6513, and 6517; and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards, including Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). Users must ensure sensitive data is properly protected in compliance with all VA regulations. Prior to use of this technology, users should check with their supervisor, Information System Security Officer (ISSO), Facility Chief Information Officer (CIO), or local Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) representative to ensure that all actions are consistent with current VA policies and procedures prior to implementation.
Section 508 Information:	This technology has not been assessed by the Section 508 Office. The Implementer of this technology has the responsibility to ensure the version deployed is 508-compliant. Section 508 compliance may be reviewed by the Section 508 Office and appropriate remedial action required if necessary. For additional information or assistance regarding Section 508, please contact the Section 508 Office at Section508@va.gov.
Decision:	View Decisions

Decision Source:	TRM Mgmt Group
Decision Process:	One-VA TRM v26.1
Decision Date:	01/09/2026 at 02:44:44 UTC
Introduced By:	TRM Request
Vendor Name:	Microsoft
Cage Code:	N/A

Vendor Release Information

The Vendor Release table provides the known releases for the TRM Technology, obtained from the vendor (or from the release source).

You must be logged into the RSAA website prior to clicking the Attestation URLs or the URLs won't open.

Major versions and minor versions of that Major released on or after 09/14/2022 are NOT EXEMPT. Major Versions released before 09/14/2022 are EXEMPT as well as minor versions of that Major regardless of release date.

Version	Release Date	Vendor End of Life Date	Vendor Desupport Date
0.58.x	05/03/2022
0.59.x	06/07/2022
0.60.x	07/07/2022
0.61.x	08/01/2022
0.62.x	09/06/2022
0.72.x	08/03/2023
0.76.2	12/04/2023
0.90.x	03/15/2025
0.96.x	11/19/2025

Current Decision Matrix (12/15/2025)

Users must ensure their use of this technology/standard is consistent with VA policies and standards, including, but not limited to, VA Handbooks 6102 and 6500; VA Directives 6004, 6513, and 6517; and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards, including Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). Users must ensure sensitive data is properly protected in compliance with all VA regulations. Prior to use of this technology, users should check with their supervisor, Information System Security Officer (ISSO), Facility Chief Information Officer (CIO), or local Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) representative to ensure that all actions are consistent with current VA policies and procedures prior to implementation.

The VA Decision Matrix displays the current and future VAIT position regarding different releases of a TRM entry. These decisions are based upon the best information available as of the most current date. The consumer of this information has the responsibility to consult the organizations responsible for the desktop, testing, and/or production environments to ensure that the target version of the technology will be supported.

Legend:

White	Authorized: The technology/standard has been authorized for use.
Yellow	Authorized w/ Constraints: The technology/standard can be used within the specified constraints located below the decision matrix in the footnote[1] and on the General tab.
Gray	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a] : This technology or standard can be used only if a POA&M review is conducted and signed by the Authorizing Official Designated Representative (AODR) as designated by the Authorizing Official (AO) or designee and based upon a recommendation from the POA&M Compliance Enforcement, has been granted to the project team or organization that wishes to use the technology.
Orange	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[b] : VA has decided to divest itself on the use of the technology/standard. As a result, all projects currently utilizing the technology/standard must plan to eliminate their use of the technology/standard. Additional information on when the entry is projected to become unauthorized may be found on the Decision tab for the specific entry.
Black	Unauthorized: The technology/standard is not (currently) permitted to be used under any circumstances.
Blue	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[c] : The period of time this technology is currently being evaluated, reviewed, and tested in controlled environments. Use of this technology is strictly controlled and not available for use within the general population. If a customer would like to use this technology, please work with your local or Regional OI&T office and contact the appropriate evaluation office displayed in the notes below the decision matrix. The Local or Regional OI&T office should submit an inquiry to the TRM if they require further assistance or if the evaluating office is not listed in the notes below.

Release/Version Information:

VA decisions for specific versions may include a ‘.x’ wildcard, which denotes a decision that pertains to a range of multiple versions.

For example, a technology authorized with a decision for 7.x would cover any version of 7.(Anything) - 7.(Anything). However, a 7.4.x decision would cover any version of 7.4.(Anything), but would not cover any version of 7.5.x or 7.6.x on the TRM.

VA decisions for specific versions may include ‘+’ symbols; which denotes that the decision for the version specified also includes versions greater than what is specified but is not to exceed or affect previous decimal places.

For example, a technology authorized with a decision for 12.6.4+ would cover any version that is greater than 12.6.4, but would not exceed the .6 decimal ie: 12.6.401 is ok, 12.6.5 is ok, 12.6.9 is ok, however 12.7.0 or 13.0 is not.

Any major.minor version that is not listed in the VA Decision Matrix is considered Unauthorized, Conditions Required ^[a] .

Release	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4
<Past	CY2025				CY2026				CY2027				Future>
0.58.x	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]
0.59.x	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]
0.60.x	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]
0.61.x	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]
0.62.x	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]
0.72.x	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]
0.76.2	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]
0.90.x	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]
0.96.x	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required (POA&M Required)	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]	Unauthorized, Conditions Required^[a]
Note:	At the time of writing, version 0.96.1 is the most current version, released 11/26/2025.

Technology Components

Note: This list may not be complete. No component, listed or unlisted, may be used outside of the technology in which it is released. The usage decision for a component is found in the Decision and Decision Constraints.

Name	Description
Always on Top	Always on Top is a system-wide utility for Windows that allows users to pin windows to the top of all of their windows.
Color Picker	Color Picker is a system-wide color picking utility for Windows that enables users to pick colors from any currently running application and can copy it in a configurable format to thier clipboard.
Fancy Zones	FancyZones is a window manager utility for arranging and snapping windows into efficient layouts to improve the speed of users workflow and restore layouts quickly.
File Explorer Add-ons	PowerToys adds four extensions to the File Explorer Preview Pane: Markdown, Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), Portable Document Format (PDF), and Geometric Code (G-code). PowerToys also adds support for source code files (for more than 150 file extensions). For thumbnail preview, PowerToys adds multiple extensions: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), Portable Document Format (PDF), Geometric Code (G-code) and Standard Tessellation Language (STL).
Image Resizer	Image Resizer is a Windows shell extension for bulk image-resizing.
Keyboard Manager	The PowerToys Keyboard Manager enables you to redefine keys on your keyboard.
Mouse Utilities	Mouse utilities is a collection of features that enhance mouse and cursor functionality on Windows.
PowerRename	PowerRename is a bulk renaming tool that enables users to: Modify the file names of a large number of files, without giving all of the files the same name. Perform a search and replace on a targeted section of file names. Perform a regular expression rename on multiple files. Check expected rename results in a preview window before finalizing a bulk rename. Undo a rename operation after it is completed.
PowerToys Awake	PowerToys Awake is a utility tool for Windows designed to keep a computer awake without having to manage its power & sleep settings. This behavior can be helpful when running time-consuming tasks, ensuring that the computer does not go to sleep or turn off its screens.
PowerToys Run	PowerToys Run is a quick launcher for power users that contains some additional features.
Shortcut Guide	This guide uses PowerToys to display common keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows key.
Video Conference Mute	Quickly mute the microphone (audio) and turn off the camera (video) with a single keystroke while on a conference call, regardless of what application has focus on the computer.


Platforms and Storage Operating Systems	OS Tools

General Analysis

Adoption Benefits

At the time of writing, no National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) vulnerabilities had been reported and no VA Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC) bulletins had been issued for the latest versions of this technology.
This is a well-documented technology.
This technology is available at no cost through open source licensing and supports VA`s open source initiative.

Adoption Risks

The potential exists to store Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Protected Health Information (PHI) and/or VA Sensitive data and proper security standards must be followed in these cases.
Due to the rapid release schedule of this technology, the VA may be unable to update to the most recent patch and may require a deployment model requiring the use of specific versions.
As open-source software, this product may be left without clearly defined support options which may result in suboptimal enterprise level support.
There is no indication based on either the vendor documentation or the Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) that this technology is Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 compliant.
This technology can integrate with and alter database technologies.
Bitmap Image File (BMP), an optional dependency of this technology, is in a divested state at the time of writing.

Architectural Risks

This technology is not portable as it runs only on Windows platforms.
This technology does not use a VA-preferred database to store data.

- The information contained on this page is accurate as of the Decision Date (01/09/2026 at 02:44:44 UTC).

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VA Technical Reference Model v 26.1

General Information

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References

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VA Technical Reference Model v 26.1

General Information

Vendor Release Information

Current Decision Matrix (12/15/2025)

References

Technology Components

VA Categories View the VA Categorization Framework

Open Source

Operating Systems Supported by the Technology

Technologies/Standards Relationships

Runtime Dependencies:

Optional Dependencies:

Comparable Technologies:

Companion Technologies/Supported Standards:

General Analysis

Adoption Benefits

Adoption Risks

Architectural Risks

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VA Categories

View the VA Categorization Framework