10 Hidden Features of Krento You Should Be UsingKrento is a small, flexible application launcher and dock for Windows and Linux that’s been quietly popular with users who want a lightweight, customizable way to access apps, files, and system functions. Most people know Krento for its radial and linear launchers, simple skinning, and low resource use — but it hides several useful features that can make your workflow faster and your desktop cleaner. Below are ten under-the-radar features (with how to enable or use them) that you should try.
1. Multi-action Hotkeys for Launcher Items
Most users assign a single shortcut to open Krento or to launch a specific item. Krento also supports multi-action hotkeys: by assigning modifiers or sequence shortcuts to items you can trigger different behaviors (open, open with, show properties) from one place.
- How to use: Right-click an item → Properties → Hotkey. Use modifiers (Ctrl/Alt/Shift) to create distinct combinations for related actions.
- Why it’s useful: Quickly open a file in a default or alternate app without browsing menus.
2. Context Menus on Launcher Objects
Each item in Krento can expose a context menu with custom actions (like “Open folder”, “Run as administrator”, “Open with…”). These are often overlooked because the default left-click behavior is usually sufficient.
- How to use: Right-click the item → Configure context menu entries (Add action, specify command).
- Example actions: Open file location, copy path to clipboard, run a script to process the file.
3. Nested Groups and Sub-launchers
Krento supports grouping items into folders (or nested groups), allowing a single launcher entry to expand into multiple related apps or documents.
- How to use: Create a new group, then drag items into it. Assign the group to a launcher slot.
- Benefit: Keeps your main dock minimal while providing quick access to many related tools (e.g., all graphics apps under one icon).
4. Dynamic Tray Integration
Krento can interact with system tray icons and integrate some tray behaviors into its own launcher so you can access tray-only functions from Krento without hunting in the Windows tray overflow.
- How to use: Configure Krento’s tray integration settings in Options → Integration and toggle which system tray items to display.
- When to use: Useful when you hide the system tray or want a consistent place for notifications and small utilities.
5. Customizable Launch Animations and Timing
Beyond skins, Krento allows you to tweak animation speed, easing, and opening delays for a smoother or snappier experience.
- How to use: Options → Appearance → Animation settings. Adjust speed or disable animations for the fastest response.
- Tip: Reduce animation time on lower-end machines for perceived performance boost.
6. Per-monitor Positioning and Scaling
If you work with multiple displays, Krento can be set to appear on a specific monitor and scale its elements independently for DPI differences.
- How to use: Right-click Krento dock → Options → Display/Position. Choose monitor and scaling preferences.
- Why it helps: Keeps your launcher usable and visually consistent across 4K and standard displays.
7. Command-line Arguments & Script Launching
Krento items can run commands with arguments, which means it can launch scripts, pass parameters to programs, or open files with specific options.
- How to use: Add a new item → Command field: enter executable and arguments (e.g., python “script.py” –mode quick).
- Use case: Launch a terminal running a build script or start a browser in a private profile with one click.
8. Quick Search Within Launchers
Some Krento configurations support a quick-search field that filters visible items as you type, effectively turning the launcher into a fast app finder.
- How to enable: Options → Behavior → Enable quick search. Assign a hotkey to focus the search box.
- Productivity win: Find and launch items without moving the mouse across the screen.
9. Theme Inheritance and Layered Skins
Krento’s skin system supports inheritance, letting you build small theme patches that override only specific visual elements (backgrounds, icon frames, or hover effects) without duplicating an entire theme.
- How to use: Create a new skin folder referencing base skin assets, modify only the files you want changed.
- Benefit: Easier theme maintenance and faster experimentation with looks.
10. Export/Import Layouts and Settings
You can export your Krento configuration (layout, groups, hotkeys, skins) and import it on another machine — handy for backups or syncing setups between devices.
- How to use: Options → Backup/Restore → Export configuration. Transfer the exported file and import on the other system.
- Practical use: Keep a portable workspace setup when moving between home and work PCs.
Conclusion These lesser-known features let Krento be more than a simple dock: it can act as a mini workspace manager, quick-action hub, and consistent UI element across multiple displays. Try enabling a couple of these features (hotkeys + nested groups or script launching + quick search) to see an immediate boost in speed and organization.
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