Powertoys: Always on Top

[anythingwithawire]

crutkas: Should look at #49 also for additional feature implementation idea

And #641 for transparency

[scottven]

If this could be made to survive windows closing and reopening, like the Outlook reminders pop-up, that would be super helpful.

[codewalk3r]

This has been long overdue and should have been standard. Wish this gets implemented.

[bergamin]

This is one of those things I always wondered... Why only task manager has that? Why isn't it standard for every window?

[DarylGraves]

I really hope this is implemented as a default. I might even give it a go myself if I can figure out what I'm doing!

For those who want a workaround, AutoHotKey can do this - You'd need to install AHK, paste the below to a script, save it as an .ahk file and place it in your startup folder. Then, load the script once (or restart) and then whenever you push Ctrl+Alt+A it sticks it. Push it again to unstick.

I hope this because a built in thing though - I can't really install AHK at work.

^!A:: Winset, Alwaysontop, , A
Return

[Sollace]

@anythingwithawire @bergamin brought this issue to my attention. I'm just going to c/p the relevant segments for what I detailed for this request:

How it works:

As I have it at the moment, pressing Ctrl+Space on any desktop window will toggle the always on top state of that window. When that's done, they effectively stay in front, even when focus changes to another window after that.

What it's for:

Doing that allows me to put some content I want to see (a video, browser tab, some instructions, or notes) on my display whilst I work/type into a different window.

When I'm done I just focus my pinned window and use Ctrl+Space to return it to normal.

What I'd change:

Admittedly, the Ctrl+Space key combination is sometimes problematic when gaming, where I might need the same combination for something else. That's why I suggest changing it to some combination with the Win key instead.

Win+Space is (annoying) used to switch keyboard layouts, so it might have to become something like Win+Alt instead.

It would also help, though, to allow the user to configure the shortcut, as well as a visible button to pin/unpin windows similar to the "Maximize to new desktop widget".

[glen-84]

I'm currently using DeskPins, but it's a bit outdated and is not able to pin all types of windows.

[Sollace]

@glen-84 Unfortunately I can't link the tool I use. It's literally just a little 200kb exe I got from somewhere. I run it from my startup folder and it allows the key combination to work on literally any window.

Edit: lmao found it

[User2020]

This has been desperately needed for decades. A new window titlebar button or even if it was just accessible by right-clicking the titlebar. I always have to use utilities to add the ability but they either half-work or don't look good.

[hereafter]

you may try "Sticky Windows" modern fluent app for Windows 10
It is on the windows store,
https://github.com/hereafter/stickywindows/wiki

it not free though.

[fredskis]

Just read about PowerToys and this is _definitely_ something Windows has needed forever.
I used DisplayFusion in the past but it doesn't feel native and doesn't work with 100% of windows.

Might give Sticky Windows a try too.

[Jnss98b]

you may try "Sticky Windows" modern fluent app for Windows 10
It is on the windows store,
https://github.com/hereafter/stickywindows/wiki

it not free though.

What a shameless plug by the dev...
Not to mention that that thing works so inconsistently as well

[DarylGraves]

I feel like, if AutoHotKey can achieve it in 2 lines of code the functionality must already be there in Windows, just hidden away somewhere... Some programs like Skype for Business have the option for it. Maybe it's a registry that gets toggled or something?

[Sollace]

@DarylGraves It's actually an attribute (sometimes called AlwaysOnTop) that can be toggled on and off for a given window.

That feature is actually used a lot for all kinds of windows programs, including media players., so a user-accessible toggle is indeed a very easy thing to do.

[DarylGraves]

@DarylGraves It's actually an attribute (sometimes called AlwaysOnTop) that can be toggled on and off for a given window.

That feature is actually used a lot for all kinds of windows programs, including media players., so a user-accessible toggle is indeed a very easy thing to do.

How do we do it boss? I was trying to see if there was a registry that's toggled or something but couldn't find it.

[Sollace]

@DarylGraves If you're looking for a way to _get_ the feature, see my comment further up the page for a downloadable utility.

From the linked article:

The program is written in Autohotkey with a single line of code:
^SPACE:: Winset, Alwaysontop, , A

It's an attribute, so you literally just need to get a handle onto the window and do some system call to modify its state. Probably would have to be written in WinForms.

[User2020]

I prefer XtraButtons for now, but I wish Windows had this built-in:
http://www.xtrabuttons.com/

[enricogior]

Don't tell anybody... Always On Top will arrive soon ;)

[Sollace]

@enricogior _proceeds to tell everyone_

[Jnss98b]

Don't tell anybody... Always On Top will arrive soon ;)

@enricogior Subtle...

[crutkas]

Should Always On Top be named "PowerMenu" like the original tool?

[Jnss98b]

I mean, if you intend to add more stuff later on to the menu then yeah

[iamwwc]

@enricogior what's time this feature will be implemented? It has been six months since you say Don't tell anybody... Always On Top will arrive soon ;) But I found that the feature has been moved into Backlog milestone which means work we are thinking about doing but has not been scheduled. It's a very nice we wanted to power our workflow 😁

[crutkas]

It is not a v1 item. If memory serves, we hit a roadblock on it for uwp vs native and then got focused on other hard issues. We should have updated this issue. Sorry.

[MOrlassino]

For some possible inspiration for the UX of the 'Always on Top' Microsoft PowerToys functionality:

• Open Source -> DeskPins (https://efotinis.neocities.org/deskpins/)
• TurboTop (http://www.savardsoftware.com/turbotop/)
• Launch On Top (http://www.savardsoftware.com/launchontop/)

[Sollace]

@MOrlassino I'm always going to be in favour of the simple "ctrl+space" key combo to toggle the state.

Easiest and simplest solution. Only hiccup are games which make use of control and space, as rare as that can be.

[MOrlassino]

@Sollace, I agree that having a (configurable) shortcut to toggle 'Always on Top' functionality of any window is important. I use that exact same key combo all the time with an AutoHotkey script (https://www.autohotkey.com/) to do the same.

Beyond the shortcut functionality, I still believe there are other useful features to would add to the usability of "Always on Top". IMO, doing so would completely enhance and elevate the Windows platform as the best platform for developers and consumers alike. I listed five possible feature areas (with UX references) at the bottom of this post.

The Ideal Situation - Build all functionality into the Windows Desktop Shell

The Windows OS/Shell team eventually supports 'Always on Top' as a first-class feature and built-in so that it can be supported traditional (Win32) and UWP apps seamlessly. Adding, for example, a checkbox to a Windows Desktop Shortcut's _Advanced Properties_ dialog to enable launching the application 'Always on top', similar to the 'Run as administrator' functionality.

Proposed High-level Windows 'Always-on-Top' Feature Set (w/ UX Examples)

• GUI-based batch View/Edit
  
  
  
  • DeskPins - https://efotinis.neocities.org/deskpins/
  
  
  • Screenshot Gallery - https://efotinis.neocities.org/deskpins/gallery.html
  
  
  • Source Code - https://bitbucket.org/efotinis/deskpins/src
  
  
  • TurboTop - http://www.savardsoftware.com/turbotop/
  
  
• Command-Line Interface (CLI) - For scripting and development scenarios (with PowerShell, CMD, and Win+R).
  
  
  
  • TurboTop
  
  
• Launch In "Always On Top" Automatically in Enabled State
  
  
  
  • Launch On Top - http://www.savardsoftware.com/launchontop/
  
  
• End-user Configurable Hotkeys/Shortcuts
  
  
  
  • DeskPins
  
  
• Window-specific Graphical Checkbox/Button (similar to the Windows Minimize, Restore, Close buttons)
  
  
  
  • DeskPins
  
  

[nicolasprigent]

I've got a suggestion instead of a keyboard shortcut, it would be to right click on the close button of the window you want to have always on top. The action should be a toggle. I've got an autohotkey script that does exactly this and it's really effective and works mostly on any case (no conflict with keyboard shortcut of applications). The only thing on my autohotkey script is when a program doesn't use the default windows 10 interface (like photoshop for example) it doesn't work.

[Sollace]

@nicolasprigent I believe I'm using the same autohotkey (always-on-top.exe ?) and I haven't noticed very many programs that haven't worked with the key combination.

Only exception I can think of off the top of my head are applications that mess with the same flag, like Task Manager.

Edit: Oh yeah, and Eclipse. Eclipse randomly steals the "always on top state" and I have to occasionally alt-tab back to my video to get the layering fixed.

[nicolasprigent]

Ctrl+space is not really the ideal shortcut (for me), for example it's used to toggle view to full size in blender, it's the shortcut for "zoom in" in photoshop and illustrator.
In a lot of program that have extensive use of shortcut, ctrl + space is often used.

[bergamin]

@Sollace, I don't remember a game that uses Ctrl+Space, but it would get in my way every day as a developer trying to get intellisense to trigger before it pops on its own...

Win+Space, similarly would not be ideal as it triggers keyboard language switch on Windows 10.

What I wold like to see is something like this (that changes to show if it is pinned or not):

And a shortcut that uses the Win key (to follow the same pattern as Win+Up, Win+Down, etc.)

[crutkas]

no matter what, the shortcut would be able to be overridden

[patarok]

Deserves an upvote. Plus despite some assume it wouldnt be possible... I am still convinced that setting windows to certain layer levels already was possible back in the days with some 3rd party software but i cant remember which.

[gczark]

Nobody mentioned MenuTools https://github.com/navossoc/MenuTools

[Sollace]

@gczark Very nice. Plus it has more features than the basic On-Top toggle.

Edit: _And_ it plays nicely with my keyboard toggle. It properly check/unchecks the option in the menu when toggling with the other program.

[gczark]

@Sollace If you haven't read from its changelog, it also have a RollUp feature. Just middle click the title bar, and poof. It was sad that the project is likely abandoned.

You can also check this one https://github.com/AlexanderPro/SmartSystemMenu, yet this is not furnished as MenuTools, but has more features.

[munael]

For keyboard shortcuts, I currently use Win+Esc to toggle AlwaysOnTop, and Ctrl+Esc to completely minimize the active window. They feel natural enough, and somewhat complementary. Got no use the original Ctrl+Esc. Also debating if I should wire Alt+Esc to toggle transparency of active window. All done with AutoHotKey.

[maxcarl]

Don't tell anybody... Always On Top will arrive soon ;)

Any updates on this issue? ;-)

[enricogior]

@maxcarl
it's in the official roadmap
https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/wiki/Roadmap