Powertoys: FancyZones only working right after opening PowerToys, not after a period of time has passed

[nate-york]

Environment

Windows build number: 10.0.18362.778
PowerToys version: 0.17.0
PowerToy module for which you are reporting the bug: FancyZones

Steps to reproduce

• Uninstall previous version of PowerToys
• Install 0.17.0
• Open PowerToys, things work just fine
• Wait for a while
• Try to place a window inside a zone, it shows no zones, and acts as if the app no longer running
• Can open settings window and interact with toggles and such, but cannot save
• Can close settings window
• Can sometimes right click > exit on the systray icon, other times i have to force close in task manager
• Reopen PowerToys, repeat

Expected behavior

The ability to use FancyZones as long as the PowerToys app is running

Actual behavior

FanzyZones only being usable right after opening, and then no longer working after an undetermined amount of time when trying to snap a window

[enricogior]

Hi @nate-york

Can open settings window and interact with toggles and such, but cannot save

What exactly happens? The Save button is enabled but clicking it doesn't grey it out and the cursor starts spinning?

no longer working after an undetermined amount of time

It would help if you can give a more precise amount, like one hour?

Can you also check the Event Viewer -> Windows Logs -> Applications if there is any error associated with PowerToys or FancyZones?

Thanks.

[nate-york]

Hi @enricogior,

Can open settings window and interact with toggles and such, but cannot save

What exactly happens? The Save button is enabled but clicking it doesn't grey it out and the cursor starts spinning?

This is correct, there's just a spinner by the save button that spins infinitely after clicking it, nothing actually saves, and this is where I generally need to force close the app in Task Manager

no longer working after an undetermined amount of time

It would help if you can give a more precise amount, like one hour?

I wish I had a precise answer for you, but I haven't spent the time trying to test it that closesly. It happens when I've been working for a while, and then open a new app and need to snap it in a zone. I'd go with it happening after 20-30m maybe?

Can you also check the Event Viewer -> Windows Logs -> Applications if there is any error associated with PowerToys or FancyZones?

I do not see any errors for PT or FZ in the logs

[DigNative]

I am experiencing the same issue after I upgrade to v0.17.0. Shortly after starting PowerToys v0.17.0, FancyZones work for a while, but then the complete PowerToys suddenly stop working. The icon in the system tray is frozen, a right click on it leads to nothing. Only ending the process tree in the Windows Task Manager and starting PowerToys again works (at least for a short duration).

The Windows Event Viewer shows no entry related to PowerToys in my case.

I haven't had this problem with the previous version.

[Aero2588]

I am experiencing the exact same issue after I upgrade to v0.17.0. Please fix as soon as you can.

[enricogior]

@nate-york @DigNative @Aero2588
if for you it's acceptable to install an unsigned version of PowerToys, I've prepared a private build that contains some fixes that might solve the problem you are experiencing. I reiterate "they might solve", since we haven't been able to reproduce the problem and therefore we don't know the exact cause.
I'm attaching the zip file that contains the MSI installer.

PowerToysSetup-0.17.1-x64.zip

[DarylGraves]

Hi guys, just to say I'm having the same problem - PowerToys is still running and responsive, just not Fancy Zones.

This doesn't happen on my home PC from what I've noticed but does happen on my work PC. Work PC is Windows version 10.0.17134

Cheers!

[Aero2588]

The issue is on my work computer as well (Windows Enterprise version 10.0.17763

[gilles1394]

Hi, following @enricogior advice above (thank you) I installed the 0.17.1. So far so good (FancyZones still ok after few hours) but I prefer to wait few more days to say it is THE fix.

[enricogior]

@gilles1394
ok sure, let's wait more time, in the mean time thanks for testing.

[gehrhorn]

I'm having this problem too. FancyZones works great for a while and then it just doesn't. Non-primary drag key doesn't highlight the zones, Win + ~ doesn't open the editor, etc. I need to quit PowerToys and restart. Happy to try and collect log data if that would help.

[gilles1394]

@gilles1394
ok sure, let's wait more time, in the mean time thanks for testing.

Hi again, after roughly 40/50 hours of running time with 0.17.1, no issue to report with FancyZones (and I moved a lot the windows across the different regions). So seems good to me but I will report here in cas of comeback.
As a side note, the behaviour on my side was a bit different than the OP. In ln my case once FZ stopped working it was impossible to enter in PowerToys settings. I had to kill the task and start the app again.

[DigNative]

@enricogior Thank you for preparing a private build for testing! I installed it yesterday and it seems to solve the issues for me. PowerToys didn't freeze since installation and FancyZones also didn't stop working. For the 0.17.0 version these problems were already beginning to appear after a short time (~ 1 hour), so I am quite confident that this observation might not just be by coincidence.

[enricogior]

@gilles1394 @DigNative
thanks for the feedback.

[nate-york]

@enricogior I got 0.17.1 installed late Monday, and it's still running as expected. Believe this is the fix!

[enricogior]

@nate-york
good to know, thanks.

[enricogior]

A fix for a deadlock (that is very likely the one reported here) was committed by https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/commit/fd32dad7eb5a1619cea660a914358e419598a112

[JTApps-1]

In this condition, windows modern authentication popup window will not show for sticky notes (haven't tried other apps) until I kill the PowerToys process. Immediately after killing the PT process the windows modern auth window will appear if I attempt to sign in again.

Please ensure you validate this functionality after resolving this issue.

[enricogior]

Hi @JTApps-1
please open a new issue, since what you described is a different problem.
Thank you.

[DarylGraves]

I understand that a fix may have been found. Does anyone know when it'll be released? Still getting this issue on a daily basis.

[enricogior]

@DarylGraves
the fix will be included in 0.18, we are in the process of finalizing it, hopefully it won't take long.

[Ares9323]

The 0.17.1 took 10 minutes to install (after several flashings) but now it seems to be working again, I thought it was a compatibility problem with the windows insider build (Stopped working after I installed build 19624 prerelease 200502-1339).

If PowerToys are Microsoft official products why aren't they included in windows insider builds too? You could have more testers 😊

[enricogior]

The fix is now available in 0.18 https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases

[draugvar]

Hi, I testes this morning v0.18 but the problem is still there, after a wakeup i need to restart the process...

[enricogior]

Hi @draugvar
what you describe seems a different problem, this issue was not about waking up the machine, it's better if you open a new issue, with the repro steps for the problem you are experiencing.
Thank you.