Powertoys: FancyZones lag when striking Shift key

[nitishvijai]

Environment

Windows build number: 10.0.19635.1
PowerToys version: v0.18.2
PowerToy module for which you are reporting the bug (if applicable): FancyZones

Steps to reproduce

1. Hold down the Shift key while dragging any window (Windows Terminal etc.)

Expected behavior

FancyZones should appear instantly after holding down shift key on a window.

Actual behavior

FancyZones only appear after a delay of 1.5 seconds and window dragging lags during this wait time. (on Surface Book 2)

Screenshots

[enricogior]

Hi @nitishvijai
what CPU and GPU models do you have?

[EamonnDH]

Can confirm I have the same issue. I7-8565U + GTX 1080. 3x monitors with different fancyzones setups on each.

[enricogior]

@EamonnDH
it's a laptop? What model?

[EamonnDH]

Lenovo Yoga 730 15"

[enricogior]

@EamonnDH
how are the 3 monitors connected?

[EamonnDH]

USB C/Thunderbolt -> External GPU -> 2x Display Port
1x in-built display in the laptop itself.

[enricogior]

@EamonnDH
can you verify if the lag is present when the external GPU is not connected?

[EamonnDH]

Just checked, still has the delay/stutter even after a reboot. After the stuttering stops it performs as expected.

[enricogior]

@EamonnDH
ok thanks.

[enricogior]

@nitishvijai @EamonnDH
I've managed to reproduce it bumping up the DPI scaling to 300%, it's also noticeable at 200% but less, it seems to get worse with higher scaling factor.
Can you confirm that in your case you are also using a DPI scaling greater than 100%?
Thanks.

[EamonnDH]

Yep, on two of the monitors (one is the inbuilt display) there is notable DPI scaling.

[enricogior]

@EamonnDH
ok, I guess we have all the information needed, now it will be a question to figure out if it's a FancyZones bug or a Windows bug.
Thanks.

[nitishvijai]

A lil' heads up: I noticed that there's no lag on my Win10 desktop, but there is considerable lag present on my Surface Book 2. It might be a high-DPI issue?

[enricogior]

@nitishvijai

It might be a high-DPI issue?

On a 4K monitor with 100% scaling, we don't see any lag, only when the scaling is higher the lag is present.

[nitishvijai]

@enricogior Yeah, that's what I've noticed as well. My desktop is at normal (100%) scaling, but the SB2 is at 200% scaling (at 3240x2160).

[EvanBasalik]

Any update on this? I am able to reproduce on a Lenovo X1 running with 225% scaling on the primary screen (laptop screen) even when the secondary monitors are running at 100%.

[enricogior]

@EvanBasalik
the fact that one monitor is at 100% is not a factor, what causes the slow down is the monitor with higher DPI scaling.
We are still investigating to figure out if it's a FZ issue or a Windows issue.

[bboyblank]

I am also facing this issue. Windows 10 1903. PowerToys - V0.19.0
Running 2 monitors, one 4k the other 2k. The 4k has 150% scaling as the 2k 100%
Both running Display port through GTX 1080ti

Both monitors show the same issue with fancyzones when you hold shift the mouse movement will lag and have a delay before the zones appear.

[bboyblank]

Update 19.1 seems to have fixed this issue that just came out!

[DrSpodumain]

Still getting this issue on 19.1, though slightly lesser.

[nitishvijai]

Yes same here, but it's significantly smoother now! It might need some more tweaking.

[enricogior]

@nitishvijai
actually we haven't improve it yet, but we are investigating the issue.

[enricogior]

For 0.25 we a small improvement, but for 0.27 we will have the real fix (already implemented but not ready for 0.25 yet)

[crutkas]

Shipped with 0.27 release. https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/tag/v0.27.0