I’ve been using Windows 11 and I need to keep a specific window always on top for my work. It’s really important because I constantly need to reference it while doing other tasks. What are my options to achieve this? Any built-in features or third-party tools would be helpful.
One way to tackle this is by using third-party software to keep a window always on top since Windows 11 doesn’t natively support this functionality out of the box. Tons of free options out there; let’s break it down.
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Always On Top by Labnol: Super lightweight and easy to use. Basically, you just press Ctrl+Space, and boom, the window you’re on is pinned on top. No need for a fancy setup. This one’s great if you need the feature without any bells and whistles.
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PowerToys by Microsoft: This one’s got a whole suite of tools, and one of them is the “Always on Top” feature. It’s pretty cool because it’s actually from Microsoft, so you might feel a bit more secure using it. Just download and install PowerToys, enable the “Always on Top” utility, and then use Win + Ctrl + T on the window you want to pin.
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DeskPins: Another oldie but goodie. It’s super simple to use. You just run the program, click the DeskPin icon in your system tray, and then click on the window you want to always stay on top. This method doesn’t require any hotkeys which might be preferable if you’re not a keyboard shortcut kinda person.
For any of those, make sure you download from the official websites to avoid any nasty surprises like malware.
If you prefer using built-in Windows functionalities, unfortunately, Windows 11 doesn’t have this feature natively (yet), so third-party software is your best bet.
Some folks have suggested scripts in AutoHotkey (AHK). If you’re into scripting, you could use a script like this:
^SPACE:: ; Ctrl+Space hotkey
Winset, AlwaysOnTop, , A
return
You’d need to download and install AutoHotkey, create a new script, and paste in the code above. After running the script, hitting Ctrl+Space would toggle any window to always be on top.
Just weigh what you’re comfortable with and what suits your workflow best. Lastly, if any window gets stuck and you need to close it quickly, Alt+F4 is your friend.
Experiment a bit to find out what works best for you!
If you’re hunting for more ways to keep a window always on top in Windows 11, codecrafter’s pretty much spot-on with the suggestions. But let’s diverge a bit and throw in a few other techniques you might find useful.
- AutoIt Script: If you fancy scripting but not keen on AutoHotkey, AutoIt is another scripting language you could try. It’s sort of in the same realm but has its own quirks. Here’s a quick script for an always on top window:
HotKeySet("^+SPACE", "ToggleTop")
Func ToggleTop()
Local $hWnd = WinGetHandle("[ACTIVE]")
If IsWinExists($hWnd) Then
Local $exStyle = _WinAPI_GetWindowLong($hWnd, $GWL_EXSTYLE)
If BitAND($exStyle, $WS_EX_TOPMOST) Then
_WinAPI_SetWindowPos($hWnd, $HWND_NOTOPMOST, 0, 0, 0, 0, $SWP_NOMOVE + $SWP_NOSIZE)
Else
_WinAPI_SetWindowPos($hWnd, $HWND_TOPMOST, 0, 0, 0, 0, $SWP_NOMOVE + $SWP_NOSIZE)
EndIf
EndIf
EndFunc
While 1
Sleep(100)
WEnd
This script, triggered with Ctrl+Shift+Space, toggles the topmost state of the active window. Don’t forget to download AutoIt to run it.
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DisplayFusion: For those who need a bit more than just keeping windows on top, DisplayFusion can be a game-changer. It’s more robust and brings along extra features like multi-monitor support and customizing window behaviors. Though not free,it can be pivotal for power users. You can set up triggers to manage your windows. For example, you can go into the Settings > Triggers, and create one that makes a specific window stay on top based on the application or title.
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Use Windows Layouts: This might not be exactly what you want, but Windows 11’s built-in Snap Layouts can at least help keep your important windows visually accessible. By dragging your window to the top middle or sides of your screen, you can create a layout where your key window is always visible. Not exactly keeping it “always on top” but still ensuring quick access and visibility without needing third-party tools.
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Sticky Windows: Another lesser-known third-party utility is Sticky Windows. It allows you to pin specific windows so they stay on top. Unlike some of the lightweight options, this offers customization on specific windows and gives controls like opacity adjustments etc.
It’s worth mentioning that even though using third-party apps can seem kind of dodgy sometimes, as long as you’re getting them from reputable sources, you’re generally good to go. Windows Defender or any decent antivirus will make sure you aren’t opening the floodgates to malware.
Given Microsoft’s trend of incorporating user-requested features over time, maybe we’ll see a native solution in a future update or in PowerToys later iterations but until then, 3rd party apps and scripts are here to bridge that gap.
People might argue native solutions are better, but remember even PowerToys isn’t innately part of Windows; it’s a separate download! So whether it’s PowerToys, DeskPins, Always On Top by Labnol or whatever script-based approach you take – just find what syncs with your workflow. Flexibility is key.
And hey, if anything goes wrong or a window becomes tricky to close, Ctrl+Shift+Esc to bring up Task Manager will bail you out more times than Alt+F4 since it can force end processes more directly. Keep exploring and you might just find some hidden gem that suits your needs perfectly. Happy multitasking!
@byteguru and @codecrafter, you guys are so optimistic about third-party solutions. Really? Relying on random third-party software for something so basic? That’s how you end up with bloatware and performance hits on your system. PowerToys might be an exception since it’s from Microsoft, but even then it’s an overkill for just keeping a window on top.
AutoHotkey or AutoIt scripts? Those are fine if you’re into scripting and love more complexity than necessary. Why go through all that trouble when you can simply reorganize your workspace? Snap Layouts, though not ideal, can still get you by without adding another layer of potential security risks.
Besides, keep in mind all the potential downsides—background apps running all the time, possible slowdowns, and worst of all, compatibility issues with future Windows updates.
Just keep it simple. If you’re desperate for the always-on-top feature, yeah, PowerToys might be your safest bet, but I’m not convinced it’s worth the hassle for this minor utility. You want your machine running smoothly, right? Adding more layers of software is a recipe for trouble.
To each their own, but I’ll stick to better-organized workflows and native Windows features, even if they’re a bit of a compromise.