How To Keep Your Application Window Always On Top Trick

Keeping Your Application Window Always on Top in Windows 11 and 10

Managing multiple windows efficiently is crucial for productivity, especially when you need to keep certain windows visible at all times. Here’s how you can ensure your application windows stay on top in Windows 11 and 10.

Using Microsoft PowerToys

One of the most straightforward and powerful methods to keep a window always on top is by using Microsoft PowerToys. This free, open-source tool developed by Microsoft offers a variety of utilities to enhance your Windows experience.

Install PowerToys: Download and install PowerToys from the official GitHub repository if you haven't already.
Enable Always On Top: Launch PowerToys, navigate to the “Always On Top” section, and toggle the switch to enable this feature.
Activate the Shortcut: With the desired window open, press the keyboard shortcut ⊞ Win + Ctrl + T. This will make the current window stay on top of all other windows. A blue border will appear around the window, and a sound will play to indicate the change.

Customization Options

PowerToys offers several customization options to tailor the experience to your liking:

Activation Shortcut: Customize the keyboard command to enable or disable the always-on-top property for a window.
Game Mode Exclusion: Prevent Always On Top from activating during active gameplay to avoid distractions.
Border Around Pinned Window: Show a colored border around the pinned window for easy identification.
Highlight Color: Choose between Windows default or a custom color for the border.
Opacity and Thickness: Adjust the opacity and thickness of the highlight border.
Rounded Corners: Enable rounded corners for a sleek look.
Sound Feedback: Play a sound when pinning or unpinning a window.
Excluded Apps: Prevent specific applications from being pinned using Always On Top.

Third-Party Utilities

If you prefer alternatives to PowerToys or need additional features, several third-party utilities can help:

DeskPins

Install DeskPins: Download and install DeskPins from its official website.
Pin Windows: After installation, an icon will appear in your system tray. Click on the icon, and your cursor will turn into a thumb pin. Use this pin to click on the window you want to keep on top. A small pin will appear in the title bar of the pinned window.

Window TopMost Control

Install Window TopMost Control: Download and install this utility.
Pin Windows: Select the window you want to keep on top and double-click the TopMost Control icon in the system tray.

Other Tools

Other tools like TurboTop, PinWin, OnTopReplica, WindowTop, and TopMostFriend offer similar functionalities with varying degrees of customization and ease of use.

Built-in Application Options

Some applications have built-in options to keep their windows always on top:

Task Manager: In Windows 10 and 11, you can set the Task Manager to always be on top. For Windows 10, click Options > Always on Top in the Task Manager window. For Windows 11, open the Task Manager's menu, select Settings, and check Always on top under Window management.
VLC Media Player: Click Video > Always on top to keep the VLC window on top.
Process Explorer: Click Options > Always on Top to keep the Process Explorer window on top.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

For a quick and simple solution without installing additional software, you can use the following method, although it is less reliable than the above methods:

Press Alt + Space: This opens the system menu for the window.
Select Always on Top: From the system menu, select the Always on Top option.

However, this method may not work as reliably as using dedicated tools like PowerToys or third-party utilities.

Conclusion

Keeping your application windows always on top can significantly enhance your productivity by ensuring that critical windows remain visible even when multitasking. Whether you choose the powerful and customizable Microsoft PowerToys or opt for third-party utilities like DeskPins or Window TopMost Control, there are numerous ways to achieve this functionality in Windows 11 and 10.