Keep Any App Visible with PowerToys Always On Top in Windows 10/11

Microsoft PowerToys Always On Top can keep a selected app window above other windows: focus the window and press Windows key + Ctrl + T. Press the same shortcut again to unpin it. The feature supports Windows 11 and Windows 10 version 2004, build 19041, or later, on x64 and ARM64 systems.

Prerequisites and compatibility​

You need:

• Windows 11, or Windows 10 version 2004 or later.
• A 64-bit x64 or ARM64 processor.
• Microsoft PowerToys installed and running.
• Permission to install apps on the PC.

To check your Windows version:

1. Press Windows key + R.
2. Enter:
   winver
3. Select OK.
4. On Windows 10, confirm that the displayed OS build is 19041 or higher.

PowerToys setup installs the required Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime when necessary. A Windows restart is not normally required after installing or enabling Always On Top, although PowerToys itself may restart when an update is applied.
Always On Top works with most normal desktop and Store app windows. Important limitations include:

• PowerToys may need administrator permission to pin an app that is running as administrator.
• Exclusive full-screen games and protected system screens can appear above pinned windows.
• Some apps create separate pop-up, dialog, or document windows that must be pinned individually.
• Closing a pinned window removes its pinned state.

Install and enable PowerToys Always On Top​

1. Install PowerToys from Microsoft Store​

If PowerToys is already installed, continue to Step 2.

1. Open Start.
2. Search for and open Microsoft Store.
3. Search the Store for Microsoft PowerToys.
4. Select the Microsoft-published PowerToys app.
5. Select Install or Get.
6. Wait for installation to finish, and then select Open.

After installation, the PowerToys Settings window should open. PowerToys may also display an overview of its available utilities.

2. Open PowerToys Settings​

Use either of these methods:

• Open Start, search for PowerToys, and select PowerToys (Preview) or PowerToys.
• Select the PowerToys icon in the taskbar notification area, and then open Settings.

If the icon is hidden, select the taskbar’s Show hidden icons arrow first.

3. Make PowerToys start automatically​

Always On Top works only while PowerToys is running. Enabling startup prevents the shortcut from unexpectedly stopping after you sign out or restart Windows.

1. In PowerToys Settings, select General.
2. Under Appearance & behavior, turn on Run at startup.
3. Optionally turn on Show system tray icon so you can quickly confirm that PowerToys is running.

No Windows restart is required. The startup setting takes effect the next time you sign in.

4. Enable Always On Top​

1. In the PowerToys Settings navigation pane, select Always On Top.
2. Turn on Enable Always On Top if it is disabled.
3. Confirm that Activation shortcut shows:
   Windows key + Ctrl + T

Changes normally apply immediately. You do not need to restart the app you want to pin.

5. Pin an app window​

1. Open the app that you want to keep visible.
2. Restore the app to a normal or maximized window if it is minimized.
3. Click the specific window so that it is active.
4. Press:
   Windows key + Ctrl + T

The active window should remain above other ordinary windows. With the default visual settings, a colored border appears around the pinned window. PowerToys may also play a sound when the window is pinned.
The shortcut affects the currently active window—not every window belonging to that application. For example, if an app has a main window and a separate settings dialog, activate and pin the one that needs to stay visible.

6. Unpin the window​

1. Click the pinned window to make it active.
2. Press Windows key + Ctrl + T again.

The colored border should disappear, and other windows should once again be able to cover it.
Closing the pinned window also removes the pinned state. When you reopen the app, use the shortcut again if you still want it kept on top.

Customize Always On Top​

Open PowerToys Settings > Always On Top to change how pinning behaves.

Change the keyboard shortcut​

1. Select the current Activation shortcut control.
2. Press the new key combination you want to use.
3. Confirm the shortcut if prompted.
4. Test it on a normal app window.

Choose a combination that does not conflict with another PowerToys utility, Windows shortcut, or app command. PowerToys can warn about conflicts between its own utility shortcuts.
If the new combination does not work reliably, restore the default:
Windows key + Ctrl + T

Add the title-bar context-menu command​

For mouse-based access:

1. Open PowerToys Settings > Always On Top.
2. Turn on Show Always on Top in the title bar context menu.
3. Open an app window.
4. Right-click the window’s title bar.
5. Select the Always on Top command.

Repeat the title-bar action to turn the pinned state off. This is useful on keyboards where the default shortcut is inconvenient or unavailable.
Not every application uses a standard Windows title bar. The command may therefore be absent from custom-drawn app menus even though the keyboard shortcut still works.

Change the pinned-window border​

Under PowerToys Settings > Always On Top, use:

• Show a border around the pinned window to display or hide the border.
• Color mode to use the Windows default or a custom border color.
• Color to select a custom color when custom mode is enabled.
• Opacity (%) to control border transparency.
• Thickness (px) to change the border width.
• Enable rounded corners to round the border corners.
• Play a sound when pinning a window to enable or disable the confirmation sound.

Hiding the border does not disable the pinned state. It only removes the visual indicator.

Prevent specific apps from being pinned​

Use Excluded apps when the shortcut interferes with a program or when certain windows should never be placed on top.

1. Open PowerToys Settings > Always On Top.
2. Find Excluded apps.
3. Add the application’s executable name, one entry per line—for example:
   notepad.exe
4. Activate that app and test the shortcut.

Executable names provide more precise exclusions. A partial entry such as Notepad can match multiple apps, including Notepad.exe and Notepad++.exe.
To roll back an exclusion, delete its entry from Excluded apps and test the shortcut again.

Verify that the window is pinned​

1. Open two ordinary apps, such as Notepad and File Explorer.
2. Click Notepad.
3. Press Windows key + Ctrl + T.
4. Look for the configured border or listen for the configured sound.
5. Click File Explorer and move it over the Notepad window.

Notepad should remain visible above File Explorer even though File Explorer has focus.
Press Windows key + Ctrl + T on Notepad again. File Explorer should now be able to cover it. This confirms that both pinning and unpinning are working.

Alternate installation method: WinGet​

WinGet is useful when Microsoft Store is unavailable or when you prefer a command-line installation.

1. Right-click Start.
2. Open Terminal, Windows Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt.
3. Run:
   winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys --source winget
4. Review and accept any displayed source or package agreements.
5. Wait for WinGet to report that installation completed successfully.
6. Open Start, search for PowerToys, and launch it.
7. Continue with PowerToys Settings > Always On Top.

If winget is reported as an unrecognized command, install or update App Installer through Microsoft Store, or use the Microsoft Store installation procedure instead.

Troubleshooting​

Windows key + Ctrl + T does nothing​

Check the basic PowerToys state first:

1. Open Start and launch PowerToys.
2. Open PowerToys Settings > Always On Top.
3. Confirm that Enable Always On Top is on.
4. Confirm the configured Activation shortcut.
5. Check Excluded apps and remove the affected executable if it should be pinnable.
6. Test with Notepad to determine whether the problem affects one app or all apps.

If the shortcut works in Notepad, the original application may be excluded, elevated, protected, or using a nonstandard window type.

The shortcut does not work while gaming​

Open PowerToys Settings > Always On Top and check Do not activate when Game Mode is on.

• Leave this setting on if you do not want the shortcut triggered accidentally during games.
• Turn it off if you intentionally need Always On Top while Windows Game Mode is active.

An exclusive full-screen game can still cover an always-on-top window. If the game supports it, switch its display mode from Exclusive Fullscreen to Borderless Windowed or Windowed, and then test again.

An administrator app cannot be pinned​

A standard-permission PowerToys process may be unable to control a window that is running with administrator permission.
Warning: Running PowerToys as administrator gives all enabled PowerToys utilities elevated access. Use elevation only when required, and avoid enabling permanent administrator mode solely for ordinary apps.
To elevate PowerToys temporarily:

1. Open PowerToys Settings.
2. Select General.
3. Under the administrator-mode section, select Restart as administrator.
4. Approve the User Account Control prompt.
5. Activate the elevated app window.
6. Press Windows key + Ctrl + T again.

For regular use with elevated applications, PowerToys also provides Always run as administrator, but Microsoft recommends avoiding permanent elevation unless it is necessary.
To roll back:

1. Open PowerToys Settings > General.
2. Turn off Always run as administrator if it was enabled.
3. Exit PowerToys from its taskbar notification-area icon.
4. Launch PowerToys normally from Start.

The border does not appear​

The window may still be pinned.

1. Open PowerToys Settings > Always On Top.
2. Turn on Show a border around the pinned window.
3. Increase Thickness (px).
4. Increase Opacity (%).
5. Select a contrasting custom color.
6. Pin the window again.

Verify functionality by dragging another window over the pinned app. If the app remains visible, Always On Top is working and only the visual border needs adjustment.

A sound plays, but the wrong window is pinned​

Always On Top acts on the active foreground window.

1. Click the exact window you want to pin.
2. Confirm that its title bar indicates it has focus.
3. Press the shortcut once.
4. Avoid switching windows between clicking the target and pressing the shortcut.

Pop-up windows, child dialogs, and app settings panels may be separate windows and may need to be pinned individually.

Pinning works until PowerToys is closed or Windows restarts​

Always On Top requires PowerToys to be running.

1. Open PowerToys Settings > General.
2. Turn on Run at startup.
3. Turn on Show system tray icon.
4. Restart Windows or sign out and back in.
5. Confirm that the PowerToys icon appears in the notification area.

Previously closed app windows must be pinned again after reopening.

The title-bar menu command is missing​

1. Open PowerToys Settings > Always On Top.
2. Turn on Show Always on Top in the title bar context menu.
3. Close and reopen the affected app.
4. Right-click directly on its title bar rather than inside the app.
5. If the command remains absent, use Windows key + Ctrl + T.

Apps with custom title bars may not expose the standard title-bar context menu.

PowerToys or Always On Top remains unresponsive​

1. Right-click the PowerToys notification-area icon.
2. Exit PowerToys.
3. Open Start, search for PowerToys, and launch it again.
4. Open PowerToys Settings > General and check for updates.
5. Apply any available update and allow PowerToys to restart.
6. Test Always On Top with Notepad.

If only one application remains affected, check whether that app is elevated, running in exclusive full-screen mode, listed under Excluded apps, or using a protected window.

Disable or remove the feature​

To disable only Always On Top:

1. Open PowerToys Settings > Always On Top.
2. Turn off Enable Always On Top.

To remove PowerToys completely:

Windows 11​

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Find PowerToys.
3. Select the three-dot menu.
4. Select Uninstall, and then confirm.

Windows 10​

1. Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
2. Select PowerToys.
3. Select Uninstall, and then confirm.

After disabling or uninstalling PowerToys, verify that Windows key + Ctrl + T no longer adds the PowerToys border or keeps the active window above other windows.