microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys

Context Menu upon Release when Right-Click Dragging a Window

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#45,901 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Idea-New PowerToy Needs-Triage Product-File Explorer
Dominant language
C
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139k
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PR merge metrics
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Description

### Description of the new feature / enhancement

Currently, clicking and dragging a window by its title bar using the right mouse button has no effect. While a simple right-click opens the system menu, holding the right mouse button and dragging is an unassigned interaction. This represents a missed opportunity.

I propose that dragging a window by its title bar with the right mouse button should trigger a context-sensitive menu upon release (drop). The menu would offer actions based on both the source window and the target application onto which it is dropped.

Well, actually there are more missed opportunities, as there could also be another action when using a modifier key with the left or right mouse button. This applies to clicking and dragging.

In addition this could be also added to the windows previews in the task bar. Right-click and drag one of the windows to any other application/location:
Image

### Scenario when this would be used?

This could significantly enhance cross-application workflows. For example:

- Excel → Outlook: Right-click the Excel window’s title bar and drag it onto an open email. Upon release, a menu appears with options such as: “Insert File Link,” “Attach File,” “Paste Data as Table,” “Paste Selection as Table,” etc.
- Word → M365 Copilot: Right-click the Word window’s title bar and drag it onto M365 Copilot. Upon release, a menu appears with options such as: “Insert File,” “Paste Contents,” etc.
- Excel → PowerPoint: “Embed Data as Table,” “Embed Selection as Table,” “Insert Data as Table,” “Insert Selection as Table,” etc.

There would be many possibilities.

This concept already exists in certain contexts for items inside an application. For example, dragging items from File Explorer with the right mouse button opens a context menu upon release (e.g., “Copy here,” “Move here,” “Create shortcut here”). However, this functionality is limited to specific elements within applications. And in many applications, the right mouse button cannot be used this way because it is reserved for in-app context menus.

While dragging it could look like this:

Image

### Supporting information

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

The issue proposes right-button dragging from window title bars and taskbar previews, but names no implementation files, tests, or entry points. Start by identifying which PowerToys component owns window and taskbar drag handling; the scope and completion criteria need to be defined before implementation can begin.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
desktop, operating-systems
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
20/100

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