microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys

ALWAYS ON TOP + FORCE ACTIVE WINDOW

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#48,642 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Needs-Triage Product-Always On Top
Dominant language
C
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Description

### Description of the new feature / enhancement

Hi, something many users are looking for is a way of displaying a PowerPoint presentation on an extended display (such as projector) while also being able to do other things on their computer. The reason this is currently impossible is that **only the active window is controllable**. This means as soon as you click on any other window, PowerPoint can no longer be controlled. So, a feature like Always On Top is SO CLOSE to being the solution to this. All it needs is one simple feature, that it doesn't only force a window to **_appear_** on top, but also to be the active window. This new **optional** feature could allow users to click on other programs just once, but immediately force the window set to 'Always On Top' to be the active window on the next click. Perhaps there could be an additional option for keyboard presses of characters to be allowed but not arrow keys, or users could set the number of clicks permitted or an amount of time (in seconds) permitted on other active windows before the 'Always On Top' window is activated again. Thanks for considering this feature. It could either be in addition to Always On Top or as a separate function (such as 'Force Active Window').

### Scenario when this would be used?

When presenting to a projector and needing that window to be controllable whilst also doing other things on your laptop at the same time without losing that controllability.

### Supporting information

An example of this in demand from others: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4784591/how-to-keep-ppt-show-running-while-still-working-o

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

The issue names no files, tests, or implementation entry point. Start by locating the PowerToys utility that provides Always On Top and determine how window activation is handled. Done should include an optional force-active behavior that preserves the described presentation workflow without preventing normal use of other windows.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
desktop
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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