microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys
Peek shortcut "Space" intermittently fails in File Explorer.
- Dominant language
- C
- Stars
- 139k
- Forks
- 8.6k
- PR merge metrics
- PR metrics pending
Description
### Microsoft PowerToys version
0.100.2
### Installation method
PowerToys auto-update
### Area(s) with issue?
Peek
### Steps to reproduce
1. Open File Explorer.
2. Select any file in the file list.
3. Press Space to activate Peek.
4. Observe that sometimes nothing happens and the Peek preview does not open.
Additional observations:
- The issue mainly happens in File Explorer.
- Peek works normally on the Desktop.
- If I minimize File Explorer and restore it, or switch to another application and switch back, pressing Space works again.
- Opening PowerToys Command Palette shortcut and then pressing Space also makes Peek work again.
- Changing the Peek shortcut from Space to Ctrl+Space makes the issue disappear completely; Ctrl+Space works consistently.
### ✔️ Expected Behavior
Pressing Space on a selected file in File Explorer should always open the Peek preview window.
The shortcut should work consistently without requiring any window focus changes or other PowerToys actions.
### ❌ Actual Behavior
Sometimes pressing Space on a selected file in File Explorer does nothing.
No Peek window appears and there is no visible error.
The issue can be temporarily resolved by:
- Minimizing and restoring File Explorer.
- Switching to another application and returning to File Explorer.
- Opening PowerToys Command Palette.
Using Ctrl+Space instead of Space does not reproduce the issue.
### Upload Bug Report ZIP-file
_No response_
### Additional Information
Windows 11 25h2
Default shortcut: Space
### Other Software
_No response_
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by reproducing the Space shortcut failure in Peek with File Explorer, comparing it with Desktop and Ctrl+Space as described. Trace the Peek shortcut and focus-handling entry points; done means Space reliably opens the preview in File Explorer without requiring focus changes or other PowerToys actions.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- c
- Domain
- desktop, tooling
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Active
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 48/100