microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys

PowerToys often absent from system tray first thing in the morning

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#50,146 2 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Issue-Bug Needs-Team-Response Needs-Triage Product-General
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Description

### Microsoft PowerToys version

v0.101.2262

### Installation method

PowerToys auto-update

### Area(s) with issue?

General

### Steps to reproduce

Leave the computer logged in and idle overnight. PowerToys is often absent in the morning from the system tray, and features such as fancyzones don't work. There is no error dialog. I have verified that no system reboots are occurring that could explain the issue.

### ✔️ Expected Behavior

_No response_

### ❌ Actual Behavior

_No response_

### Upload Bug Report ZIP-file

[PowerToysReport_2026-08-26-11-20-13.zip](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/31479975/PowerToysReport_2026-08-26-11-20-13.zip)

### Additional Information

OS version
Windows 11 Pro, version 25H2, build 26200.9106

.Net version
dotnet --list-runtimes
Microsoft.NETCore.App 8.0.30 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.NETCore.App]
Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App 8.0.30 [C:\Program Files\dotnet\shared\Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App]

System language
en-US

User or System Installation
system (C:\Program Files\PowerToys)

Running as admin
yes

As this is only happening overnight I am including the power scheme:

Power Scheme GUID: 381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e (Balanced)
GUID Alias: SCHEME_BALANCED
Subgroup GUID: 0012ee47-9041-4b5d-9b77-535fba8b1442 (Hard disk)
GUID Alias: SUB_DISK
Power Setting GUID: 6738e2c4-e8a5-4a42-b16a-e040e769756e (Turn off hard disk after)
GUID Alias: DISKIDLE
Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
Maximum Possible Setting: 0xffffffff
Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
Possible Settings units: Seconds
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x000004b0
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000258

Subgroup GUID: 02f815b5-a5cf-4c84-bf20-649d1f75d3d8 (Internet Explorer)
Power Setting GUID: 4c793e7d-a264-42e1-87d3-7a0d2f523ccd (JavaScript Timer Frequency)
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Maximum Power Savings
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Maximum Performance
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000

Subgroup GUID: 0d7dbae2-4294-402a-ba8e-26777e8488cd (Desktop background settings)
Power Setting GUID: 309dce9b-bef4-4119-9921-a851fb12f0f4 (Slide show)
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Available
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Paused
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001

Subgroup GUID: 19cbb8fa-5279-450e-9fac-8a3d5fedd0c1 (Wireless Adapter Settings)
Power Setting GUID: 12bbebe6-58d6-4636-95bb-3217ef867c1a (Power Saving Mode)
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Maximum Performance
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Low Power Saving
Possible Setting Index: 002
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Medium Power Saving
Possible Setting Index: 003
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Maximum Power Saving
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000002

Subgroup GUID: 238c9fa8-0aad-41ed-83f4-97be242c8f20 (Sleep)
GUID Alias: SUB_SLEEP
Power Setting GUID: 29f6c1db-86da-48c5-9fdb-f2b67b1f44da (Sleep after)
GUID Alias: STANDBYIDLE
Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
Maximum Possible Setting: 0xffffffff
Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
Possible Settings units: Seconds
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000

Power Setting GUID: 94ac6d29-73ce-41a6-809f-6363ba21b47e (Allow hybrid sleep)
GUID Alias: HYBRIDSLEEP
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Off
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: On
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001

Power Setting GUID: 9d7815a6-7ee4-497e-8888-515a05f02364 (Hibernate after)
GUID Alias: HIBERNATEIDLE
Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
Maximum Possible Setting: 0xffffffff
Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
Possible Settings units: Seconds
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000

Power Setting GUID: bd3b718a-0680-4d9d-8ab2-e1d2b4ac806d (Allow wake timers)
GUID Alias: RTCWAKE
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Disable
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Enable
Possible Setting Index: 002
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Important Wake Timers Only
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001

Subgroup GUID: 2a737441-1930-4402-8d77-b2bebba308a3 (USB settings)
Power Setting GUID: 48e6b7a6-50f5-4782-a5d4-53bb8f07e226 (USB selective suspend setting)
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Disabled
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Enabled
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001

Subgroup GUID: 44f3beca-a7c0-460e-9df2-bb8b99e0cba6 (Intel(R) Graphics Settings)
Power Setting GUID: 3619c3f2-afb2-4afc-b0e9-e7fef372de36 (Intel(R) Graphics Power Plan)
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Maximum Battery Life
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Balanced
Possible Setting Index: 002
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Maximum Performance
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001

Subgroup GUID: 4f971e89-eebd-4455-a8de-9e59040e7347 (Power buttons and lid)
GUID Alias: SUB_BUTTONS
Power Setting GUID: a7066653-8d6c-40a8-910e-a1f54b84c7e5 (Start menu power button)
GUID Alias: UIBUTTON_ACTION
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Sleep
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Hibernate
Possible Setting Index: 002
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Shut down
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000

Subgroup GUID: 501a4d13-42af-4429-9fd1-a8218c268e20 (PCI Express)
GUID Alias: SUB_PCIEXPRESS
Power Setting GUID: ee12f906-d277-404b-b6da-e5fa1a576df5 (Link State Power Management)
GUID Alias: ASPM
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Off
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Moderate power savings
Possible Setting Index: 002
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Maximum power savings
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000002

Subgroup GUID: 54533251-82be-4824-96c1-47b60b740d00 (Processor power management)
GUID Alias: SUB_PROCESSOR
Power Setting GUID: 893dee8e-2bef-41e0-89c6-b55d0929964c (Minimum processor state)
GUID Alias: PROCTHROTTLEMIN
Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
Maximum Possible Setting: 0x00000064
Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
Possible Settings units: %
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000005
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000005

Power Setting GUID: bc5038f7-23e0-4960-96da-33abaf5935ec (Maximum processor state)
GUID Alias: PROCTHROTTLEMAX
Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
Maximum Possible Setting: 0x00000064
Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
Possible Settings units: %
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000064
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000064

Subgroup GUID: 7516b95f-f776-4464-8c53-06167f40cc99 (Display)
GUID Alias: SUB_VIDEO
Power Setting GUID: 3c0bc021-c8a8-4e07-a973-6b14cbcb2b7e (Turn off display after)
GUID Alias: VIDEOIDLE
Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
Maximum Possible Setting: 0xffffffff
Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
Possible Settings units: Seconds
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000258
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000258

Power Setting GUID: aded5e82-b909-4619-9949-f5d71dac0bcb (Display brightness)
GUID Alias: VIDEONORMALLEVEL
Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
Maximum Possible Setting: 0x00000064
Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
Possible Settings units: %
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x0000004b
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x0000004b

Power Setting GUID: f1fbfde2-a960-4165-9f88-50667911ce96 (Dimmed display brightness)
Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
Maximum Possible Setting: 0x00000064
Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
Possible Settings units: %
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000032
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000032

Power Setting GUID: fbd9aa66-9553-4097-ba44-ed6e9d65eab8 (Enable adaptive brightness)
GUID Alias: ADAPTBRIGHT
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Off
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: On
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000

Subgroup GUID: 9596fb26-9850-41fd-ac3e-f7c3c00afd4b (Multimedia settings)
Power Setting GUID: 03680956-93bc-4294-bba6-4e0f09bb717f (When sharing media)
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Allow the computer to sleep
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Prevent idling to sleep
Possible Setting Index: 002
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Allow the computer to enter Away Mode
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000

Power Setting GUID: 10778347-1370-4ee0-8bbd-33bdacaade49 (Video playback quality bias)
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Video playback power-saving bias
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Video playback performance bias
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000

Power Setting GUID: 34c7b99f-9a6d-4b3c-8dc7-b6693b78cef4 (When playing video)
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Optimize video quality
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Balanced
Possible Setting Index: 002
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Optimize power savings
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001

Subgroup GUID: e73a048d-bf27-4f12-9731-8b2076e8891f (Battery)
GUID Alias: SUB_BATTERY
Power Setting GUID: 5dbb7c9f-38e9-40d2-9749-4f8a0e9f640f (Critical battery notification)
GUID Alias: BATFLAGSCRIT
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Off
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: On
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001

Power Setting GUID: 637ea02f-bbcb-4015-8e2c-a1c7b9c0b546 (Critical battery action)
GUID Alias: BATACTIONCRIT
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Do nothing
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Sleep
Possible Setting Index: 002
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Hibernate
Possible Setting Index: 003
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Shut down
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000002
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000002

Power Setting GUID: 8183ba9a-e910-48da-8769-14ae6dc1170a (Low battery level)
GUID Alias: BATLEVELLOW
Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
Maximum Possible Setting: 0x00000064
Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
Possible Settings units: %
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x0000000a
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x0000000a

Power Setting GUID: 9a66d8d7-4ff7-4ef9-b5a2-5a326ca2a469 (Critical battery level)
GUID Alias: BATLEVELCRIT
Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
Maximum Possible Setting: 0x00000064
Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
Possible Settings units: %
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000005
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000005

Power Setting GUID: bcded951-187b-4d05-bccc-f7e51960c258 (Low battery notification)
GUID Alias: BATFLAGSLOW
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Off
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: On
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000001

Power Setting GUID: d8742dcb-3e6a-4b3c-b3fe-374623cdcf06 (Low battery action)
GUID Alias: BATACTIONLOW
Possible Setting Index: 000
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Do nothing
Possible Setting Index: 001
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Sleep
Possible Setting Index: 002
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Hibernate
Possible Setting Index: 003
Possible Setting Friendly Name: Shut down
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000000

Power Setting GUID: f3c5027d-cd16-4930-aa6b-90db844a8f00 (Reserve battery level)
Minimum Possible Setting: 0x00000000
Maximum Possible Setting: 0x00000064
Possible Settings increment: 0x00000001
Possible Settings units: %
Current AC Power Setting Index: 0x00000007
Current DC Power Setting Index: 0x00000007

### Other Software

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start with the overnight idle reproduction described in the issue and inspect the attached PowerToysReport ZIP for evidence from the v0.101.2262 system installation. Compare behavior on Windows 11 build 26200.9106; done means PowerToys remains available in the system tray after an idle night and features such as FancyZones continue working.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
c
Domain
desktop, operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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