Make any windowed application 'Always On Top' without keyboard shortcut?

52

23

I've checked the previous question here, but unfortunately:

  1. DeskPin mostly doesn't work since Windows 8, and it still doesn't work in Windows 10
  2. PowerMenu hasn't been updated since 2002, and does not seem to work in Windows 10
  3. AutoHotKey and AlwaysOnTopMaker requires a keyboard, there is no visual indication that a window is marked as Always on Top or not

I found a program called TurboTop that can do this from system tray, but in Windows 10, TurboTop list all programs that is not even running in its list, twice. It is a mess.

WindowPinner does it better, but it still include not running programs in the list.

Is there any solution that work GUI way without requiring keyboard, like long pressing/right click on title bar and select Always on Top? If you're used to Ubuntu Linux you know this functionality.

Nur

Posted 2015-10-27T12:45:44.390

Reputation: 820

Answers

30

Dexpot does that, it enables a "Clever use of title bars":

The title bar as well as the minimize, maximize and close buttons can be assigned with further functions (Role up, Minimize to system tray, etc.).

Always on top is one of the functions. You could, for example, make a right click on the maximize button activate the always on top.

Anderson Nascimento Nunes

Posted 2015-10-27T12:45:44.390

Reputation: 506

7Dexpot is free for personal use only. – John Dvorak – 2016-05-18T16:51:33.723

2Just want to add a better option for this, you can use AquaSnap, it is even easier since you just have to shake the window to make it always on top instead of right clicking/long tap. – Nur – 2016-06-19T08:14:44.710

1@Nur this is also personal use only and useless if you have to bring your own hardware to work. – John Dvorak – 2016-11-03T00:42:37.033

1@JanDvorak Take a look at my answer - it's GPL, free to use as you please (shameless plug: I'm the author) – Joshua Parnell – 2016-12-30T09:08:22.447

2@JoshuaParnell Unless it can insert itself into the window's context menu, I'm sticking with Turbotop, for the reasons outlined in the comments to your answer. – John Dvorak – 2016-12-30T11:42:44.937

Fair enough. That is on my roadmap, just have to find the right way to hook in – Joshua Parnell – 2016-12-30T14:33:50.990

20

Download the AlwaysOnTop installer and install it (choose the latest release). Run the app from Start -> All Programs -> AlwaysOnTop. It sits in the system tray. Click the icon in the tray, click "AlwaysOnTop", and then click the window you want to stay on top (the cursor will be the cross while waiting for the window).

Full disclosure, I am the app author and this was built using .Net (C#). Full source can be found at the link as well.

Joshua Parnell

Posted 2015-10-27T12:45:44.390

Reputation: 108

1

It's taken from http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/13784/keep-a-window-on-top-with-a-handy-autohotkey-script/

– Aaron_H – 2016-07-06T23:26:13.157

@Aaron_H not true. I have created what I linked myself using AutoIt, which is not AutoHotKey. It has just a tad bit more functionality than the HowToGeek article you linked (namely the title bar altering) – Joshua Parnell – 2016-07-07T14:21:41.530

19"Download this. Run the exe, ..." almost has the same effect on me as if you'd said "Take this syringe and inject the contents into your blood stream ..." – olafure – 2016-07-22T13:10:40.747

1Yea, not really. I gave the instructions with it. It's a simplistic program. Doesn't require much direction. What else do you want, it takes 568 KB of memory to run in the background? If you have suggested edits, suggest them – Joshua Parnell – 2016-07-23T12:39:32.403

I read and tested the script (not the .exe since I already have au3 installed). Seems legit. The only thing I noticed is if you have a hidden Windows 7 taskbar, it won't pop up if you mouse to the bottom of the screen in an area occupied by the pinned window. – jiggunjer – 2016-09-21T05:46:57.747

2it's compiled as 32 bit - if you don't trust the compiled executable (and I'm not insinuating you don't, just putting this here for future readers), it is possible to decompile an executable made with AutoIt into the source au3 file (which can be read with notepad, notepad++, etc). – Joshua Parnell – 2016-10-28T01:36:36.403

1

cool app - but 5% cpu usage while idle - that's a battery drainer http://prntscr.com/dmgmnt

– srgb – 2016-12-22T04:25:30.080

3@srgb I wholeheartedly agree. I believe this to be because it is built in AutoIt. I have recently increased its functionality (slightly), but because AutoIt applications' GUI's require a constant while loop to remain active, this can consume CPU as more functions are added. I plan to rewrite this app in C# as I have time. – Joshua Parnell – 2016-12-23T21:44:34.497

1

@srgb does this look a little better? http://prnt.sc/dpmoei Rewritten in C#, as promised. I haven't had near as much time to do this as I had hoped, holidays and all.

– Joshua Parnell – 2016-12-30T08:47:50.403

2the screenshot looks better definitely :) I see you've updated Github. Will give it a spin. Cheers UPDATE: both cpu and memory usage seem stable while shifting through windows/desktops. Awesome. I'll continue to monitor and let you know if I come accross any issues. – srgb – 2017-01-02T00:41:58.957

3

There is a pretty big issue with this app, on Windows 10 it causes the keyboard to stop accepting input likely due to trying to register a keyboard hook. See Keyboard not working while using it. #15.

– Lankymart – 2017-07-03T13:47:38.400

11

This is off the OP's original question, but seems like a good place to share information about 'always on top' utilities, even if it does require a few clicks.

From a programming standpoint, writing a simple utility like this is a very simple exercise. Maybe that's why there are so few solutions out there, or perhaps why there are so many home grown ones.

It's hard for me to trust utilities that are downloaded from somebody's Google Drive or Dropbox account. But I do trust Nir Sofer of Nirsoft. He has a tiny app called WinLister where we can set a window to be always on top. It's not very user friendly if you do it often, but I only occasionally need to pin a window to the top, so it works for me.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/winlister.html

Baodad

Posted 2015-10-27T12:45:44.390

Reputation: 506

1I like that you reasoned why this simple feature is missing from pro apps but so common in home grown apps. That helps explain why apps for this feature may be hard to find from more reputable software companies and why the apps you do find make you cringe with virus fear. Also, I can confirm that this app suggestion does work with Windows 10 Store apps. – Thomas – 2016-12-28T03:04:26.727

1winlister stops working the instant I open it. Both x64 and x86 version, even as admin. Win 10. – lucidbrot – 2017-05-27T17:17:46.253

works for me on windows server 2016 64 bit. thank you! – mit – 2019-01-11T14:12:54.520

Make sure to set compatibility mode to Windows 8 when you are on Windows 10. – VBorisoff – 2019-11-29T08:40:41.623

3

I have been using VirtuaWin since many years for this. It allows me to middle click on the title-bar of any window to make it stay 'always on top'. Works fine on win 10. Free, open source.

charsi

Posted 2015-10-27T12:45:44.390

Reputation: 143

This work great! Thanks, but the problem is it requires middle click which require wheeled mouse, anyway to change it to right click (integrate with default context menu) so it can be performed with touchpad or directly on the screen? – Nur – 2017-01-25T06:19:03.737

0

You can use maComfort.

After installing, in addition to many features, you can middle mouse click on the title bar and choose the "always on top" option. You can disable it the same way.

Hejar

Posted 2015-10-27T12:45:44.390

Reputation: 1

0

Is there any solution that work GUI way without requiring keyboard, like long pressing/right click on title bar and select Always on Top? If you're used to Ubuntu Linux you know this functionality.

Yes, try WindowTop from here: http://windowtop.info/

from softpedia review (source: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhancements/WindowTop.shtml) :

there are several functions at your disposal. These are accessed from a new menu attached to every window’s title bar. Menu options only appear on mouseover, and the container can be moved across the title bar.

It works really well on windows 10

gil123

Posted 2015-10-27T12:45:44.390

Reputation: 1

0

This perhaps doesn't exactly address OP's request, but Stick-It! is a great option for keeping certain windows on-top of others.

Key features:

  • Portable
  • Works with Windows 10 (tested, even though the landing page for the software doesn't state as such)
  • System tray controls
  • Doesn't retain on-top window settings through log out/restart/shut down

Windows are selected to keep on-top by right clicking on the system tray icon the software sets up, selecting "Stick-It!", and then simply clicking anywhere in the window of choice, which wiggles the window side to side for a second or two.

user66001

Posted 2015-10-27T12:45:44.390

Reputation: 1 050

0

You can use AutoHotkey and make a script with just a single line of code:

^SPACE:: Winset, AlwaysOnTop, , A

Ctrl+Space Will toggle a window to stay on top.

Have a look at the full syntax:

WinSet, AlwaysOnTop , OnOffToggle, WinTitle, WinText, ExcludeTitle, ExcludeText

A activates WinTitle A which means the Active Window.

Read more on Winset command here: https://autohotkey.com/docs/commands/WinSet.htm

If you're unfamiliar with AutoHotkey, download it from here: https://www.autohotkey.com/

And learn to use it: https://autohotkey.com/docs/Tutorial.htm

Explaining AutoHotkey would not be relative to this answer, and the tutorial link will explain much better than I can.

Shayan

Posted 2015-10-27T12:45:44.390

Reputation: 590

Also check https://www.itechtics.com/10-tools-to-always-on-top-any-app-in-windows-10/ for more.

– Shayan – 2019-01-02T14:47:04.363

Asked: 2015-10-27T12:45:44.390

Viewed: 143 096 times

Active: 2019-07-08T19:43:21.157