How to Keep a Window Always on Top in Windows 11

Getting PowerToys on Windows 11 & Making Windows Stay on Top

Honestly, it’s a bit baffling that Windows doesn’t have a straightforward “Always on Top” feature built in — or at least I couldn’t find one easily. That’s where PowerToys comes in. It’s a handy little toolkit from Microsoft that adds all sorts of useful tweaks, including the ability to pin windows so they stay above the rest. First up, you’ll need to install it. Head over to the official GitHub repository at https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases. Grab the latest version — I recommend always going for the newest build because they frequently update it with bug fixes and new features.

Installing PowerToys is pretty straightforward — run the .exe installer, follow the prompts, and if prompted, give it admin rights. Once installed, you can launch PowerToys from the Start menu. It doesn’t automatically start with Windows unless you specify, so it’s a good idea to enable ‘Run at logon’ during setup so it’s always ready when you boot up.

Finding the “Always on Top” Feature in PowerToys

When you first open PowerToys, the interface can look a bit busy because it’s packed with different modules and settings. To find the “Always on Top” feature, look for it in the sidebar. Honestly, I missed it at first — it’s not always obvious. Sometimes it’s tucked under General or Keyboard Manager. Keep an eye out for the label “Always on Top.” Some versions may list it as a dedicated module. If you don’t see it, make sure you’re running the latest version of PowerToys — support for modules can vary across updates.

Click on “Always on Top” and you’ll see a toggle switch — turn it on. This allows you to pin certain windows so they stay above everything else. Great for multitasking or when Windows decides to shuffle your taskbar or overlay windows in weird spots. After enabling it, you can pin any window manually via hotkeys or the right-click menu, depending on your setup.

Using Hotkeys to Pin and Unpin Windows — The Fast Method

The best part is the hotkey combo. By default, it’s Windows + T. Make sure the window you want on top is active, then press Win + T. Usually, that does the trick — the window stays on top. Sometimes, you might encounter issues—like if PowerToys isn’t focused or a Windows update causes hotkey conflicts. You can remap this hotkey inside PowerToys if needed, to avoid overlap or for easier access — just go to the “Keyboard Manager” module and assign a new shortcut that works for you.

To unpin a window, press the same hotkey again. Easy as that. If hotkeys aren’t working, double-check that PowerToys is running with the correct permissions — running as a standard user can sometimes cause issues. Restarting PowerToys or just the specific module from the system tray can often fix strange behaviour.

Pin Multiple Windows or Set Custom Hotkeys for Different Apps

If the default hotkey doesn’t cut it, you can assign different shortcuts to pin specific apps or windows. It’s a bit more advanced, but very handy if you juggle multiple tasks and want certain apps always visible. PowerToys lets you customise hotkeys for various windows. Just remember, pressing the same hotkey repeatedly will pin multiple windows — overlapping windows or different z-ordering can get a bit confusing, but it still beats having to manually resize or reposition everything.

Customising Appearance with Borderless Windows and Settings

One minor gripe I have is the borders around pinned windows — they can look a bit thick or clunky, especially if you’re after a sleeker look. Luckily, PowerToys has an option called Show borders around pinned windows. You’ll typically find this under General or directly within the “Always on Top” module. Turn it off, restart PowerToys if needed, and you’ll get cleaner, borderless pinned windows. It’s a small tweak but makes a noticeable difference in a cluttered UI.

Adjusting Hotkeys, Notifications, and Managing Exceptions

If the default hotkey (Win + T) conflicts with other shortcuts or you prefer something more comfortable, you can remap hotkeys in the “Keyboard Manager” module. Also, if you don’t want to hear a sound every time you pin or unpin a window, there’s an option called “Play sound on hotkey activation” — turn it off for a quieter experience. After all, silence is golden, especially when tweaking things late at night.

Another handy feature is adding apps to an exclusions list. This means if you often pin windows but want certain ones — like streaming pop-ups or security alerts — to stay unaffected, you can add their process names (e.g., chrome.exe or explorer.exe) to the exceptions. That way, hotkeys won’t accidentally keep these windows on top, helping to avoid some frustration.