How to Make Any Window Always Visible in Windows

Jan 5th, 20122 Comments

Do you need to have an application window sit on top of other windows? For example, you can keep a calculator handy at all times. Regardless of what other window you switch to, this window will always be visible.

Some Windows applications, such as Task Manager, include such functionality, but most do not. For apps that do not, an app appropriately named Window on Top can help.

The app runs in the background in the tray/notification area. It consists of one single window.

Window on Top

Window on Top

To make any window stay on top of everything else, either drag the hand shown in Window on Top onto the application window or use the shortcut key Ctrl + F8 while the desired application window is active. Repeat to cancel.

Notepad Window on Top

The Notepad window remains on top even though I'm typing in Firefox

An alternative to Window on Top is PowerMenu. PowerMenu allows you to keep any window on top through right clicking the title bar or taskbar item (pre-Windows 7 only). It also includes features such as window transparency.

PowerMenu

PowerMenu in Context Menu

However, I found that the menu does not work if the window does not use a standard Windows title bar (or has no title bar), such as Firefox and Chrome.

Have a different app to keep windows on top? Share with us in the comments.

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Brian is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of TechAirlines. He is also a developer and manages most of the site’s operations. He enjoys web development in his free time and is currently trying to learn Python. He is currently a high school senior in New York City.

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  • jack albee

    I cannot see anything to the right of the minimize button, not the button for moving the screen up and down nor the on /off button, or for getting the wrench icon for getting to tools, etc.. ctl + f8, i get nothing???

    jack

    • http://www.techairlines.com Brian Yang

      For Windows on Top, it doesn’t add anything to the window. Just have the Windows on Top window minimized into the tray, and use the shortcut key Ctrl+F8. What application are you trying to use this on? There might be an application specific problem.

      For PowerMenu, it doesn’t work if the application does not have a title bar or uses a custom right click context menu (such as Firefox and Chrome).

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