FancyZones steals input focus on display resolution change which breaks fullscreen games

[The-MAZZTer]

Environment

Windows build number: 10.0.18362.295
PowerToys version: 0.11.0
PowerToy module for which you are reporting the bug (if applicable): FancyZones

Steps to reproduce

Ensure FancyZones is active. The option "Flash zones when the active FancyZones layout changes" may need to be enabled as well.

Run any fullscreen game which uses a resolution different from the desktop resolution.

I first noticed this on Spyro: Reignited Trilogy for PC but then made a simple Unity project to confirm it's nothing specific that game is doing. I have attached it below (source code and binary) to allow for easy reproduction.

Test.zip

The resolution selection dialog has been enabled for the included build. Disable "Windowed" and select a resolution different from the desktop resolution.

Expected behavior

The game runs as it normally would.

Actual behavior

FancyZones attempts to display the zones in the new resolution, stealing focus from the game. This causes Windows to minimize the game and revert to the previous desktop resolution. It is impossible to maintain focus on the game.

After closing out of PowerToys the game can be restored and runs normally.

[enricogior]

Hi @The-MAZZTer
thank you for reporting the bug.

[enricogior]

@The-MAZZTer
can you confirm that with "Flash zones when the active FancyZones layout changes" off the problem doesn't occur?
We are planning to turn it off by default so it will be less common for new users to run into this issue.
Thank you.

[The-MAZZTer]

Yup, seems to work fine.

[BattleNonSense]

@The-MAZZTer
can you confirm that with "Flash zones when the active FancyZones layout changes" off the problem doesn't occur?

I just ran into the same issue and disabling that option fixed the issue! :)

[odinlake]

I have this issue too. It is intermittent so I don't know for sure if the "Flash zones..." option is to blame. But I want to add that it is not only full screen games that are affected: I started one app (PyCharm) whose window appear maximized - the window was minimized to tray a split second after it appeared.

[dogiee]

Agreed with all the findings above. I would be able to open a full screen game and play without issue until I ever tabbed out of it, then nothing I could do would get me back in the game as the zones would always flash up and take me back to desktop.

I can also confirm that it does seem to be fixed with Flash Zones off.

Thank you though for adding this feature in the first place, it really adds so much more productivity!

[WinkelCode]

Also confirming I am experiencing the issue and Flash Zones off is the solution, for me it only happens in a few games though, currently I am aware of this issue in Resident Evil 2 Remake (DX11/Fullscreen, DX12 works fine), MGSV Ground Zeroes and interestingly Densha De Go! Final when running with Nvidia DSR.

Edit: I also don't have to alt-tab out to trigger this bug, it happens right away.

[enricogior]

Assigned to @vldmr11080

[enricogior]

Fixed in https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/tag/v0.14.1