Description
Description of the new feature / enhancement
Dear PowerToys Team,
Thank you for the great tools you develop — PowerToys has become an essential part of my workflow.
I’d like to suggest a feature that would be very useful for professionals working with complex software on multi-monitor setups:
Add an option to prevent selected windows from hiding or minimizing when the main window loses focus — a setting like “Ignore Focus Loss” or “Prevent Deactivation.”
This feature would allow tool panels (especially those from professional apps) to stay visible even when interacting with other windows, improving multitasking and multi-monitor workflows.
Scenario when this would be used?
I work in a furniture design program called Basis Furniture Designer (Базис Мебельщик). It allows users to undock tool windows (such as a “Properties” panel) and place them on other monitors.
However, as soon as the main application window loses focus — for example, when I click on a browser or file explorer — these detached panels automatically hide, because they are treated as dependent child windows.
This disrupts the workflow significantly, especially on multi-monitor setups, where multiple tools must remain visible at all times.
Supporting information
A similar feature exists in Actual Window Manager, called “Ignore Deactivation”, which prevents child windows from hiding on focus loss. However, that tool is large and complex, with many unrelated functions.
PowerToys could offer a lightweight, user-friendly version of this, potentially integrated into FancyZones or Always On Top.
This would benefit users of many professional applications, including CAD, 3D design, and content creation software.
Best regards,
Fedosov Serhii