Windows 10 and 11 have no built-in setting to keep any window on top. The quickest fix is Microsoft's free PowerToys. Install it, click the window you want to pin, and press Win+Ctrl+T (Windows key + Ctrl + T). Press the same shortcut again to unpin it.
A few apps also have their own pin, such as Calculator's Keep on top button or a browser's picture-in-picture video. The sections below cover each method, what it can't do, and what to check when the shortcut does nothing.
Keep any window on top with PowerToys (Win+Ctrl+T)
PowerToys is a free, open-source set of Windows utilities from Microsoft. It runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11. One of its utilities, Always On Top, pins whichever window is active.
Install PowerToys
You can install it from the Microsoft Store, from Microsoft's GitHub releases, or with WinGet. To use WinGet, open Terminal or Command Prompt and run:
winget install Microsoft.PowerToys --source winget
This downloads and installs PowerToys. To remove it later, run winget uninstall Microsoft.PowerToys or uninstall it from Settings > Apps.
Pin a window
- Open PowerToys and select Always On Top in the left sidebar.
- Make sure the utility is turned on.
- Click the window you want to keep on top so it becomes the active window.
- Press Win+Ctrl+T. A colored border appears around the window to show it is pinned.
- To unpin it, click the window and press Win+Ctrl+T again.
Settings worth changing
On the Always On Top page in PowerToys you can:
- Change the activation shortcut if Win+Ctrl+T clashes with another app.
- Change the border's color and thickness, or turn the border off.
- Add apps to an excluded list so the shortcut never pins them.
- Stop the utility from working while Game Mode is on.
What PowerToys can't do
- It only works while PowerToys is running. If you quit PowerToys from the system tray, the shortcut stops working.
- It doesn't remember pins. Once you close the window or restart the PC, you have to press the shortcut again.
- It can't pin admin windows unless PowerToys also runs as admin. That includes installers and anything you opened with Run as administrator.
- Pinned windows still overlap each other. They all stay above normal windows, and the one you clicked last sits in front.
Use an app's own "keep on top" option
Some apps have a pin built in. If the app you care about has one, you don't need PowerToys.
- Calculator: in Standard mode, click the Keep on top button next to the mode name. Calculator shrinks to a small window that stays above everything. Click the button again to return to the full view.
- Task Manager: turn on Always on top in Task Manager's settings (Windows 11) or under the Options menu (Windows 10). It stays on until you turn it off.
- Videos in Chrome and Edge: use picture-in-picture to pop a video into a small floating player that stays above other windows. Only the video floats, not the whole browser.
The catch is that only a few apps offer a pin, and each one puts it somewhere different.
Keep a notes window on top while you work
Often the window you want pinned is a notepad: notes you check while reading, watching a lecture or working in another app. You have two options.
Pin any notes app with PowerToys. Notepad, OneNote or any other notes app can be pinned with Win+Ctrl+T. It costs nothing, but you redo it every time you reopen the app.
Use a notes app with its own pin. We make Gubb, a small scratchpad for notes and checklists that is available on the Microsoft Store. Our documentation covers the Mac version, where the window has a Pin window on top button and Gubb remembers the setting between launches. We haven't separately confirmed every detail of the Windows build, so if the button isn't there or the pin doesn't stick, Win+Ctrl+T in PowerToys pins Gubb's window like any other.
To use the button:
- Move the pointer to the right edge of the note. A column of buttons appears.
- Click Pin window on top. The pin icon tilts and turns the accent color.
- To turn it off, click the same button again. Its tooltip now reads Unpin window.
One known issue in the Mac version: if you use Gubb's break reminders, the window goes full screen for each break, and afterward the pin is turned off even if you had set it. Click Pin window on top again once the break ends.
The same window also has checklists, clipboard history and a timer, so a pinned Gubb note can hold your to-do list beside your work. For other options, see our guide to quick notes apps for Windows.
Which method to use
| Method | Works on | Survives a restart | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| PowerToys Always On Top (Win+Ctrl+T) | Almost any window | No, re-pin each time | Free |
| App's own pin (Calculator, Task Manager) | That app only | Depends on the app | Free |
| Browser picture-in-picture | Videos only | No | Free |
| Notes app with a pin (e.g. Gubb) | That app's window | Depends on the app | Depends on the app |
- Pick PowerToys if you pin different windows at different times. It's the only option that works on nearly everything.
- Use the app's own pin if you only ever pin one app and that app has the option.
- Use a notes app with a pin if what you want is a notepad that stays visible all day without pressing a shortcut each time.
If it doesn't work
Win+Ctrl+T does nothing. Check that PowerToys is running. Its icon should be in the system tray, possibly behind the arrow. Then open PowerToys and confirm that Always On Top is turned on.
The shortcut works in some apps but not others. The window probably belongs to an app running as administrator. In PowerToys, open General and restart PowerToys as administrator. You can also set it to always run as administrator.
Another app grabs the shortcut. Some apps register Win+Ctrl+T for themselves. Change the activation shortcut on the Always On Top page to a combination nothing else uses.
One specific app never pins. Check whether that app is on the excluded apps list in the Always On Top settings. Also check whether Game Mode is on and you told PowerToys not to work during it.
The window was pinned, then dropped behind others. PowerToys pins don't survive closing the window. Click the window and press Win+Ctrl+T again. If you use Gubb's own pin with break reminders, re-pin after each break.
Full-screen games or videos cover the pinned window. Exclusive full-screen apps can draw over everything, including pinned windows. Switch the game or player to windowed or borderless mode, or use picture-in-picture for video.
FAQ
Does Windows 11 have a built-in "always on top" for any window?
No. Windows only offers it inside certain apps, such as Calculator and Task Manager. PowerToys is made by Microsoft, but it is a separate free download.
Is PowerToys safe to install?
It is published by Microsoft, is open source, and is listed on the Microsoft Store. Microsoft documents the install options on Microsoft Learn.
Can I pin more than one window?
Yes. Press Win+Ctrl+T on each window. They all stay above normal windows, and the one you clicked last appears in front of the others.
How do I do this on a Mac?
macOS has no system-wide pin either. See how to keep a window on top on Mac for the options there.