Question Power Toys Run

[93boba]

The best feature in my opinion given by PowerToys is the "Run" feature similar to the spotlight on MacOS. I want it to always run on my desktop without me needing to press each time shortcut to make it pop up. Is there a way to just make it always be there, some sort of a widget?

 

[Ralston18]

Are you able to use Task Manager > Startup?

 

[Viking2121]

The best feature in my opinion given by PowerToys is the "Run" feature similar to the spotlight on MacOS. I want it to always run on my desktop without me needing to press each time shortcut to make it pop up. Is there a way to just make it always be there, some sort of a widget?

Yeah, thats one of the reasons I never used it, I couldn't make it always show on the desktop. Microsoft Edge had a floating search on your desktop on windows 10 that worked great, but they abandon it on Windows 11, go figure, make something useful then remove it...

 

[93boba]

Are you able to use Task Manager > Startup?

Powertoys start on the boot thats not an issue... I just want the "spotlight" feature to be always on desktop

Yeah, thats one of the reasons I never used it, I couldn't make it always show on the desktop. Microsoft Edge had a floating search on your desktop on windows 10 that worked great, but they abandon it on Windows 11, go figure, make something useful then remove it...

Yeah... I hid desktop icons and floating search would fit in perfectly. Having to press shortcut each time is a real pain

 

[Ralston18]

Are you using Alt+Space to open PowerToys Run?
And then working with the "Start typing ..." Window always visible somewhere?

You could use Powershell's SendKeys to create a simple script and have that script launched at startup or via Task Scheduler.

 

[93boba]

Are you using Alt+Space to open PowerToys Run?
And then working with the "Start typing ..." Window always visible somewhere?

You could use Powershell's SendKeys to create a simple script and have that script launched at startup or via Task Scheduler.

"Are you using Alt+Space to open PowerToys Run?
And then working with the "Start typing ..." Window always visible somewhere?" - Yeah


That's an interesting approach but I have no clue how to achieve that... Wherever I use alt+space search widget comes always on top and I don't want it to be always on top. And if I click anywhere else besides the widget it shuts down immediately. Are you sure that the script will do the job? Thanks man

 

[Ralston18]

By "on top" you mean physically located about 1/4 of the way down from the top of the monitor and centered there?

(That is where my "Start typing...." appears.)

Where, with the premise that once scripted, the "Start typing... " window would always open in th same place.

Yes Powershell can set window locations. I found a couple of scripts with supporting functions to do such things.

Doable but likely cumbersome to get it all working together just for the sake of avoiding Alt+Space.

Try typing "PowerToys" the lower left corner Search (oval) box.

A PowerToys Settings "General Window" should open thereafter.

Not something that I have worked with but you may find a setting that is acceptable with respect to the location and nature of the "Start typing" box.

Also this link:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/run

Undersettings there is a reference to creatin an Activation shortcut.

Specifically, from the link: "Define the keyboard shortcut to show/hide PowerToys Run"

Another way could be key remapping:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/keyboard-manager

The end objective being that you explore the options and determine if any of those options are viable and acceptable.

Alt + Space may not seem so bad afterall....

 

[93boba]

By "on top" you mean physically located about 1/4 of the way down from the top of the monitor and centered there?

(That is where my "Start typing...." appears.)

Where, with the premise that once scripted, the "Start typing... " window would always open in th same place.

Yes Powershell can set window locations. I found a couple of scripts with supporting functions to do such things.

Doable but likely cumbersome to get it all working together just for the sake of avoiding Alt+Space.

Try typing "PowerToys" the lower left corner Search (oval) box.

A PowerToys Settings "General Window" should open thereafter.

Not something that I have worked with but you may find a setting that is acceptable with respect to the location and nature of the "Start typing" box.

Also this link:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/run

Undersettings there is a reference to creatin an Activation shortcut.

Specifically, from the link: "Define the keyboard shortcut to show/hide PowerToys Run"

Another way could be key remapping:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/keyboard-manager

The end objective being that you explore the options and determine if any of those options are viable and acceptable.

Alt + Space may not seem so bad afterall....

Always on top = allows an app to display content over another app. I'll look into it, thanks. It's weird that they didn't include widget option tbh