Make window always on top?

Question

Some applications do not have the functionality like task manager to stay always on top. Is there a way around this? I am on Windows XP SP2.

Answer 1

I use Deskpins for this:

There is also PowerMenu if you prefer a context menu solution, which lets you set application priority and transparency from the context menu as well:

Answer 2

AlwaysOnTopMaker

Answer 3

Install AutoHotkey and use this script to toggle any window as topmost by pressing CTRL SHIFT T:

^+t::
      WinSet, AlwaysOnTop, Toggle,A
return

Answer 4

I use Pitaschio to tweak a number of Windows behaviors, including that one (right-clicking the title bar set to toggle the always-on-top state) and other useful things like disabling caps-lock.

Answer 5

WinRoll 2! Middle click on the close button to set always-on-top, as well as the obvious rolling up of windows. At ~800kb of RAM on average, it's well worth having.

Answer 6

DM2

• Free and Open Source
• Transparancy
• Always on top
• No installation needed (nice for USB Sticks)
• minimize to tray
• multilanguage
• Plugins

Homepage and Download

Answer 7

The open source virtual desktop manager VirtuaWin allows you to make windows always on top (or always on another screen etc) by middle clicking on the window like so:

Answer 8

I've used WindowPinner. Small, simple, and does the job.

Answer 9

Ash's answer using AutoHotkey is a great alternative. However, the current state of the script can be troublesome. The AlwaysOnTop property is persistent even after AutoHotkey is no longer running. You could go through each window manually and toggle this property to off, but we're using AutoHotkey; We can do it automatically!:

!#Up:: ;Windows+Alt+Up
WinGet, activeID, ID, A
WinGet, activeProcess, ProcessName, ahk_id %activeID%
WinSet, AlwaysOnTop, Toggle, ahk_id %activeID%
MsgBox, 4096, , AlwaysOnTop has been toggled for %activeProcess%|%activeID% 
Exit

!#Down:: ;Windows+Alt+Down
WinGet, windows, List
Loop, %windows%
{
    window := windows%A_Index%
    WinSet, AlwaysOnTop, Off, ahk_id %window%
}
MsgBox, 4096, , AlwaysOnTop has been turned off for all windows
Exit