If DeskPins no longer fits on Windows 11, the free answer is PowerToys Always On Top, which pins the active window with Win+Ctrl+T. If you want a single small tool instead of a utility suite, PinPoint pins any window with Win+Alt+T, draws a colored border around it, and runs offline with no telemetry, for a one-time price. WindowTop is another option if you also want opacity and picture-in-picture.
DeskPins was the classic way to keep a window on top: grab a pin from the tray, click a window, done. It still has fans. But its last release is from 2015, and many people setting up a new Windows 11 PC look for something current.
Pin any window above the rest with one hotkey.
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Is DeskPins still an option on Windows 11?
DeskPins is free and open source, by Elias Fotinis. Its features are simple and good: unlimited pins, wildcard-based automatic pinning, global hotkeys, and negligible resource use. According to its site, the latest version is 1.32, released on 20 February 2015, and the download is listed for Windows 10, 8.x, 7, Vista, XP, and 2000. It needs the Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable (x86). Windows 11 is not listed. It may well work for you; it just is not maintained for it.
What are the DeskPins alternatives?
Facts about other tools come from their own sites or repositories, checked on 17 October 2026.
| Tool | Price | Status | How you pin | Border or highlight | Other features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerToys Always On Top | Free, open source | Maintained by Microsoft, part of PowerToys | Win+Ctrl+T (customizable), or the title bar menu | Colored border with color, opacity, thickness, rounded corners | Excluded apps, Game Mode guard, sound on pin |
| WindowTop | Free, with a Pro version | Current; its site says stable on Windows 11, may be unstable on Windows 10 | From the app | Not compared here | Opacity, picture-in-picture, dark mode |
| PinWin | Free, MIT | Archived by its owner in March 2024 | Ctrl+F11 to select, Ctrl+F12 for the window under the cursor | Not compared here | .NET clone of DeskPins |
| DeskPins | Free, open source | Last release 2015 | Tray pin, global hotkeys | Pin icon | Wildcard auto-pin rules |
| PinPoint | One-time purchase in the Microsoft Store | Current, Windows 10 and 11 | Win+Alt+T | Custom border color and thickness | Opacity, guardrails, no telemetry, works offline |
Sources: PowerToys Always On Top, PowerToys overview, WindowTop, PinWin, DeskPins.
PowerToys Always On Top
Microsoft PowerToys is a set of free, open-source utilities, and Always On Top is one of them. Press Win+Ctrl+T (the shortcut is customizable) and the active window stays above the others until you press it again or close the window. Settings include a colored border with your choice of color, opacity, thickness, and rounded corners, a sound when you pin, a title bar menu option, an excluded-apps list, and a guard that stops it from activating in Game Mode. For most people, this is the best free DeskPins replacement, and we would point them to it first.
WindowTop
WindowTop pins windows on top and adds opacity, picture-in-picture, dark mode, and anchors. It is free to start, with a Pro version for advanced features. Its site notes it is stable on Windows 11 and may be unstable on Windows 10.
PinWin
PinWin is an MIT-licensed .NET clone of DeskPins, written because DeskPins stopped working for its author on newer Windows. It supports multiple monitors and high DPI. The repository was archived by its owner on 10 March 2024 and is now read-only.
PinPoint
PinPoint keeps the reference material you need visible while you work in another app. It is a single-purpose Windows utility built in Rust, with a native Win32 overlay for border feedback. It runs on Windows 10 and 11, works fully offline, needs no account, and has no telemetry.
According to our always-on-top guide, PinPoint:
- Toggles with Win+Alt+T, a hotkey chosen not to clash with others.
- Draws a custom border in the color and thickness you choose, so you can see which window is pinned.
- Adjusts window opacity, so a pinned window can sit lightly over your work.
- Has guardrails that stop you from pinning the taskbar or Start menu by accident.
One tool, one job: keep the window you need on top.
Get it from Microsoft
Why pay for PinPoint if PowerToys is free?
Often you should not. If you already run PowerToys, Always On Top is there and it is good. PinPoint is for people who want one small tool rather than a suite with many modules, which some IT environments prefer, and who like its border and opacity controls. It does not replace other PowerToys features such as FancyZones or PowerRename. Its regular US list price in the Microsoft Store is $6.99, paid once; the listing shows the current price. See our PinPoint vs PowerToys Always On Top comparison for more.
How do I keep a window always on top in Windows 11?
With PowerToys:
- Install PowerToys and turn on Always On Top.
- Click the window you want to keep visible.
- Press Win+Ctrl+T. Press it again to unpin.
With PinPoint:
- Install PinPoint from the Microsoft Store.
- Click the window you want to keep visible.
- Press Win+Alt+T. A border shows the window is pinned. Press it again to unpin.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best DeskPins alternative for Windows 11?
For free, PowerToys Always On Top, maintained by Microsoft. For a single small paid tool with borders and opacity, PinPoint. For pinning plus picture-in-picture, WindowTop.
Does DeskPins work on Windows 11?
Its site lists downloads for Windows 10 and earlier, and the last release is from 2015. It may run, but Windows 11 is not listed.
Does Windows 11 have a built-in always-on-top feature?
Not on its own. PowerToys, a free Microsoft add-on, adds Always On Top.
Is PinPoint free?
No. It is a one-time purchase in the Microsoft Store, with no subscription.
Does PinPoint collect data?
No. PinPoint has zero telemetry and works fully offline.
Try PinPoint
PinPoint is a one-time purchase in the Microsoft Store. Read more in our always-on-top guide for Windows 10 and 11, or go to the PinPoint product page.
Keep your reference window in view, without a utility suite.
Get it from Microsoft
Microsoft, Windows, and PowerToys are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Other product names are trademarks of their owners. PinPoint is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Last updated 17 October 2026. Published by Automata Labs, a software company in Canada.