To keep a window on top on every virtual desktop in Windows 11 you need two settings, because Windows treats them separately: Show this window on all desktops in Task view decides where the window appears, and always on top decides whether it stays above everything else. Windows has the first built in but no built-in always on top. PinPoint from Automata Labs adds that missing half with a global hotkey, a colored border so you can see what is pinned, and per-app rules that pin your chosen apps automatically every time they launch.
Pin any window on top with one hotkey, and let per-app rules repeat it every launch.
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Why does my pinned window disappear when I switch desktops?
Because by default every window belongs to exactly one desktop. Microsoft’s IVirtualDesktopManager documentation puts it plainly: “Every window is considered to be part of a virtual desktop. When one virtual desktop is hidden, all of the windows associated with it are also hidden.”
Always on top does not change that. It controls stacking order, meaning which window sits in front, not which desktop the window lives on. So a window can be on top of everything on Desktop 1 and simply not exist on Desktop 2.
| Setting | What it controls | Built into Windows 11? |
|---|---|---|
| Show this window on all desktops | Which desktops show one window | Yes, in Task view |
| Show windows from this app on all desktops | Which desktops show every window of an app | Yes, in Task view |
| Always on top | Whether a window stays in front of others | No, needs a tool |
| Taskbar and Alt+Tab “on all desktops” | Which windows the taskbar and Alt+Tab list | Yes, in Settings |
How do I show a window on all virtual desktops?
This is the built-in half, and it takes a few seconds:
- Press Win + Tab, or select Task view on the taskbar.
- Find the window in the current desktop’s previews.
- Right-click it.
- Choose Show this window on all desktops, or Show windows from this app on all desktops if you want every window of that app to follow you.
This method is described in a community answer on Microsoft Q&A. Switch desktops afterwards and the window stays put.
Note the difference. The window option affects just that one window. The app option covers every window the app opens, which suits chat, music or note apps that you always want to see.
Why don’t the taskbar and Alt+Tab settings do this?
Windows has related settings that are easy to confuse with the above. Microsoft’s guide to configuring multiple desktops describes an On all desktops choice that “will show all open windows from all desktops on the taskbar, regardless of which desktop you are currently using,” and a matching choice for Show all open windows when I press Alt+Tab.
Those settings change what the taskbar and Alt+Tab list. Clicking a window from another desktop still takes you to that desktop. They do not bring the window with you, and they do not keep anything on top.
How do I add always on top?
Windows 11 has no built-in always-on-top command for ordinary app windows, so you add it with a tool. Two common choices:
- PowerToys Always On Top, a free Microsoft utility. The PowerToys documentation says the default shortcut is Win + Ctrl + T, and that to unpin “you can either use the activation shortcut again or close the window.” In other words, a pin lasts until the window closes.
- PinPoint, which adds a configurable global hotkey, plus rules that re-pin chosen apps automatically when they launch.
If you only pin a window now and then, PowerToys is a reasonable free choice. If you pin the same apps every day, the repetition is where PinPoint earns its place. We compare the two in detail in PinPoint vs PowerToys.
How does PinPoint fit a multi-desktop setup?
PinPoint is a lightweight always-on-top utility for Windows 10 and 11. According to its Microsoft Store listing:
- Global hotkey pinning of any application window, with the shortcut of your choice.
- Intelligent auto-pinning. Pick an app from your running processes and PinPoint pins it as it launches, so you are not re-pinning after every restart.
- Workspace pin profiles. Save sets of pinned windows for different contexts, such as research or development, and switch between them with one click.
- Exclusion rules so utility panels and system alerts do not get in the way of your main windows.
- Timed countdown release that unpins a window when a task duration ends.
- Colored borders in the color and thickness you choose, so it is obvious which windows are pinned, plus optional audio feedback.
- Many windows at once. Pin as many as you need.
- Small and offline. Under 14 MB on disk, with no account, no analytics and no internet permission.
The workflow that ties it together:
- In PinPoint, add an auto-pin rule for the app you want on top, such as a notes app, a chat window or a timer.
- In Task view, right-click that app and choose Show windows from this app on all desktops.
- Switch desktops and check the window behaves the way you want.
Virtual desktop behavior can vary with the app and Windows build, so test your own setup before you rely on it.
Set up auto-pin rules once and stop re-pinning the same windows every morning.
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What windows are worth keeping on every desktop?
A short list works best. Pinning too much just recreates the clutter you made extra desktops to avoid.
| Window | Why it helps on every desktop |
|---|---|
| A timer or countdown | You see the time left whatever you are doing |
| A notes or checklist window | Capture a thought without switching desktops |
| A call or meeting window | Keep the speaker visible while you share other work |
| A reference document | A spec or style guide that every task depends on |
| A monitoring dashboard | A build, queue or trading view you need to watch |
For ideas built around a single window, see always on top for a Notepad checklist and an always-on-top timer for Windows 11.
What if a pinned window still falls behind?
Always on top places a window above ordinary windows, but other windows can also be topmost. PowerToys’ documentation notes it “can’t guarantee that the window will be above other topmost windows,” and lists Remote Desktop, Citrix and VMware windows as examples. Elevated apps and fullscreen games add their own rules. Our guide on always on top not working in Windows 11 walks through each case and the fix.
Frequently asked questions
Does Windows 11 have a built-in always on top option?
Not for ordinary app windows. A few apps offer their own setting, but for everything else you need a utility such as PowerToys or PinPoint.
Is “Show this window on all desktops” the same as always on top?
No. It makes the window appear on every desktop, but other windows can still cover it. Always on top keeps it in front.
Why does my window stop being on top after I close it?
A pin applies to a window, and closing the window removes it. PinPoint’s auto-pinning rules pin the app again when it next launches.
Can I pin more than one window?
Yes. PinPoint pins as many windows as you need, with a border on each so you can tell which are pinned.
Does PinPoint need an internet connection?
No. It runs fully offline, with no account and no telemetry.
Try PinPoint
Get PinPoint from the Microsoft Store. It is a one-time purchase with no subscription, and the Store listing shows the current price.
Keep the windows that matter in front, on every desktop you use.
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Microsoft, Windows and PowerToys are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. PinPoint is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.
Last updated 20 October 2026. Published by Automata Labs, a software company in Canada.