Always on top shortcut not working? Check the tool first
The Windows shortcut belongs to PowerToys. A Chrome extension opens web content through its own controls.
Updated 2026-10-13
If Windows + Ctrl + T does not keep a window on top, first check that you are using PowerToys and that its Always On Top feature is available and enabled. The shortcut belongs to a Windows utility; installing a Chrome webpage extension does not activate it.
Before troubleshooting the keys, identify what you are trying to keep visible: an entire desktop window or content from a Chrome tab. That choice determines which controls to check.
Identify the tool that handles the action
| What you want | Controls to check |
|---|---|
| Pin a Windows application window | PowerToys Always On Top settings and activation shortcut |
| Open a Chrome webpage in a floating view | Always on Top Window's toolbar icon or link context menu |
| Keep only a video visible | The player or browser's picture-in-picture controls |
The comparison of always on top and picture-in-picture explains the content choices. This guide covers a failed shortcut and the settings that can prevent pinning.
Check PowerToys before repeating the shortcut
Open PowerToys settings, locate Always On Top, and check that the feature is enabled. Select the window you intend to pin, then use the Activation shortcut shown in settings.
Microsoft documents Windows + Ctrl + T as the default, but the shortcut is customizable. An older note or tutorial may show a combination you have since changed. Read the configured value before deciding the keys are failing.
If the window pins, select an ordinary window behind it to check the result. Use the activation shortcut again to unpin. A border can help you see the state when that option is enabled.
These checks follow Microsoft's PowerToys documentation. They do not establish that every application behaves identically.
Inspect exclusions and Game Mode
Check Excluded apps for a match to the application you are trying to pin. Microsoft notes that exclusions can match part of an application name, so a broad entry can exclude more than you intended.
Also inspect Do not activate when Game Mode is on if the failure occurs during gaming. That setting can prevent activation in that context.
Change only the setting relevant to your intended use, then retry with the target window selected. If you are using a managed computer, follow the permissions and policies that apply to it.
Check whether another topmost window is covering it
A pinned window can still appear behind another window that is also topmost. Microsoft lists compatibility cases involving remote and virtual desktop software. Test against an ordinary window to distinguish a pinning failure from competing topmost windows.
If it stays above ordinary windows but behind one particular application, record that difference. Repeatedly pressing the toggle can accidentally unpin a window that was already pinned.
Use the Chrome controls for a webpage companion
For web content, Always on Top Window documents opening the current tab through its toolbar icon, or a link through Open link in Always-on-top Window.
Move and resize the companion to fit the page you need. Keep its source tab open: closing that tab also closes the floating view. If that is the symptom, use the floating window closure guide.
This extension route concerns Chrome web content. It does not pin an unrelated desktop application or substitute for PowerToys' Windows shortcut. Check the particular webpage you intend to use rather than assuming every site supports the same floating behavior.