WindowTop

WindowTop is a Windows utility that keeps any window always on top, controls opacity, enables interactive Picture-in-Picture mode, forces dark mode on unsupported windows, crops window regions, and manages multiple windows using an anchor system. The tool operates from a toolbar integrated into each window and does not require memorizing keyboard shortcuts.

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• Always on Top. This function places any window above all others, preventing other applications from covering it. It activates from the window toolbar or via configurable keyboard shortcuts. Includes an option to temporarily disable the behavior when the window is maximized, allowing uninterrupted work.
• Opacity and Click-Through. Adjusts the transparency level of a window using a slider control. The click-through feature turns the window into a ghost element: the mouse passes through the transparent window and interacts directly with background content, useful for tracing, comparing designs, or following tutorials without changing focus.
• Anchors. A system that replaces the traditional ALT+TAB method. Anchors are small panels showing minimized or background windows; a single click on an anchor restores and focuses the corresponding window. Anchors can be positioned in free screen areas and configured per specific window or globally.
• Interactive Picture-in-Picture (PiP). Converts any window into a floating thumbnail that remains above others. Unlike standard PiP, this mode allows interaction with the reduced window (playing video, typing, clicking) while working in other applications. The original window can also be hidden to reduce visual clutter.
• Crop Region. Allows selecting a rectangular subregion of a window and showing only that area, removing toolbars, side panels, or unwanted elements. The cropped region maintains full interactivity. Version 5.29 added automatic detection of common regions (for example, video area or chat zone).
• Forced Dark Mode. Applies a dark theme to windows that do not natively support it. It works by inverting window colors when the background is sufficiently bright. Includes an intelligent filter that avoids inverting images and photographs, preserving their original appearance while text and backgrounds become dark.
• Glass Mode (intelligent transparency). Sets different transparency levels for background, text, and images within the same window. The background can become semi-transparent with adjustable blur (glass effect), while text remains sharp. This function uses CUDA acceleration on NVIDIA graphics cards to improve performance.
• Auto-Move for PiP. When a Picture-in-Picture window positions itself over important text or images, this function automatically detects the obstruction and repositions the thumbnail to a free screen area, preventing the user from having to move it manually.
• Customizable colored border. When Always on Top is activated, a colored border can be added around the pinned window. Border thickness, color, and transparency are adjustable from settings, making it easy to identify which window has priority over others.
• Toolbar integrated into minimize button. Instead of showing the toolbar permanently, it can be configured to appear only when the mouse hovers over the window minimize button. This keeps the interface clean and avoids occupying space on the title bar.
• Portable mode without installation. WindowTop offers a portable package that requires no installation or system restart. It can run from a USB drive or local folder, retaining all functions (opacity, PiP, anchors, dark mode) without writing to the Windows registry.
• Hotkey control. Each main function (toggle always on top, adjust opacity, enable click-through, PiP, crop, dark mode) can be assigned to a custom keyboard combination. Shortcuts apply to the currently active window, speeding up operations without using the mouse.

The first version of WindowTop was released in 2017. The program is written entirely in C# on the .NET framework, using native Windows APIs for window manipulation and graphics effects. Development is handled by an independent team led by the primary programmer, whose identity is not officially published on the website. Updates have remained active from 2017 to the present, with major versions released approximately every six months. The application started as a personal tool for keeping windows always on top and progressively added opacity, dark mode, interactive PiP, and the anchor system, reaching more than twelve main functions in its current version.

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