How to Keep a Window Always on Top in Windows

Key takeaways

• Keeping Windows on Top: Use Windows PowerToys to keep a window always on top, preventing it from moving to the background when you click elsewhere.

• Professional Setup for Presentations: During online presentations, share only the PowerPoint slideshow window and use presenter mode to maintain control of the slides and view your audience.

• Benefits of the Recommended Setup: This approach helps you maintain the presentation’s flow, avoid blackouts, and better manage tension, enhancing the experience for both you and your audience.

While working on Windows, you’ve likely encountered situations where some windows are in the foreground and others in the background.

Sometimes, a window we want to keep always visible ends up in the background as soon as we click elsewhere. This issue becomes particularly relevant during online presentations, when trying to manage PowerPoint and Microsoft Teams simultaneously.

In this article, I’ll explain how to keep a window always on top using a simple but effective trick with Windows PowerToys (plus a secret shortcut).

We’ll also explore a professional setup to better manage your online presentations.

By implementing this presentation strategy, you’ll stand out from 90% of online presenters.

Screen Sharing – The Most Common Mistake

When presenting online, do you share your screen? If the answer is yes, then you’re making the most common mistake online presenters make!

Many presenters, during video calls, share their entire screen and run PowerPoint in full-screen mode.

On the main online meeting applications like Teams, Zoom, and others, you have the option to share your screen or a specific window (there are other options, but these are the main ones).

By sharing your screen, your audience will see everything you see, and this is a significant problem.
While it may be an immediate and simple solution that typically eases the anxiety of starting the call, this approach has two major drawbacks:

1. Loss of control: You can no longer see your audience or the next slide, making it hard to maintain the presentation’s flow.
2. Tension and blackout: Under pressure, you risk forgetting what to say or failing to anticipate the next slide correctly.

Think about it for a moment.

As a presenter, having the slideshow cover your entire screen isn’t very helpful.

You’d find it much more useful to have a setup that lets you keep an eye on the next slide, your notes, and maybe even the faces of your audience.

To achieve this, you need to decouple your desktop from the sharing area visible to your audience.
In practice, you will share the slideshow (full-screen slides) with your audience, but you will have a different view—only the presenter mode (to see the next slide) and Teams (to interact with your audience).

Sharing PowerPoint Presenter Mode

Instead of sharing your entire screen, learn to share only the PowerPoint slideshow window while you work in presenter mode.

Here are the steps:

1. Start the slideshow from your PowerPoint.

2. Start presenter mode: Right-click on the presentation and select “Show Presenter Mode”.

3. Share the correct window: On Microsoft Teams, choose to share only the slideshow window (not the entire screen).

4. Arrange your screen: Split the screen into two sections (Windows + ← / →):
   • On the left: Microsoft Teams (participants, chat, etc.).
   • On the right: PowerPoint Presenter Mode.

In this way, participants will see only the large slide (the slideshow), while you will have:

• Your presentation notes, in case you forget any important details
• The next slide, avoiding any surprises.

BONUS HACK: From presenter mode, you can also jump to any slide you prefer without having to follow a predetermined order and, most importantly, without your audience noticing.

You just need to use the Slide Sorter mode to navigate your presentation while speaking.

You’ll avoid being yet another presenter who has to scroll through all the slides one by one to reach a specific slide in the deck.

The Trick to Keep Teams Always on Top

If you’ve set everything up correctly, you may have noticed a small issue.

As soon as you click on PowerPoint’s presenter mode to move to the next slide, Microsoft Teams ends up in the background, behind the slideshow.

The slideshow, being a dominant window, doesn’t stay in the background willingly and tends to come to the forefront whenever possible.

To solve this issue, you need to lock the Teams window on top.
The solution is to use a Windows PowerToys feature called Always on Top. If you haven’t installed PowerToys yet, I recommend doing so right away because they are incredibly useful.

Click here to download and install Windows PowerToys.

Here’s how to configure them:

1. Download and install Windows PowerToys.
2. Activate the Always on Top feature:
   • Open PowerToys from Windows.

Go to the Always on Top section and enable the option.

3. Shortcut to lock the window:
   • Use the combination Windows + CTRL + T to keep Teams always on top.
   • You will see the border of the Teams window turn blue, indicating that the window is locked.

Your New Professional Setup for Online Presentations

Once Teams is locked on top and PowerPoint is in presenter mode, you can:

• Always keep an eye on the next slide and your notes.
• Zoom in on slides to highlight important details.
• Jump between slides without following the order.
• Monitor the Teams chat in real-time, responding to participants without losing focus.

This professional layout allows you to fully control your presentation and deliver an engaging experience.

You’ll always stay composed and avoid blackouts, even during high-pressure presentations.

Conclusions

Thanks to the Always on Top feature of Windows PowerToys, you can keep Teams always visible during your presentations. Pairing this trick with PowerPoint presenter mode enables you to:

• Offer a professional layout.
• Interact with participants in real-time.
• Manage every phase of your presentation confidently.

The benefits will be immediate:

1. Total control: Keep Teams and PowerPoint always visible.
2. Constant interaction: See your audience and respond in real-time.
3. Dynamic presentation: Customize zoom, skip slides, and guide your audience confidently.
4. No blackouts: Always know which slide comes next, avoiding forgetfulness.

Try this setup now, experiment a bit, and you’ll see the difference it makes in your online presentations.

Useful Links
• Download Windows PowerToys: LINK
• Read my ultimate guide to using PowerPoint presenter mode: LINK

If you have any questions or difficulties setting up, we’re here to help—leave a comment!

Happy presenting!

FAQ

How can I keep a window always on top in Windows?
To pin a window on top, use the Always on Top feature of Windows PowerToys. After installing the software, use the shortcut Windows + CTRL + T to lock the desired window, which will be highlighted with a blue border.

How can I keep Microsoft Teams visible during a presentation?
Set up your professional layout using PowerToys’ Always on Top to pin Teams on top while managing the PowerPoint slideshow in presenter mode. This way, you can monitor the chat and interact with the audience seamlessly.

How do I share only a specific window on Microsoft Teams or Zoom?
Instead of sharing your entire screen, choose to share only the PowerPoint slideshow window. This approach enhances privacy and allows you to maintain control of the presentation through presenter mode.

Why is PowerPoint presenter mode useful?
Presenter mode allows you to see the next slide, your notes, and your audience during an online presentation. This helps you maintain the flow, avoid blackouts, and deliver a more engaging experience to your audience.

How do I install and configure Windows PowerToys?
Download Windows PowerToys from Microsoft’s official website, install it, and activate the Always on Top feature. Once enabled, use Windows + CTRL + T to pin windows on top, optimizing multitasking.

What are the advantages of this professional setup for presentations?
Using PowerPoint in presenter mode with Teams on top allows you to:
• Monitor your audience and chat in real time.
• Refer to your notes and next slide without surprises.
• Jump between slides and zoom in on key details.
This approach boosts your confidence and audience engagement during presentations.