v5+

Latest release notes are included under https://github.com/BiGilSoft/WindowTop/releases

v4.0.0 – v4.1.3

v4.1.3

• Fixed: issue in the “New version released” message that buttons “Yes” and “No” are without text (Regression caused by Chinese translation)
• Fixed: Bug that the program failed to detect windows that are fully in Chinese / different languages
• Fixed: Bug that the toolbar menu arrow button shows when it should not (For example, in GIMP software)
• Improved: Optimized CPU usage by optimizing WinAPI calls overheads

v4.1.2

• Improved: Modern Menu – Remove the need to install .NET Core Desktop Runtime (Issue #52)
• Improved: Remove the need to install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for the Smart Transparency & Dark Mode Pro effects
• Improved: Chinese translation
• Fixed: Modern Menu – UI bug when windows not displayed in dark mode

v4.1.1

• Fixed: When DPI is not 100%, the modern toolbar menu doesn’t show at the correct position (Issue #49)

v4.1.0

• Added: Chinese language to the modern toolbar
• Fixed: Some regression bug in v4.0.3

v4.0.3

• Fixed: Modern Toolbar – Fixed bug that when enabling shrink mode, the shrink box still has a shrink button

v4.0.2

• Fixed: Issue with modern toolbar when enabling the glass effect, the glass settings are not set

v4.0.1

• Fixed: Modern toolbar UI is not working after saving window configuration on a window with Shrink mode (Issue #48)
• Fixed: Issue that the modern toolbar UI may show when it should not
• Fixed: Issue that the option to disable the toolbar menu is not honored by the modern toolbar menu
• Fixed: blacklist/whitelist windows options was not honored by the modern toolbar menu
• Fixed: Removed a wrong message that in the current version you can’t customize the modern toolbar menu (The message was shown in the toolbar options window)

v4.0.0

• Added: New toolbar UI that is the default UI in WindowTop 4 Pro (Issue #23)
  WindowTop is now starting to be rewritten in C# instead of Autoit from version 4.x.x
  NOTE: Old activation keys that purchased before v4.x.x will still unlock v4.x.x versions.
• Improved: Removed limitation in the portable version that disables 2 pro features – Dark Mode Pro and
  Smart Transparency. From now on, the protable version is unlimited in features (As long as you have the needed Microsoft dependencies installed).
• Changed: The short name of the “Smart Transparency” feature is called “Glass” instead of “Aero” (Noticeable in the new UI).
• Improved: Installer is more customizable and will take about 2.5MB instead of 15MB.

v3.5.1 – v3.5.3

v3.5.3

• Added: Support for subscription activation key

v3.5.2

• Fixed: Shrink – After unshrink fullscreen video, the window becomes topmost (Issue #44)

v3.5.1

• Improved: User interface design – Tray menu (Issue #41)
• Added: Chinese translation. UI now have the option to select Chinese language (Issue #40, #38)
  
• Fixed: few English spelling issues (Issue #13)
• Fixed: When program not installed under “C:\Program Files\WindowTop” it thinks that it is not installed (Issue #39)
• Fixed: Program checks for updates every time it launched (Issue #42)
• Fixed: When using the red border feature (that appears on a top-most window), sometimes we get red borders without windows (Issue #43)

v3.4.7

• Added: Add option to customize what buttons/features to show in the toolbar menu [Issue #15]
  
• Fixed: Window disappears if opacity is disabled while click-through is enabled [Issue #37]
• Fixed: WSLtty ‘forgets’ opacity setting on focus [Issue #35]
• Fixed: Applications that allow the Window.Topmost property to be configured internally make Windowtop behave strangely [Issue #34]
• Fixed: RDP session windows set on top by default [Issue #33]
• Fixed: Shrunk window get lost when switching from dual monitor to one monitor [Issue #16]

v3.4.6

• Hotkeys not working when disabling WindowTop toolbar [Issue #32]
• Shrink Pro – Sometimes the live preview is not working when using dual monitors [Issue #31 ]
• Sometimes the program crash on line 6031 in v3.4.5 when closing shrunken window [Issue #30]
• Sometimes when using Shrink feature, the toolbar menu no longer available in some cases [Issue #29]
• bug: crash, Subscript used on non-accessible variable when using Groupy software [Issue #17]
• Issue on dual monitor configuration when DPI scaling is not the same for each monitor [Issue #9]

v3.4.5

• Improved: Smart transparency effect (aero effect) was rewritten for NVIDIA GPUs. The improvements are:
  • it renders the texts inside the window much better than before. the accuracy of the new algorithm is on average 95% for programs such as text editors, word processors, a code editor, and more.
  • The new algorithm to detect and rerender text pixels is rendering much faster due to:
    • Uses much more GPU cache memory than global memory
    • The new algorithm uses a different image processing & recognition technique that works much faster than ever
    • It uses new API to get the window image that included in Windows 10 version 2004
  • The new smart transparency/aero effect will not take 20% CPU usage or more for the average computer because it uses the NVIDIA GPU for the rendering process. It will take up to 5% CPU usage and up to 10% GPU usage (tested on NVIDIA GTX 1050TI) so that the computer fan noise will not be high as before
• Dark Mode and Smart transparency effect (or aero effect) will work faster also when no NVIDIA Graphic Card is available thanks to new API in Windows 10 update 2004. But the improvements will be much noticeable on with NVIDIA GPU
• A lot of other bugs fixed before while testing this release

For more information about this release read here:

How to make your IDE or Code Editor with transparent background

 

v3.3.2 – v3.3.10

v3.3.10

• Fixed: Bug, when HotKeys disabled for blacklisted window they still block keyboard input.
• Fixed: Exception when changing hotkeys (GitHub Issue 6).
• Changed: Removed default HotKeys for dark-mode and aero features. (User Feedbacks)
• Fixed: Bug with HotKey to enable click-through for any transparent window.

v3.3.9

• Added: HotKeys for dark mode and aero mode [GitHub Issue 12]
• Added (For pro version only): Option to add a window to blacklist/whitelist so WindowTop will be disabled for the window. [GitHub Issue 2]
• Fixed: Issue that Microsoft Edge and few other programs stopped to be on top after some time. WindowTop will now check for every window if stopped to be on top and in such a case it will reset the window to be on top. [GitHub Issue 14]

v3.3.8

• Fixed: bug on 4k resolution that the arrow menu did not show when the window was not maximized

Fixes for pro version only

• Fixed: bug on 4k resolution with the on Shrink mode that the big preview that shows when the mouse is above the shrink box was very small
• Fixed: compatibility issue with Groupy software that when the window is maximized, the arrow menu bar does not show
• Fixed: compatibility issue with Groupy software with Shrink-Pro mode – when doing un-shrink on a tabbed window, the window loses the tab view
• Fixed: compatibility issue with Groupy software with Shrink-Pro mode – when shrinking maximized window in a tab view, Groupy tabs still showing
• Fixed: compatibility issue with Groupy software with Shrink-Pro mode – when shrinking & unshrinking window that viewed as tab, the window gets out of the tab list

v3.3.7

• Fixed: High CPU & RAM usage

v3.3.6

• Fixed: When using the option “Shrinked windows –> Minimize to taskbar”, any window that shrinked using “Shrink Pro”
  was disappeared.

v3.3.5

• Fixed: Windows 10 update 1903 broke the live preview functionality in the Shrink pro feature.

v3.3.4

• Changed: The option to show a red border around topmost windows is now disabled by default in the pro version

v3.3.2

• Added: Extra thumbnail live preview of the window when the shrink-box is small enough and The mouse is hovering above the shrink-box (Pro only)
  
• Added: WindowTop main functions are available also for shrink-box via the arrow toolbar, when the shrink-box is big enough.
• Fixed: Sometimes a window can open at the edge of the screen. Added logic to fix this.
• Fixed: Sometimes, when disabling/enabling shrink live thumbnail preview, the window can “disappear”

v3.3.3

• Fixed: Sometimes when dark-mode activated and the user closed the window, the dark-mode still runs even if the window closed
• Fixed: Sometimes (if the option to mark topmost windows is enabled) when on-top window marked with red border and user closed the window, the red border still shows even if the window closed
• Fixed: if the option to mark topmost windows is enabled and the user drags some item in Windows Explorer, the red border shows above the drag effect

v3.2.4

• Added: Option to mark any top-most window with red frame (Pro only)
  
• Fixed: User can’t drag the arrow toolbar after the first attempt (works only on the first time)
• Fixed: Sometimes when dark-mode activated and the user closed the window, the dark-mode still runs even if the window closed
• Fixed: Arrow toolbar does not show at the center on the window
• Fixed: Other bugs

v3.2.3

• Changed: Update message box will not cause other programs/games to exit from fullscreen
• Fixed: Shrink when the window has opacity
• Fixed: Shrink – Sometimes that window became on top after unshrink

v3.2.0

• Added: Shrink – Live preview mode for the Shrink feature (Pro only)
  
• Added: Shrink – Right click menu with the following options:
  • Close window
  • Minimize to taskbar
  • Enable live preview
  • Keep scale ratio
• Added: Shrink – Resize shrinked window
• Fixed: Bug when enabling dark mode on the window that maximized at the external monitor
• Fixed: When you shrink a “set on top” window and then unshrink it, the window doesn’t remain on top and you have to
  press ALT+z twice to restore it.
• Improved: visual studio redistributable 2017 is no longer required to use dark-mode pro and opacity pro.
• Added: In case you shrinked some window and the program crash with a fatal error, any window that shrinked get “lost”(hidden).
  In this case, the program will have the second process that will recover these windows and continue running.
• Improved: Stability of the program. Less chance of fatal error crashes

v3.1.0

• Fixed: When DPI settings are not 100% (125%, 150%, 200%, etc), the arrow toolbar does not display at the correct position.
• Added full support for Microsoft Store (WindowTop can be downloaded from Microsoft Store)

v3.0.9

• Fixed: dark-mode-free – in Windows 10
  Before:
  
  After:
  
• Fixed: dark-mode-free – When the window is maximized on the second monitor, the dark-mode-free is not working as expected
• Fixed: When the window is maximized on the second monitor, the arrow-toolbar does not show
• Changed: Installer replaced to reduce false positive detections by Antiviruses
• The license states that you allowed decompiling the program for virus analysis purpose

v3.0.8-free-ms-store

• Released limited version to the Microsoft Store

v3.0.8-free

• Removed all pro features. the program is only on FREE mode.
• Released Source Code of the FREE version (All Autoit code)
• Potentially discontinued. read more: https://windowtop.info/support-project/

v3.0.7

• Removed: Program will no longer open the website windowtop.info after installing it.
• Changed: The window that suggest to buy the program will not load the page from windowtop.info website.
  It will load the page from resources (the page is included in WindowTop.exe executable and it will load from
  there).
• Changed: Source code is no longer compiled with Au3Stripper to reduce false positive detections by Antiviruses
  companies and Google. Unfortunately, It will remove the “Optimized: RAM usage” in v3.0.6

v3.0.6

v3.0.4

v3.0.2

v2.0.5

v2.0.4

• Added: option to save window configuration.
  
• Fixed: critical bug – the hotkeys reset to default after. restart if the user disabled them.
• Fixed: the dark mode may not always work.
• Fixed: other bugs.

v2.0.2

• Fixed: critical memory leak bug in when Opacity Pro is enabled.

v2.0.1

• Fixed: the renderer module (that is the pro features – Opacity Pro and Dark Mode Pro) not working properly on more than 1 monitors.
• Improved: the renderer module is running more stable when user resize the window.
• Fixed: potential other bugs in the renderer module.
• Fixed: when Dark Mode Pro is enabled and the window is already dark, the renderer module disabling the display layer for the window even if the user enabled Opacity Pro mode for the window. as a result, Opacity Pro is not working in this case.
• Optimized: small optimization in the image processing algorithms (in the renderer module). as a result, the Opacity Pro and Dark Mode Pro will work more smoother.

v2.0.0

• Added: Opacity Pro – extremely advanced opacity mode that allow to set different transparency levels for 3 recognized elements in the window – backgrounds , texts & shapes and images. (Based on image processing algorithm that detect texts, images, background)
  This feature is new and currently (in this version) is designed to work only on Windows 10.
• Fixed: Google Chrome window displayed as black square when it is shrinked.
• Fixed: “white squares” bugs in the dark mode feature.
• Fixed: other bugs.

v1.9.2

• Fixed: Critical bug – software settings are not saved in some cases.
• Fixed: The price of the pro version was not displayed.
• Fixed: Lots of bugs and instability problems.

v1.9.1

• Improved: image recognition algorithm of Dark Mode Pro.
• Reduced installer filesize back to normal size.

v1.9.0

• Added: Dark Mode Pro v0.1.0 BETA – Based on image recognition & manipulation algorithm, it will not invert the colors of the images in the window.
  in addition, it will automatically know when to invert the color and when not – it will invert the colors only when the screnn is not dark. Dark Mode Pro will work also on metro apps.
  
• Added: Warning massage about the “click through” feature.
• Removed: Default Hot-Key for “click through”.
• Fixed: Other bugs.

v1.5.7

v1.5.6

• Fixed: Hard crash bug when DPI set to more than 100%
• Fixed: Other bugs
• Fixed: Bug in “dark mode” feature

v1.5.5

• Fixed: “shrinked windows –> Minimize to taskbar” not working when DPI set to more than 100%
• Fixed: “Disable Shrink mode for all windows” not working when DPI set to more than 100%
• Fixed: Other bugs

v1.5.4

• Fixed: Critical bug in windows 10: The “dark mode” feature is magnifying the window when tne DPI set to more than 100%.
• Fixed: Critical bug in windows 10: Bug in the “Shrink” feature.
• Added: Disable “Shrink” mode for all windows
• Added: “shrinked windows –> Minimize to taskbar”
• Added: Toolbar options -> Arrow: Arrow position settings – “Center” , “Left” , “Right”
  

v1.5.3

v1.5.2

• Fixed: small bug

v1.5.1

• Removed: unused code
• Added: hidden settings that will be available from “Toolbar options…” on next versions.
• Huge optimization: the software will consume much less CPU and RAM usge and will work much faster than before.
• Fixed hidden bugs
• Dropped support for 32bit due to serious problems.

v1.5.0

• Added: “Toolbar options …” – ability to customize how the toolbar look – You can set how much buttons to disblay, and set the toolbar background color.

NEW: the shrink feature (v1.4.X) – now you can minimize windows in new form! too many minimized windows in the taskbar? have a big mess in the taskbar? you can minimize windows in a way that they will not shown on the taskbar. they will become small squares that stay on top. each square is minimized window (in this innovative way). Now you have new space to minimize your windows, not only the taskbar but also the screen itself.

v1.4.X-beta
* Added: Welcome to the “Shrink” feature! added to the toolbar menu.



*Fixed/Improved: the toolbar menu looks more correct on Windows 10 only apps.

v1.2.0-beta

Added: 3 HotKeys:
1) Enable/Disable “Click Through” mode for all transparent windows
2) Enable/Disable “Set Top” mode for the active window
3) Enable/Disable window opacity Fixed: few bugs
* Added/Improved: The software will now remember the option “Disable toolbar menu over windows”
v1.1.2-beta and v1.1.3:
Improved: dynamic background color for the toolbar
Fixed: bug in a dynamic background color
v1.1.1-beta:
Improved: Added – dynamic background color for the toolbar that fit to the window average color.
Changed: the box with the arrow is a little more transparent.
* Added: The software will now check for updates every 3 days.

Very important
Some download sites show that the program supported on Windows XP , Windows vista and some go even farther that it supported on older operating systems.
THIS IS NOT CORRECT!
WindowTop is only for Windows 7 / Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.
NOTE: The program may not work stable on apps that run only on Windows 10