[Run] Option to change/remember the search window location/position

[leumas1104]

I would like to be able to change the position of PowerToys Run search window

I think a search function in the middle of the screen is never a good idea. The user should be able to freely access the desktop while searching. The feature I would add, would allow the user to pick a permanent location on their screen for the search window to appear. Giving the user more customization.
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Simply using the same mechanic used with custom FancyZone selection would suffice.

In the powerToys settings under 'PowerToys Run' the user can click a 'Customize search bar location' button. When clicked they can move a grey box representing the search bar to any position on the desktop.
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[saahmedm]

this is a good idea @leumas1104, we directly mentioned this in our spec and didn't get an community feedback so it is not priority for v1 right now.

However, I added the "help wanted" tag as we'd love to see the community get involved here

[htcfreek]

Related to #1607.

[stefan-schweiger]

In addition to this, I would like the option to "Remember last position". Because you can currently drag the overlay around but the next time it is at the default position again. macOS handles the positioning like this and it always seemed intuitive enough for me.

EDIT: After digging around in the source code a bit it seems like the option is already there "RememberLastLaunchLocation" but there is no GUI for actually changing it.

EDIT2: You can acutally change the setting. You need to exit PowerToys, then change the setting in %homepath%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\PowerToys Run\Settings\Settings.json and start PowerToys again.

It would be great to also have this option configurable in the GUI. But as far as I can tell the settings are done in C++ which is not my area of expertise

[enricogior]

Related to #1607

[stefan-schweiger]

@enricogior how are those two related? Just because someone mentioned the setting name in a comment? Those are still different functionalities in my opinion.

[enricogior]

@stefan-schweiger
I closed it by mistake.

[hrko]

EDIT: After digging around in the source code a bit it seems like the option is already there "RememberLastLaunchLocation" but there is no GUI for actually changing it.

EDIT2: You can acutally change the setting. You need to exit PowerToys, then change the setting in %homepath%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\PowerToys Run\Settings\Settings.json and start PowerToys again.

In my case, changing the settings in Settings.json did not work, but PowerToysRunSettings.json in the same directory did. I hope this will be helpful to those who want to enable the feature until this issue resolved.

[nfind]

EDIT: After digging around in the source code a bit it seems like the option is already there "RememberLastLaunchLocation" but there is no GUI for actually changing it.
EDIT2: You can acutally change the setting. You need to exit PowerToys, then change the setting in %homepath%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\PowerToys Run\Settings\Settings.json and start PowerToys again.

In my case, changing the settings in Settings.json did not work, but PowerToysRunSettings.json in the same directory did. I hope this will be helpful to those who want to enable the feature until this issue resolved.

Hi, this worked for me as-well. However I regognized that this will save the position only until the next reboot of the PC. After a reboot you have to drag Powertoy Run once again to the desired screen position and then it is saved.

Can someone verify this behaviour or is it just buggy more me?

[Anant-mishra1729]

EDIT: After digging around in the source code a bit it seems like the option is already there "RememberLastLaunchLocation" but there is no GUI for actually changing it.
EDIT2: You can acutally change the setting. You need to exit PowerToys, then change the setting in %homepath%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\PowerToys Run\Settings\Settings.json and start PowerToys again.

In my case, changing the settings in Settings.json did not work, but PowerToysRunSettings.json in the same directory did. I hope this will be helpful to those who want to enable the feature until this issue resolved.

Hi, this worked for me as-well. However I regognized that this will save the position only until the next reboot of the PC. After a reboot you have to drag Powertoy Run once again to the desired screen position and then it is saved.

Can someone verify this behaviour or is it just buggy more me?

Yes, still in 2023 same issue...
After every reboot power toys run returns to its previous location.

[jazzydog]

A issue been through four years now.

[FilipeBento]

Hi, everyone! Any news on this? Any plans to develop this in 2025?

When I try to compare the results from Run with something else on the screen the Run app stays on top, completely blocking the visibility on the underlying data. Ability to drag and drop it would be a great quality-of-life improvement. I unfortunately don't know how to code this.

Thank you all for your excellent work in PowerToys! ❤