Skip to content

Mouse Utility: Add modifier key + scroll wheel window transparency control #47904

@Ne7erStop

Description

@Ne7erStop

Description of the new feature / enhancement

AltSnap supports adjusting window transparency by holding a modifier key (e.g., Alt)
and scrolling the mouse wheel over any window. PowerToys already implements AltSnap's
window dragging and resizing via modifier key, but the transparency control feature
is missing.

Expected behavior:

  • User holds a configurable modifier key (e.g., Alt or a custom key combo) and
    scrolls the mouse wheel over any window.
  • The target window's opacity/transparency is adjusted in real time based on
    scroll direction (scroll up = more opaque, scroll down = more transparent).
  • Minimum and maximum transparency thresholds should be configurable to prevent
    windows from becoming fully invisible.
  • The feature should be toggleable and integrated into the existing
    Mouse Without Borders / FancyZones / Mouse Utilities section, or as an extension
    to the current AltSnap-inspired "Mouse Jump" / drag utility.

Scenario when this would be used?

Power users who work with multiple overlapping windows benefit greatly from being
able to quickly adjust window transparency without right-clicking or navigating
through app-specific settings. For example:

  • A developer keeping API documentation visible behind their IDE.
  • A writer referencing a source document behind their text editor.
  • A trader monitoring a chart while typing in another window.

AltSnap users who migrate to PowerToys currently lose this workflow. Since
PowerToys has already adopted AltSnap's modifier-key window management paradigm,
adding transparency control would complete the feature parity and provide a
seamless transition for existing AltSnap users.

Supporting information

No response

Metadata

Metadata

Assignees

No one assigned

    Labels

    Needs-TriageFor issues raised to be triaged and prioritized by internal Microsoft teams

    Projects

    No projects

    Milestone

    No milestone

    Relationships

    None yet

    Development

    No branches or pull requests

    Issue actions