PowerToys Run does not allow switching to windows on different desktops any more

[rah-jain]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.55.0

Running as admin

• Yes

Area(s) with issue?

PowerToys Run

Steps to reproduce

Have windows on multiple Windows desktops, try to use PowerToys Run to switch to a window on a different desktop by typing "<" followed by some portion of the window's name.

✔️ Expected Behavior

The window is available as a choice

❌ Actual Behavior

The window is not available as a choice.

Other Software

Windows 10, version 21H1

[htcfreek]

@rah-jain
Thank you for reporting this.

@crutkas
Please assign me.

I think I know why this is happening. It's the change I made to fix the bug with preloaded uwp windows. 🤨

Do we need a hotfix for this?

[htcfreek]

Note to me:
Step 1: Revert change.
Step 2: Test if window is assigned to a VD and cloaked state. => VD-GUID of preloaded uwp window is always a guid with only zeros.
Step 3: Optional setting to show only on current VD.

[htcfreek]

@crutkas
Can we use undocumented com interface in our code?

[crutkas]

Nope, we are only allowed to use public APIs. Most virtual desktop APIs are private. For us to swap, I believe that is a private api.

[htcfreek]

Nope, we are only allowed to use public APIs. Most virtual desktop APIs are private. For us to swap, I believe that is a private api.

@crutkas
Okay. Then I will try to use the official documented way.

I did a short test. We can filter by VirtualDesktop GUID. The GUID is available via an official COM-Interface. It contains only zeros for hidden uwp app windows because they aren't assigned to a desktop. (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/shobjidl_core/nf-shobjidl_core-ivirtualdesktopmanager-getwindowdesktopid)

[htcfreek]

Note: The PR above is only the hotfix to bring the feature back into WW. The final fix of this issue will be in a second PR.

[htcfreek]

I have removed Fix-committed lable because the hotfix isn't the final fix for this bug. With the hotfix I only reverted a change I had implemented to fix #13637.

[htcfreek]

@rah-jain
With the hotfix release 0.55.1 the windows should be visible again.

[rah-jain]

Confirmed, expected behavior is occurring in 0.55.1

[htcfreek]

@rah-jain
Can you please reopen the issue.

[htcfreek]

@crutkas
I have a solution which is nearly ready.

I have written a VirtualDesktopHelper class and my plan is to make it available to all plugins as part of Wox.Plugin.Common. The code only uses public documented interfaces! I know that there are some nits left and some improvements are needed. (At the moment I am waiting until #15807 and #15741 are merged before continue work.)

[htcfreek]

project: v0.57.0 for the final solution

[htcfreek]

This is fixed with 0.57.0. Please head over to https://aka.ms/installpowertoys