Alt + Space not working at all [Powertoys Run doesn't launch] #3650

NeoGenesis1986 · 2020-05-24T12:10:56Z

Environment

Windows build number:  [Version 10.0.18362.836]
PowerToys version: v0.18.1
PowerToys: PowerToys Run

Steps to reproduce

With PowerToys installed and running, press Alt + Space from any screen.

Expected behavior

PowerToys Run popup shows up to start typing a command or a search term

Actual behavior

window menu (Restore / Move / Size / Minimize / Maximize / Close) shows up in the top left corner of the focused window if the focus is on a window or nothing at all if the focus is on the desktop.

Screenshots

The text was updated successfully, but these errors were encountered:

WinkelCode · 2020-05-25T01:18:47Z

I had it happen a couple times that after playing a game (SWAT 4) with Nvidia's DSR feature (changing resolution to above native while game is running) at 2x native resolution, the Run window wouldn't show up until restarting PowerToys. I initially opened a separate issue for this but since I suddenly can't reproduce it I decided to close it for now and see what comes out of this issue.

NeoGenesis1986 · 2020-05-25T01:29:48Z

Restarting PowerToys doesn't help. It didn't work for me from the start. And I don't think it's a graphics card issue as I don't have one on my laptop.

deanso · 2020-05-25T09:21:19Z

Same issue here, new installed powertoys to try out PowerToys Run, but searchbar not popping up when pressing Alt + Space. Tried different shortcut, restarting pc, run as admin and restarting powertoys, but no change.

From another thread:
Starting Power Launcher.exe (located in C:\Program Files\PowerToys\modules\launcher\PowerLauncher.exe ) manually works.
I'll try reinstalling and installing powertoys.

enricogior · 2020-05-25T09:28:42Z

@NeoGenesis1986 @deanso
open the Task Manager and check under the Details tab if the PowerLauncher.exe process is running.

Sov3rain · 2020-05-25T09:43:55Z

Same here. It was working fine in 0.18. I updated to 0.18.1 and now Windows Menu pops up. I tried to restart Power Toys.

PowerLauncher.exe is not running, just PowerToys.exe

EDIT: when starting PowerLauncher.exe manually, it works fine. Maybe it's an autostart problem?

enricogior · 2020-05-25T09:50:03Z

@Sov3rain
can you check if in the PowerToys Settings, the PowerToys Run module is ON?

Sov3rain · 2020-05-25T09:51:51Z

@enricogior Yes it's ON. I tried to disable/enable it but no change.

enricogior · 2020-05-25T09:58:49Z

@Sov3rain
can you do a test?

exit PowerToys
check in the Task Manager if PowerLauncher.exe is still running (it should)
terminate PowerLauncher.exe
restart PowerToys
if PowerLauncher.exe is not running open the Event Viewer and check under Windows Logs -> Application if there is any error related to PowerLauncher.exe

Thanks.

Sov3rain · 2020-05-25T10:05:54Z

@enricogior

exit PowerToys

check in the Task Manager if PowerLauncher.exe is still running (it should)

Yes it is.

terminate PowerLauncher.exe

restart PowerToys

Power Launcher is not restarting with PowerToys.

if PowerLauncher.exe is not running open the Event Viewer and check under Windows Logs -> Application if there is any error related to PowerLauncher.exe

No error related to Power Launcher in the event viewer.

enricogior · 2020-05-25T10:23:30Z

@Sov3rain
I was hoping some error was present in the Event log, it would have helped.
Thank you.

pietro-tp · 2020-05-25T10:24:09Z

I have the same problem.
I dont know if can help but: if i have powertoys run ENABLE nothing append if i use the shortcut Alt+spacebar. When i DISABLE powertoys run and use the same shortcut searchbox appear and work well.

enricogior · 2020-05-25T10:28:17Z

@PietroGiustacori
that's interesting. Can you verify in Task Manager -> Details if PowerLauncher.exe exits when you enable it in the Settings and that it runs when you disable it?
Thanks.

pietro-tp · 2020-05-25T10:41:07Z

@enricogior
Sorry but i remember a thing, before i start PowerLauncher.exe by searching it in the folder PowerToys>modules>launcher and nothing append i i enable o disable Powertoys Run in Power Toys setting. If i not manually start PowerLauncher.exe nothing append.
Enable o disable PowerToys run in the settings not have any results.

bars949 · 2020-05-25T11:10:25Z

Same issue with Windows 10, version 1909

bars949 · 2020-05-25T11:21:51Z

In windows 10 alt + space these are standard hotkeys. Perhaps with the next update, the priority was increased?

Makishima · 2020-05-25T12:25:19Z

Same here, after the last update looks like PowerLauncher.exe do not start at all. If launch manually both Alt + Space or Ctrl + Space is working correct

bars949 · 2020-05-25T15:02:18Z

I found a problem with myself. It was in this thread: #3456 but I did not change anything there. perhaps after rebooting the value is lost again. But by setting alt + space there, performance is restored.

bars949 · 2020-05-25T15:03:18Z

aboalwi · 2020-05-26T00:25:47Z

I had the same issue. Disabling Administrator mode then restarting PowerToys fixed it for me.

Sov3rain · 2020-05-26T08:50:59Z

I had the same issue. Disabling Administrator mode then restarting PowerToys fixed it for me.

Tried this too, not fixed.

SedyBenoitPeace · 2020-05-27T18:38:57Z

I found a behaviour that maybe can help devs.

I had this problem when updating PowerToys from an existing version already in place (I had 0.18 and updated to 0.18.1 on my work laptop) while on my personal one I installed straight the 0.18.1 and the keyboard shortcut is doing fine.

I fixed on the work laptop as stated in this thread with starting manually PowerLauncher.exe

So I guess that in the updating process is breaking something in terms of PowerLauncher.exe autorun.

EDIT: I forgot to mention Windows versions and it came to my mind after @holzfuss' comment.
Work Laptop (where there was the issue with update): Windows 10 v1909
Personal Laptop (no issue but installed 0.18.1 straight) Windows 10 v1903
So it may be also thanks to my Windows version

crutkas · 2020-10-10T05:13:31Z

@nitz How long did you give it to initialize before you tried the keystrokes? The querying of all the apps and icon indexing takes a few seconds.

nitz · 2020-10-10T05:29:25Z

@crutkas before the reboot, at least 20 minutes. I spent plenty of time playing with a few of the other tools before I circled back to the launcher.

After the reboot? Well I tried a couple of times right after boot, as well as while I was writing my initial reply there. I was definitely confused because the ram usage wasn't changing at all, not even a KB. Then I went and made a cup of coffee, so the k-cup machine took what 3 minutes? Then when I sat back down it was working. 🙃

gannon345 · 2020-10-10T07:58:21Z

Seems to be working now as of the 0.23.2 update.

…

On Fri, Oct 9, 2020 at 11:29 PM Chris Dailey ***@***.***> wrote: @crutkas <https://github.com/crutkas> before the reboot, at least 20 minutes. I spent plenty of time playing with a few of the other tools before I circled back to the launcher. After the reboot? Well I tried a couple of times right after boot, as well as while I was writing my initial reply there. I was definitely confused because the ram usage wasn't changing at all, not even a KB. Then I went and made a cup of coffee, so the k-cup machine took what 3 minutes? Then when I sat back down it was working. 🙃 — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#3650 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB6GHFB5FAOWGSVWQGNFKFDSJ7WMFANCNFSM4NI3SURQ> .

EranBoudjnah · 2020-10-12T15:31:09Z

Here's an interesting one: PowerLauncher.exe and PowerToys are running. ALT+Space does nothing. I exit PowerToys. ALT+Space starts working (as in, launching the Run input window). I re-launch PowerToys - ALT+Space stops working again. This is with 0.23.2.

enricogior · 2020-10-17T08:16:46Z

@EranBoudjnah

I exit PowerToys. ALT+Space starts working

When exiting PT, PowerToys.exe and PowerLauncher.exe are not running anymore. It should be impossible for Alt + Space to open PT Run.
Are you sure you are exiting PowerToys or are you just closing the Settings app window?

EranBoudjnah · 2020-10-17T09:34:34Z

@EranBoudjnah

I exit PowerToys. ALT+Space starts working

When exiting PT, PowerToys.exe and PowerLauncher.exe are not running anymore. It should be impossible for Alt + Space to open PT Run.
Are you sure you are exiting PowerToys or are you just closing the Settings app window?

100% certain. Right clicked the tray icon and clicked Exit. Launched PowerToys again and it stopped working.
After a reboot both live happily together again, by the way.

enricogior · 2020-10-21T05:07:57Z

@EranBoudjnah
are you running 0.23.2?
We had a bug that was causing PowerLauncher.exe to take 10 seconds before exiting, so in case of quitting PowerToys and restarting it right away it was causing a race condition and prevent PT Run to work.

In 0.23.2 you should see these two processes quit almost istantly when you quit PowerToys

Then, if you restart PowerToys after the two processes have exited, you should see them appear again and PT Run should work (it may take a few seconds for PT Run to reacted to ALT + Space since it may still initializing, we have a fix in the progress for that)

EranBoudjnah · 2020-10-21T06:29:43Z

@EranBoudjnah
are you running 0.23.2?
We had a bug that was causing PowerLauncher.exe to take 10 seconds before exiting, so in case of quitting PowerToys and restarting it right away it was causing a race condition and prevent PT Run to work.

In 0.23.2 you should see these two processes quit almost istantly when you quit PowerToys

Then, if you restart PowerToys after the two processes have exited, you should see them appear again and PT Run should work (it may take a few seconds for PT Run to reacted to ALT + Space since it may still initializing, we have a fix in the progress for that)

Thanks @enricogior - I am running 0.23.2. I'm afraid I can't offer much useful feedback at this point, though, since the reported behavior stopped after rebooting... Unfortunately, there was definitely an issue on 0.23.2 (right after upgrading to it, in fact) up until rebooting.

enricogior · 2020-10-21T07:18:29Z

@EranBoudjnah
OK, good to know it's not reproducing anymore. We have some fixes for 0.25, hopefully they will remove the original problem.

Jay-o-Way · 2020-10-25T12:47:01Z

This is why I changed it to Win+Q because that does the same thing as Win+S and if PT Run is not active, you still have a search function.

enricogior · 2021-01-09T17:52:34Z

There are two scenarios for this problem:

PowerLauncher.exe is not started when PowerToys.exe starts, this is now tracked in [Run] PowerLauncher.exe is NOT running when PowerToys starts #9017
PowerLauncher.exe is running but not responding to the shortcut key, this is now tracked in [Run] PowerLauncher.exe is running, but the shortcut key doesn't work #9018

Closing this as duplicate, please refer to #9017 or #9018 depending on your case.
Thanks.

garylavayou · 2021-01-24T01:10:02Z

I had the same issue. Disabling Administrator mode then restarting PowerToys fixed it for me.

I set "Run as Admin" in the compatibility Property of PowerToys' shortcuts, then the "Alt + Space" does not work.
Besides, it also affects other program's hot-key settings. For example, I also install Wox Launcher, but I cannot set the expected hot-key in Wox settings (I want to set it as "Alt + Enter" to avoid conflict with PowerToys Run, but show as "Alt + LeftAlt"), and the hot-key also cannot activate the Wox Launcher.

Actually, to run as an administrator, only need to enable the in-app setting.

MarcBollmann · 2021-03-03T10:58:17Z

Same for me run as administrator will not work

mykhailopylyp · 2021-03-05T09:20:10Z

@MarcBollmann
Follow on #3650 (comment)

Optio1 · 2022-09-01T00:17:51Z

Exiting the awake plugin from the tray fixed the issue for me.

iborghoff · 2023-01-23T12:45:00Z

Exiting the awake plugin from the tray fixed the issue for me.

This also fixed the issue for me. I'm running Windows 11 21H2.

WinkelCode mentioned this issue May 25, 2020

(Run) Window sometimes doesn't show up until PowerToys restart, may be related to usage of Nvidia DSR (higher than native resolution while in game) #3664

Closed

enricogior mentioned this issue May 25, 2020

Powertoys Run doesn't launch after upgrading to v0.18.1 #3639

Closed

enricogior changed the title ~~Alt + Space not working at all~~ Alt + Space not working at all [Powertoys Run doesn't launch] May 25, 2020

enricogior added Product-PowerToys Run Improved app launch PT Run (Win+R) Window Issue-Bug Something isn't working labels May 25, 2020

enricogior mentioned this issue May 26, 2020

PowerToys Run stopped working on version 0.18.1 #3736

Closed

This was referenced May 26, 2020

PowerToys Run shortuct doesn't work #3575

Closed

PowerToys Run shortcuts not functioning at all. Search bar not launching #3501

Closed

jyuwono changed the title ~~Alt + Space not working at all [Powertoys Run doesn't launch]~~ [Tracker] Alt + Space not working at all [Powertoys Run doesn't launch] May 26, 2020

brimwats1 mentioned this issue Oct 14, 2020

Powertoys Run latest version lags intensely #7271

Closed

saahmedm removed this from the InVEST-2010 milestone Oct 23, 2020

Jay-o-Way mentioned this issue Oct 25, 2020

PowerToys Run opens active window context menu. #4682

Closed

ghost mentioned this issue Nov 5, 2020

alt + space not working in PowerToys run #7860

Closed

enricogior assigned mykhailopylyp Dec 4, 2020

mykhailopylyp mentioned this issue Dec 8, 2020

[PT Run] Add logs for Launcher #8489

Merged

5 tasks

enricogior changed the title ~~[Tracker] Alt + Space not working at all [Powertoys Run doesn't launch]~~ Alt + Space not working at all [Powertoys Run doesn't launch] Jan 9, 2021

enricogior removed the Priority-0 Bugs that we consider release-blocking/recall-class (P0) label Jan 9, 2021

enricogior closed this as completed Jan 9, 2021

Alt + Space not working at all [Powertoys Run doesn't launch] #3650

Alt + Space not working at all [Powertoys Run doesn't launch] #3650

Comments

NeoGenesis1986 commented May 24, 2020

Environment

Steps to reproduce

Expected behavior

Actual behavior

Screenshots

WinkelCode commented May 25, 2020 • edited Loading

NeoGenesis1986 commented May 25, 2020 • edited Loading

deanso commented May 25, 2020 • edited Loading

enricogior commented May 25, 2020

Sov3rain commented May 25, 2020 • edited Loading

enricogior commented May 25, 2020

Sov3rain commented May 25, 2020

enricogior commented May 25, 2020

Sov3rain commented May 25, 2020 • edited Loading

enricogior commented May 25, 2020

pietro-tp commented May 25, 2020

enricogior commented May 25, 2020 • edited Loading

pietro-tp commented May 25, 2020

bars949 commented May 25, 2020

bars949 commented May 25, 2020

Makishima commented May 25, 2020 • edited Loading

bars949 commented May 25, 2020

bars949 commented May 25, 2020

aboalwi commented May 26, 2020

Sov3rain commented May 26, 2020

SedyBenoitPeace commented May 27, 2020 • edited Loading

crutkas commented Oct 10, 2020

nitz commented Oct 10, 2020

gannon345 commented Oct 10, 2020 via email

EranBoudjnah commented Oct 12, 2020

enricogior commented Oct 17, 2020

EranBoudjnah commented Oct 17, 2020

enricogior commented Oct 21, 2020

EranBoudjnah commented Oct 21, 2020

enricogior commented Oct 21, 2020

Jay-o-Way commented Oct 25, 2020

enricogior commented Jan 9, 2021

garylavayou commented Jan 24, 2021 • edited Loading

MarcBollmann commented Mar 3, 2021 • edited Loading

mykhailopylyp commented Mar 5, 2021

Optio1 commented Sep 1, 2022

iborghoff commented Jan 23, 2023

WinkelCode commented May 25, 2020 •

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NeoGenesis1986 commented May 25, 2020 •

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deanso commented May 25, 2020 •

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Sov3rain commented May 25, 2020 •

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