FancyZones unexpected behavior for WIN+UP/DOWN

[MichlF]

ℹ Computer information

• PowerToys version: 0.27.1
• PowerToy Utility: FancyZones
• Running PowerToys as Admin: yes
• Windows build number: [run "winver"] 1909 B 18363.1256

📝 Provide detailed reproduction steps (if any)

1. Given the settings as seen in the screenshot No.1, I set up my horizontal main monitor and secondary vertically pivoted monitor like you can see in screenshot No.2 and No.3.

2. I use the WIN + UP and WIN + DOWN hotkeys to maximize and minimize a window.

✔️ Expected result

I should be able to minimize and maximize the window as usual on both screens.

❌ Actual result

It works flawless for the main (horizontal) screen, but does not work for as expected on the secondary (vertical) screen. I can minimize the window when it is in the second (i.e. final) row of the grid but not when it is on the top. I cannot maximize the window no matter where the window is (first or second/final row).
What is also unintuitive in this case is that I can only move the window from first and second row back and forth by using WIN+LEFT and WIN+RIGHT hotkeys. More intuitive and standard to windows is WIN+UP and WIN+DOWN.

📷 Screenshots

No.1 Settings:

No.2 Setup screen 1

No.3 Setup screen 2

[enricogior]

@MichlF
this is the default behavior (bug) in Windows Snap, when a window occupies half of the screen horizontally, Windows Snap up/down keys are not maximizing/minimizing the window.
You can easily replicate this without FZ running.
I suggest you use the Windows Feedback Hub application to submit the bug against Windows Snap.

[MichlF]

@enricogior: Maybe I dont understand you but it isn't default behavior in Windows Snap!?
With normal snap I cannot really occupy half of the screen horizontally in a pivoted screen. I can only occupy half of the screen vertically (which is why I looked up FZ in the first place).
Irrespective, as I explained, the real issue here is that maximize (WIN+UP or with any other hotkey combination) does not seem to work at all on a pivoted screen in FZ, while it does work flawlessly and in a predictable fashion without running FZ (for any window, whether it is manually sized and placed or vertically placed with WIN+LEFT/RIGHT).

[enricogior]

@MichlF

With normal snap I cannot really occupy half of the screen horizontally in a pivoted screen

If a window is already there, regardless how it has been put there (FZ or manually), Windows Snap has that behavior.
PowerToys doesn't have the ability to change how Windows Snap works.

[MichlF]

I still think we talk past one another.

Do you agree that this behavior:

Irrespective, as I explained, the real issue here is that maximize (WIN+UP or with any other hotkey combination) does not seem to work at all on a pivoted screen in FZ, while it does work flawlessly and in a predictable fashion without running FZ (for any window, whether it is manually sized and placed or vertically placed with WIN+LEFT/RIGHT).

should be fixable? After all, it is something that works in Windows Snap without FZ but not with FZ enabled.

PS: I'd a screen recording to better illustrate what I mean but it seems that the game bar utility doesn't allow recording on a secondary screen.

[enricogior]

@MichlF

the real issue here is that maximize (WIN+UP or with any other hotkey combination) does not seem to work at all on a pivoted screen in FZ, while it does work flawlessly and in a predictable fashion without running FZ

That is not correct.
If a window occupies the top half of the screen or the bottom half, Windows Snap will not maximize/minimize it.
To repro, simple zone the window on the monitor in portrait mode and then quit FZ. Windows Snap will still not maximize/minimize it.
FZ has nothing to do with that behavior.

[MichlF]

Maybe the confusion here is coming from a different definition of "top". If I talk about a 90° pivoted screen, then the top is not the top of the screen for an unpivoted screen but the left (assuming you pivot the screen clockwise which is the default/standard).

To repro, simple zone the window on the monitor in portrait mode and then quit FZ. Windows Snap will still not maximize/minimize it.

Even though WIN+UP doesn't do anything here - you are correct in that - I can simply maximize the window by first doing WIN+RIGHT or +LEFT and then WIN+TOP. So again, the functionality clearly exists without FZ.

[jamessevener]

I can confirm issues here. If I disable fancy zones, Win+DN will minimize my window. When I enable fancy zones, it moves between zones. Same behavior with the override windows snap shortcut option.

[enricogior]

@MichlF

Maybe the confusion here is coming from a different definition of "top". If I talk about a 90° pivoted screen, then the top is not the top of the screen for an unpivoted screen but the left (assuming you pivot the screen clockwise which is the default/standard).

Top-half of the screen is the same thing regardless of the orientation.
You can easily repro this on landscape as well (without FZ running).

[MichlF]

Even though WIN+UP doesn't do anything here - you are correct in that - I can simply maximize the window by first doing WIN+RIGHT or +LEFT and then WIN+TOP. So again, the functionality clearly exists without FZ.

[enricogior]

@MichlF
if you move the window somewhere else, that "fixes" the Windows Snap issue, buy again, this is not a FZ bug, this is Windows Snap that doesn't allow to maximize/minimize a windows if it occupies the top/bottom half of the screen.
So what you are asking is that FZ adds a workaround for this Windows Snap limitation or to be able to use both FZ and Windows Snap at the same time. Since Windows Snap doesn't allow to change the Win + arrow shortcut, FZ could allow it.
That feature request is tracked by #2382 via https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/6611