PowerToys Run breaks longstanding Alt+Space accessability feature

[BurtHarris]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.83.0

Installation method

WinGet

Running as admin

No

Area(s) with issue?

PowerToys Run

Steps to reproduce

Without PowerToys Run enabled, hit Alt+Space

✔️ Expected Behavior

The Alt+Space keyboard shortcut has been a staple in Windows operating systems for many years. It opens the system menu for the currently active window, which is also accessible by clicking the icon in the window's top-left corner. This menu typically includes, at a minimum, options like Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize, and Close. Apps can extend it, so for example Edge currently displays this:

An important part of the behavior is the ability to perform operations like Move by typing and then using the arrow keys.

Alt+Spaces history dates back to the early versions of Windows. It was designed to give keyboard users quick access to window management functions, which is especially useful for those who prefer not to use a mouse or for accessibility purposes.

It’s safe to say that it has been around since at least Windows 3.0, which was released in 1990. This shortcut is part of the broader set of accessibility features and keyboard navigations that Microsoft introduced to make Windows more user-friendly and efficient to navigate using only a keyboard.

The Alt+Space shortcut reflects Microsoft’s long-standing commitment to keyboard accessibility. It ensures that users can perform essential window management tasks without relying on a mouse. This commitment has continued throughout the evolution of Windows, with keyboard shortcuts remaining an integral part of the user interface in the latest versions of the operating system.

❌ Actual Behavior

The displayed dialog box does not allow window management options, as virtually all versions of Windows have.

For this app's graphical niceness, paying attention to the well-established keyboard habits of existing users should be respected.

Other Software

N/A

[similar-issues-ai]

We've found some similar issues:

• PowerToys "Run" still hijacks the standard Windows shortcut "Alt+Space" #13860 , similarity score: 86%
• Power Run hooking Alt+Space is an accessibility issue #29074 , similarity score: 83%
• Powertoys should not override Alt+Space by default #7350 , similarity score: 82%

If any of the above are duplicates, please consider closing this issue out and adding additional context in the original issue.

Note: You can give me feedback by 👍 or 👎 this comment.

[BurtHarris]

Failure to remember history, seems the root cause, same as the above issues, all of which look stalled.

But to this retired MSFT dev, it seems that starting with the history is the best way to report this bug. It probably goes back to before 1990.

I'm an old-timer, and I remember the Windows 1 beta SDK; I'm pretty sure Alt+Space was present back then, too...

[BurtHarris]

A really good fix might merge together the best features of both. It would be important to include the current app's system menu items including any the app added, and the underlined letters. Ideally it would match the behavior of the default system menu keystroke by keystroke.

[BurtHarris]

Nice dev docs; that's the sort of thing that encourages collaboration. It's been a long time since I've written that kind of code, but I remember Windows hooks from circa 1990. I'm glad to see the UI is in C#. I'll have a look at submitting a PR.

[crutkas]

/dup #34417 as tracking. Known by-design choice but we can do better to make you more aware. Our default can be overridden too

[microsoft-github-policy-service]

Hi! We've identified this issue as a duplicate of another one that already exists on this Issue Tracker. This specific instance is being closed in favor of tracking the concern over on the referenced thread. Thanks for your report!