Windows Calculator gaining Always-on-Top mode

What you need to know

  • The Windows Calculator will soon gain an Always-on-Top mode.
  • The feature showcases a unique use of the Compact Overlay mode.
  • Microsoft open sourced the Windows Calculator earlier this year.

The Windows Calculator will soon have an Always-on-Top feature. The new feature will allow users to pop the calculator into a mini-mode that can stay on top of all apps and windows. The feature addition is thanks to several contributors helping improve the concept and implementation of the feature on GitHub.

Microsoft open sourced the Windows Calculator earlier this year. At the time, Microsoft stated that the calculator was open sourced to "[encourage] your fresh perspectives and increased participation to help define the future of Calculator." This new feature certainly qualifies as a fresh perspective, as it relies on the Compact Overlay mode which is usually reserved for playing videos.

The feature was teased on Twitter by Dave Grochocki, a Senior Project Manager at Microsoft who works on the Windows Calculator.

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Grochocki did not include a release date of the feature, but the GitHub log shows that the feature was moved to "Completed" earlier today. The feature will probably roll out in the near future.

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Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott brings nearly a decade of experience covering Microsoft and Windows news to Windows Central. He joined our team in 2017 as an app reviewer and now heads up our day-to-day news coverage. If you have a news tip or an app to review, hit him up at sean.endicott@futurenet.com.