How to: Keep a Windows Form on Top

Starting with the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system, a top-most form always stays in front of all windows in a given application. In Microsoft Windows 98, a top-most form stays in front of all windows in all applications. For example, you may want to keep a floating tool window in front of your application's main window. The TopMost property controls whether a form is a top-most form. A top-most form will always float above other, non–top-most forms even when it is not active.

Note

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To make a form the top-most form in a Windows Forms application at design time

• In the Properties window, set the TopMost property to true.

To make a form the top-most form in a Windows Forms application programmatically

• In a procedure, set the TopMost property to true.

  Public sub MakeOnTop()
     myTopForm.TopMost = True
  End Sub
  

  public void MakeOnTop()
  {
     myTopForm.TopMost = true;
  }
  

  public void MakeOnTop()
  {
     myTopForm.set_TopMost(true);
  }
  

  public:
     void MakeOnTop()
     {
        myTopForm->TopMost = true;
     }
  

See Also

Reference

Windows Forms Overview

Other Resources

Creating a New Windows Form

Dialog Boxes in Windows Forms