How should I focus an AppWindow?

[JohnCido]

How should I let AppWindow get the focus and elevate to the top from other windows?

[martibravo]

If you want to focus it,

yourAppWindow.Show(); //or yourAppWindow.Show(true);

Unfocus with

yourAppWindow.Show(false);

Want to always stay on top?

If it's a normal window (OverlappedPresenter):

var presenter = yourAppWindow.Presenter as OverlappedPresenter;
presenter.IsAlwaysOnTop = true;

[JohnCido]

According to the answer from @andrewleader and my experience trying the Show() method in my codes, this does not work at this moment.

[martibravo]

You are absolutely right, I apologize. I got it wrong.

[andrewleader]

Hi @JohnCido, the AppWindow APIs don't support bringing the window to the foreground (I assume you are trying to bring your window to the foreground/front as a result of an app launch redirection or some other event that should bring your window to the foreground). The Show() API unfortunately doesn't do that.

Here's how to bring a window to the foreground from a C# desktop app...

1. Install Microsoft.Windows.CsWin32 NuGet package

2. Add NativeMethods.txt file

This file specifies what C++ Win32 APIs you want projected into C#. We only need two APIs, so the file contents should simply be...

SetForegroundWindow
ShowWindow

3. Bring your window to the foreground

    // Bring the window to the foreground... first get the window handle...
    IntPtr windowHandle = WinRT.Interop.WindowNative.GetWindowHandle(m_window);

    // Restore window if minimized... requires Microsoft.Windows.CsWin32 NuGet package and a NativeMethods.txt file with ShowWindow method
    Windows.Win32.PInvoke.ShowWindow((Windows.Win32.Foundation.HWND)windowHandle, Windows.Win32.UI.WindowsAndMessaging.SHOW_WINDOW_CMD.SW_RESTORE);

    // And call SetForegroundWindow... requires Microsoft.Windows.CsWin32 NuGet package and a NativeMethods.txt file with SetForegroundWindow method
    Windows.Win32.PInvoke.SetForegroundWindow((Windows.Win32.Foundation.HWND)windowHandle);

[JohnCido]

Thanks for the answer, it works now. What I want to know is do you have any plan to add it to the SDK using normal modern C# codes? I believe it's an important function to many desktop apps.

[andrewleader]

Yes, making this a straightforward API call is feedback we've shared with the AppWindow team, I'll record your request for that API! We don't have any plans to share yet about if/when that API would come though.