Win + Space Toggles Taskbar Setting for Maximized and Non-Maximized Windows

Is this by design or just a coincidence?

I have discovered quite by accident that Win + Space toggles the taskbar setting for Maximized and Non-Maximized settings.

I'm wondering if this is by design with the Enhanced taskbar or just a coincidence.

Typically in Windows 10 and 11, Win + Space switches between your installed input languages and keyboard layouts.

Windows 11 Pro - 26200.9278; Start11v2 - 2.8.0.2
Enhanced taskbar is enabled

EDIT: I think it must have something to do with Peek in Fences, as Win + Space brings Fences on top of other windows. I disabled the Win + Space hotkey in Fences and that eliminated the toggling of the taskbar.

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Reply #1 Top

Not a coincidence. Win + Space is Fences Peek's default hotkey and has been since Peek shipped. The Fences 4 Beta 1 changelog reads "Fences Peek enabled by default with hotkey Windows key + space". Your edit had it right.

The input language part is a known collision and we handle it conditionally. Changelog 6.2.0.1 added "detection for multiple keyboard layouts, so that the default Peek hotkey (WinKey+Space) does not override Windows switch-keyboard hotkey". With one layout installed, Peek keeps the key. With more than one, Windows gets it back.

The taskbar toggle is then a side effect rather than Fences reaching into Start11. Peek brings your fences to the front, so the topmost window changes, which is what a maximized versus non-maximized taskbar setting would be watching.

If you want Peek back, the hotkey is configurable on the Peek tab rather than being all or nothing. Rebinding it to something Windows does not already claim avoids both collisions.

Reply #2 Top
Quoting Haalee, reply 4146308

The taskbar toggle is then a side effect rather than Fences reaching into Start11. Peek brings your fences to the front, so the topmost window changes, which is what a maximized versus non-maximized taskbar setting would be watching.

End of Haalee's quote

This is actually pretty cool! I like being able to change the taskbar to different setting temporarily with a keyboard shortcut. For instance, if I have a mostly transparent taskbar and want to temporarily make it solid.

It would be awesome to add setting to Start11v2 that would toggle between two taskbar setups with a keyboard shortcut when using the Enhanced taskbar. This would allow the toggle without triggering Fences Peek.