[PowerToys Run] Not detecting certain apps

[supremeicecreme]

Environment

Windows build number: 10.0.18363.778
PowerToys version: v0.18.1
PowerToy module for which you are reporting the bug (if applicable): PowerToys Run

Steps to reproduce

Well, it's just there. Using PowerToys Run, I search for an application (Notion, executable Notion.exe) with or without .exe at the end. I don't get this as a result when it is not running, and when it is running, it is always the least prioritised, despite matching the exe name. (note - the window title NEVER contains the word Notion)

Expected behavior

Notion to appear to be launched when it is not, and when it is running it should appear as the first result.

Actual behavior

When I want to launch notion, PT Run doesn't find it at all, whereas Windows Search does. See Figure 1.
When I want to switch to it, it is consistently the last option. See Figure 2.

Screenshots

Figure 1:

Figure 2:

[saahmedm]

hey @supremeicecreme couple questions:

• was this installed before PT was running?
• how was Notion installed?
• can you share a link so we can test ourselves?

[supremeicecreme]

Hello,
I've been using PowerToys for several months now, so yes, it was running at the time Notion was installed. It was installed via their official installer from their website: https://www.notion.so/

[ksiggaard]

I have the same problem with Notion and some other apps:

• MongoDBCompass
• FontBase
• Postman
• VirtualBox

[crutkas]

These may be fixed by some of the work we've been focused on for .19 but marking this for .20

[dsrivastavv]

@supremeicecreme Do you still see this issue on v0.19.1?

[alekhyareddy28]

I think this is a duplicate of issue - #3553, where the apps were installed when Powertoys was already running.

[dsrivastavv]

I tried all the apps listed here and I was able to find them after restarting powertoys.

[alekhyareddy28]

I tried all the apps listed here and I was able to find all of them after restarting powertoys.

I think we can close this then, as it is a duplicate of #3553.

[supremeicecreme]

To be quite honest, I don't know whether I'd installed the application before or after I installed this version of PowerToys, though I suspect it was after it.

I am now using v0.19.1 and it does show up in the list, the first one in fact. However, as the window name is not called, and does not contain, the word "Notion", when it is running, it does not show up first in the list (where it is most useful when you want to switch to it from another application. Instead, it is at the bottom of the list, which I can just press Up and enter, but it shouldn't have to be like that. Can PT Run be made to prioritise running applications where the name of the EXE running is the same as the one you've typed? Notion is called "Notion.exe", so this should be simple for stuff like that, so it appears at the top of the list, particularly over the .lnk shortcut to open a new instance of the program?

[saahmedm]

hi @supremeicecreme , great that it shows up in the latest!

in regards to the second topic you brought up, we've had conversations regarding this in a few different issues:

• An option to let running programs be first in the results list - [Run] Tracker: An option to let running programs be first in the results list #3169
• Explicitly start new program instance with modifier key - [PT Run] Explicitly start new program instance with modifier key #3884
• Rethink integration of window walker into launcher - Rethink integration of window walker into launcher #3357

WindowWalker, btw, is the app that was integrated into PT and includes the results you see in Run of active windows.

closing this as a duplicate, feel free to open if the other issues don't cover your suggestions!

[michael-letcher]

For those having issues. I find adding the application (for me it's Cmder). Add a short cut to the start menu folder. Then it will appear.

[johnknoop]

I still have this problem with Beekeeper even after adding it to the start menu.

Also, Figma shows up twice, but that's less of a problem.