Window pins
Pin a region of a window to your screen and keep it updated live, even when other windows cover the source. Available only on Windows.
Windows only
Window pins are currently available only on Windows.
A regular pin is a static screenshot; a window pin continuously shows the source window's latest content. Pin a region of a video player, download progress, monitoring panel, or chat to watch it while working, like picture in picture.
Create a window pin
Press Ctrl+1Ctrl+1 to start a screenshot and select a region in the window you want to keep in sync.
Click “Pin Window” in the toolbar's secondary button area, or press Alt+WAlt+W.
PixPin finds the window under the selection and displays only the selected part of that window. If the selection extends beyond the window, only the portion inside the window is kept.
Live updates
Window pins continuously show the latest source image. They keep updating when other windows cover the source or when you move it elsewhere on screen.
Like other pins, you can move and zoom window pins, adjust opacity, and enable click-through. See Pin basics.
When the source is minimized or closed
- Source minimizedUpdates pause and resume when restored.
- Source closedThe pin is invalid. Create it again.
- Convert to image pinPress P to freeze the current frame.
- Source minimized: The pin shows “Source window minimized” and stops refreshing. Restoring the source window automatically resumes updates.
- Source closed: The pin shows “Source window closed.” This window pin is no longer valid and must be created again.
The message includes the source window's title so you can identify it.
Rotate and flip
| Operation | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Rotate right | 11 |
| Rotate left | 22 |
| Flip horizontally | 33 |
| Flip vertically | 44 |
| Reset all processing | 00 |
Convert to an image pin
To freeze a particular moment, press PP, or select “Convert to image pin” in the context menu. The window pin becomes a regular image pin, retaining its position, zoom, and opacity. You can then annotate it, recognize text, or save it.
Hide the source window
Turn on “Hide original window” under “Pin” › “Window pin” in settings to hide the source when creating a window pin, leaving only the pin on screen. This is off by default.
Limitations
- Window pins are not saved in pin history. After closing one, you cannot restore it with Ctrl+3Ctrl+3, and it does not return the next time PixPin starts.
- Window pins do not support the magnifier. Pressing its shortcut shows “Magnifier preview is not currently supported for window pins.” To inspect details, convert it to an image pin first.
Related articles
Animated pins
Loop GIF, APNG, and animated WebP images on your screen, pause playback, inspect individual frames, adjust speed, and copy the animation or a frame.
Pin groups
Organize screen references by task, create and switch pin groups, move pins individually or together, and understand counts, clearing, and deletion.