PT Run - Add visual difference between pointer hover and selected item (see WSB for reference)

[ianisl]

Description of the new feature / enhancement

Hiding the mouse cursor while typing in PowerToys Run would make it easier to identify which item will be activated when pressing Enter.

Currently, it is not immediately clear which of the query's result items will be activated if the mouse cursor happens to be at the position of the second item (or 3rd, etc) when PowerToys Run is invoked. This is particularly annoying when using the Window Walker extension. See video:

https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/assets/5112281/d0f57e30-304c-4e41-95f1-4ccf7c52ec7e

In this example, I have two Firefox windows open. When PowerToys Run opens, my mouse cursor happens to hover the second result, which highlights it, while the first result (the one selected by my typed query) is also highlighted. Even though I know the first item will be activated when I press Enter, this sometimes causes confusion, especially when there are more than two windows open.

Hiding the mouse cursor while typing (until the user moves it, of course) would prevent this.

Scenario when this would be used?

This would make it easier to select one result amongst many, in particular while using the Window Walker extension.

Supporting information

No response

[Jay-o-Way]

Hiding the mouse cursor while typing

That's a setting you can find win Windows Mouse settings.

[ianisl]

Thanks for the answer. I indeed have this enabled :

However PowerToys Run doesn't seem to respect this setting. Maybe this should be labeled as a bug then?

[Jay-o-Way]

I see. Is PT Run the only exception? I can reproduce this for Windows Search, and the search bar in Windows Settings, and a few other apps too... Seems to be a lager issue with possibly WinUI or something? Maybe @niels9001 has an idea... Notepad and Word/Office do apply the setting.

[ianisl]

If hiding the mouse cursor isn't feasible, removing the highlight caused by the mouse hover (while typing) would also work.

[niels9001]

If hiding the mouse cursor isn't feasible, removing the highlight caused by the mouse hover (while typing) would also work.

Or emphasizing the selected state so there is visually more differentiation between the hover and selected state?

[ianisl]

That would work as well in my opinion!

[Jay-o-Way]

@niels9001 think it could be a framework issue?

[crutkas]

@niels9001 there is a color difference in WSB which would be the closest example to us but very minor. It is "brighter" for mouse hover verse the item selected

[Jay-o-Way]

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