How To Use GetForegroundWindow() When Desktop Is Not Active (118624)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Platform Software Development Kit (SDK) 1.0, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 3.1
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 3.5
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
This article was previously published under Q118624

SUMMARY

GetForegroundWindow() is documented to return the handle of the foreground window, that is, the window that the user is currently working with. The proper handle is returned when the desktop that the application is running on is active; however, when another desktop is active, GetForegroundWindow() returns NULL.

This is expected behavior. There is no way to get the active window in your own desktop while another desktop is active.

The application desktop is one desktop. Other desktops include the logon and screen saver desktops. If GetForegroundWindow() returned a handle to the logon dialog box, it would be possible to create an application that could get user passwords. This would violate Windows NT security.

For this reason, it is not possible to create screen savers that melt or drop out.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/11/2005
Keywords:kbhowto kbWndw KB118624
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