C# Signature:

//NOTE: For Win32 Applications you can use [DllImport("User32.dll")] for this functionality. Coredll.dll is for the .NET Compact Framework.

[DllImport("coredll.dll")]
private static extern bool SetForegroundWindow (IntPtr hWnd);

VB.NET Signature:

<DllImport("coredll.dll")> _

Private Shared Function SetForegroundWindow(ByVal hWnd As IntPtr) As Boolean

End Function

VB Signature:

Private Declare Function SetForegroundWindow Lib "coredll" (hWnd as IntPtr) As Boolean

User-Defined Types:

None.

Alternative Unmanaged API:

http://www.pinvoke.net/default.aspx/user32/SetForegroundWindow.html

Alternative Managed API:

Do you know one? Please contribute it!

Notes:

None.

Tips & Tricks:

Note this tip from the Microsoft documentation:

If the window being set to the foreground is minimized, the window may not be visible to the end user. This function also does not reactivate the last active child window by default. To ensure that the window is restored and the last active child window is reactivated, combine the handle to the window with 0x01 using the logical OR operator

E.g. SetForegroundWindow((HWND)(((ULONG) hwnd) | 0x01) );

Sample Code:

[DllImport ("coredll.dll")]

private static extern bool SetForegroundWindow (IntPtr hWnd);

[DllImport ("coredll.dll")]

private static extern IntPtr GetDesktopWindow ();

private void SendToBack ()
{
    SetForegroundWindow (GetDesktopWindow ());
}

Please edit this page!

Do you have...

• helpful tips or sample code to share for using this API in managed code?
• corrections to the existing content?
• variations of the signature you want to share?
• additional languages you want to include?

Select "Edit This Page" on the right hand toolbar and edit it! Or add new pages containing supporting types needed for this API (structures, delegates, and more).