Put the PDF in its own window, make the current instruction readable and pin that window above the app you are using. If both windows fit side by side, start there. An overlay helps when a narrow instruction panel is more useful than half a screen.
Use a separate PDF window
A browser tab is part of its browser window. Pinning the browser does not pin just the document, and changing tabs can replace the instructions on screen. Open the PDF in a separate viewer window, or move its tab into a separate browser window.
Verify that this is the correct manual and revision before following it. For an installation or configuration guide, keep the page heading and any warning that qualifies the step visible together.
Try side by side before an overlay
Place the manual and target app beside each other if both remain usable. This avoids covering buttons and lets you select or copy text normally. A pinned overlay is more useful when the target application needs most of the screen and the current instruction is short.
Do not shrink a dense full page until it is unreadable. Zoom to the relevant section or use the viewer's page-width view if available. Keep enough context to avoid applying one step without its prerequisite.
Pin the PDF window
In PowerToys, enable Always On Top, click the PDF viewer and use its documented default Win+Ctrl+T shortcut. Click the target app and check that the PDF stays visible. The same shortcut on the pinned window removes the pin.
Pin Windows is another option for pinning, window transparency and optional click-through. These features affect the window; they do not edit the PDF or automatically follow your progress through its pages. Choose the tool and controls that suit your workflow.
Keep the instructions readable and reachable
Place the PDF away from the next button or field you need. Move it as the task changes rather than hiding the warning text to expose a control. For long procedures, keep the page number visible or note it locally before switching sections.
Leave click-through off while selecting text, scrolling or changing pages. If you enable it for a static instruction, first learn the utility's way to disable it. A click on a transparent-looking page may reach a destructive control in the app underneath.
Separate pinning from keyboard focus
Always on top is a display order, not a promise that the PDF has keyboard focus. After clicking the working app, typing and shortcuts may go there. Click the viewer before using its page or search controls, and then return deliberately to the target app.
Opaque text is usually easier to read. If you lower window opacity, check the actual instruction against the background beneath it. Do not rely on a faint overlay for exact values, warnings or small technical diagrams.
Troubleshoot with a normal window layout
If the guide disappears, confirm that the right window was pinned and that the document has not moved to another tab or dialog. Try a normal windowed target app while checking the setup. Other topmost windows can compete; Microsoft does not guarantee a pin above every other topmost window.
Unpin the PDF when the task is finished or when it covers a confirmation you need to read. Keep an untouched copy of the manual if you add your own notes. Pinning makes the instructions available; checking their applicability remains your job.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pin one PDF tab without pinning the browser?
A window-pinning tool acts on a window. Put the PDF tab in a separate window, or open it in a separate PDF viewer, before pinning.
Will the PDF automatically advance as I complete steps?
No. Pinning keeps the window visible. You still navigate pages and verify the current step yourself.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed 3 November 2026