Keep Messagebox.show() on top of other application using c#

Question

How to keep a Messagebox.show() on top of other application using c# ??

No need for extra Code, try this: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4834819/c-sharp-messagebox-to-front-when-app-is-minimized-to-tray — , Jul 23 '13 at 11:56

score 109 · Answer 1 · edited May 02 '18 at 05:43

109

I tried the solution provided by donutboy and it doesn't seem to accept 0x40000 (or 40000) as a valid option as a MessageBoxOptions Enum value.

However I have found that using MessageBoxOptions.DefaultDesktopOnly has the same effect and keeps the MessageBox on top until it is confirmed by the user. ie.

MessageBox.Show("Hello there", "Prompt", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Warning, MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1, MessageBoxOptions.DefaultDesktopOnly);

This is likely the simplest native solution on offer.

edited May 02 '18 at 05:43

shox

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answered Jan 22 '15 at 05:19

MikeDub

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Yes, I found this one works too! There are several suggestions but I agree that this is the easiest one to implement. – shivesh suman Jun 02 '15 at 05:13
Exactly what I needed! – Homer1982 Aug 09 '16 at 16:35
Works like charm! This should be accepted as a solution. – Alper Jan 28 '20 at 07:57
While this works, I ended up using Xceed MessageBox as that also centers box on top of Application. – Damian Dixon Mar 26 '21 at 09:37

score 34 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 22 '13 at 12:02

34

There's a better solution, without creating a new form.

MessageBox.Show("Message Text", "Header", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.None, 
     MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1, (MessageBoxOptions)0x40000);  // MB_TOPMOST

The 0x40000 is the "MB_TOPMOST"-Flag.

edited Dec 22 '13 at 12:02

kleopatra

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answered Dec 22 '13 at 11:46

donutboy

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score 19 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 27 '16 at 14:25

19

Another easy way to handle this:

MessageBox.Show(new Form { TopMost = true }, "This is TopMost", "TopMost", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Exclamation);

answered Jan 27 '16 at 14:25

Dave

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This is a better solution since it works properly on a multi-screens system. – amirfg Jun 20 '19 at 13:07
works perfectly – Eyal Gerber Dec 19 '21 at 08:43

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 25 '21 at 16:12

The problem with using "new Form { TopMost = true }" as the first argument is that it fails to properly dispose of the new form when it is done.

It took a lot of work to find this problem (several weeks). The only symptom was that the program would "Fail to Respond" a half hour later. Totally locked up, had to kill it with an attached debugger or the task manager, no debug info available.

To solve this, you need something like this:

        using (Form form = new Form {TopMost = true})
        { 
            var retval = MessageBox.Show(form, text, caption, ok, error);
            form.Dispose();
            return retval;
        }

Even better, write your own "MyMessageBox" class, and use that:

public static class MyMessageBox {

    public static DialogResult Show(string text, string caption, MessageBoxButtons ok, MessageBoxIcon error)
    {
        using (Form form = new Form {TopMost = true})
        { 
            var retval = MessageBox.Show(form, text, caption, ok, error);
            form.Dispose();
            return retval;
        }
        // return UseForm ? MessageBox.Show(form, text, caption, ok, error) : MessageBox.Show(text, caption, ok, error);
    }
    public static DialogResult Show(string text, string caption, MessageBoxButtons ok)
    {
        using (Form form = new Form { TopMost = true })
        {
            var retval = MessageBox.Show(form, text, caption, ok);
            form.Dispose();
            return retval;
        }
    }
    public static DialogResult Show( string text, string caption)
    {
        using (Form form = new Form { TopMost = true })
        {
            var retval = MessageBox.Show(form, text, caption);
            form.Dispose();
            return retval;
        }
    }
    public static DialogResult Show(string text)
    {
        using (Form form = new Form { TopMost = true })
        {
            var retval = MessageBox.Show(form, text);
            form.Dispose();
            return retval;
        }

    }

}

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 05 '21 at 08:27

0

Use the option

MessageBoxOptions.DefaultDesktopOnly

answered Mar 05 '21 at 08:27

Mario Favere

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score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Oct 28 '21 at 19:11

0

Based on Dave's answer:

WPF:

MessageBox.Show(new Window { Topmost = true }, "Message", "Title");

Windows Form:

MessageBox.Show(new Form { TopMost = true }, "Message", "Title");

answered Oct 28 '21 at 19:11

datchung

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Keep Messagebox.show() on top of other application using c#

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