MouseWithoutBorders settings.json being read by another program

[DanRRamey]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.100.0

Installation method

Microsoft Store

Area(s) with issue?

Mouse Without Borders

Steps to reproduce

Run PowerToys, enable MouseWithoutBorders. Let it run for minimum of 30 minutes, open Event Viewer. Looks under Windows Logs, Applications.

✔️ Expected Behavior

Error not to be present.

❌ Actual Behavior

No response

Upload Bug Report ZIP-file

PowerToysReport_2026-06-17-20-30-05.zip

Additional Information

No response

Other Software

No response

[github-actions]

The following issues might be duplicates:

• Mouse Without Borders: UseService mode spawns duplicate main processes causing connection drops #44177

AI-generated content by genai-issue-dedup may be incorrect.

[DanRRamey]

The following issues might be duplicates:

• Mouse Without Borders: UseService mode spawns duplicate main processes causing connection drops #44177

AI-generated content by genai-issue-dedup may be incorrect.

No. I only have one instance of PowerToys.exe, Powertoys.MousewithouBorders.exe running when these are still produced.

PowerToys Mouse Without Borders intermittently reports file access errors against:

C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json

Error indicates the file cannot be accessed because it is being used by another process / sharing violation.

ProcMon showed PowerToys components accessing the same file, including:

• PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe
• PowerToys.Settings.exe
• PowerToys.QuickAccess.exe

Microsoft Defender exclusions were tested for the settings.json file and PowerToys executable folder, but the Event Viewer errors continued.

Issue appears to be an internal file locking/race condition when multiple PowerToys processes access MouseWithoutBorders settings.json.

[DanRRamey]

Getting a sharing violation for the settings.json between PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe and PowerToys.Settings.exe

9:05:24.8104395 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS Desired Access: Read Attributes, Disposition: Open, Options: Open Reparse Point, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, Write, Delete, AllocationSize: n/a, OpenResult: Opened
9:05:24.8104774 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 QueryNetworkOpenInformationFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS CreationTime: 6/8/2026 9:07:42 AM, LastAccessTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:04 PM, LastWriteTime: 6/8/2026 9:08:40 AM, ChangeTime: 6/8/2026 10:26:35 AM, AllocationSize: 0, EndOfFile: 0, FileAttributes: D
9:05:24.8104890 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CloseFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS
9:05:24.8106946 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS Desired Access: Generic Write, Read Attributes, Disposition: OverwriteIf, Options: Synchronous IO Non-Alert, Non-Directory File, Open No Recall, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, AllocationSize: 0, OpenResult: Overwritten
9:05:24.8109374 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 WriteFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS Offset: 0, Length: 2,700, Priority: Normal
9:05:24.8110888 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 NotifyChangeDirectory C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS Filter: FILE_NOTIFY_CHANGE_LAST_WRITE
9:05:24.8111998 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CloseFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS
9:05:24.8112369 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS Desired Access: Read Attributes, Disposition: Open, Options: Open Reparse Point, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, Write, Delete, AllocationSize: n/a, OpenResult: Opened
9:05:24.8113699 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 QueryNetworkOpenInformationFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS CreationTime: 6/8/2026 9:08:32 AM, LastAccessTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, LastWriteTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, ChangeTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, AllocationSize: 4096, EndOfFile: 2700, FileAttributes: A
9:05:24.8113841 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CloseFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS
9:05:24.8113918 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 NotifyChangeDirectory C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS Filter: FILE_NOTIFY_CHANGE_LAST_WRITE
9:05:24.8116760 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS Desired Access: Read Attributes, Disposition: Open, Options: Open Reparse Point, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, Write, Delete, AllocationSize: n/a, OpenResult: Opened
9:05:24.8116992 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS Desired Access: Read Attributes, Disposition: Open, Options: Open Reparse Point, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, Write, Delete, AllocationSize: n/a, OpenResult: Opened
9:05:24.8117120 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 QueryNetworkOpenInformationFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS CreationTime: 6/8/2026 9:08:32 AM, LastAccessTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, LastWriteTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, ChangeTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, AllocationSize: 4096, EndOfFile: 2700, FileAttributes: A
9:05:24.8117332 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 CloseFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS
9:05:24.8117452 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 QueryNetworkOpenInformationFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS CreationTime: 6/8/2026 9:07:42 AM, LastAccessTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, LastWriteTime: 6/8/2026 9:08:40 AM, ChangeTime: 6/8/2026 10:26:35 AM, AllocationSize: 0, EndOfFile: 0, FileAttributes: D
9:05:24.8117553 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CloseFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS
9:05:24.8118385 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS Desired Access: Read Attributes, Disposition: Open, Options: Open Reparse Point, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, Write, Delete, AllocationSize: n/a, OpenResult: Opened
9:05:24.8118887 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 QueryNetworkOpenInformationFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS CreationTime: 6/8/2026 9:08:32 AM, LastAccessTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, LastWriteTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, ChangeTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, AllocationSize: 4096, EndOfFile: 2700, FileAttributes: A
9:05:24.8119130 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CloseFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS
9:05:24.8119726 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS Desired Access: Generic Write, Read Attributes, Disposition: OverwriteIf, Options: Synchronous IO Non-Alert, Non-Directory File, Open No Recall, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, AllocationSize: 0, OpenResult: Overwritten
9:05:24.8120327 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SHARING VIOLATION Desired Access: Generic Read, Disposition: Open, Options: Synchronous IO Non-Alert, Non-Directory File, Open No Recall, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, AllocationSize: n/a
9:05:24.8122378 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 WriteFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS Offset: 0, Length: 2,700, Priority: Normal
9:05:24.8122659 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 NotifyChangeDirectory C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS Filter: FILE_NOTIFY_CHANGE_LAST_WRITE
9:05:24.8123181 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SHARING VIOLATION Desired Access: Generic Read, Disposition: Open, Options: Synchronous IO Non-Alert, Non-Directory File, Open No Recall, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, AllocationSize: n/a
9:05:24.8123254 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CloseFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS
9:05:24.8124724 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 NotifyChangeDirectory C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS Filter: FILE_NOTIFY_CHANGE_LAST_WRITE
9:05:24.8127715 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS Desired Access: Read Attributes, Disposition: Open, Options: Open Reparse Point, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, Write, Delete, AllocationSize: n/a, OpenResult: Opened
9:05:24.8127761 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS Desired Access: Read Attributes, Disposition: Open, Options: Open Reparse Point, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, Write, Delete, AllocationSize: n/a, OpenResult: Opened
9:05:24.8128271 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 QueryNetworkOpenInformationFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS CreationTime: 6/8/2026 9:07:42 AM, LastAccessTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, LastWriteTime: 6/8/2026 9:08:40 AM, ChangeTime: 6/8/2026 10:26:35 AM, AllocationSize: 0, EndOfFile: 0, FileAttributes: D
9:05:24.8128281 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 QueryNetworkOpenInformationFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS CreationTime: 6/8/2026 9:08:32 AM, LastAccessTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, LastWriteTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, ChangeTime: 6/17/2026 9:05:24 PM, AllocationSize: 4096, EndOfFile: 2700, FileAttributes: A
9:05:24.8128576 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CloseFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS
9:05:24.8128641 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 CloseFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS
9:05:24.8128871 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 RegOpenKey HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\EventLog\Application\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS Desired Access: Read
9:05:24.8129188 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 RegCloseKey HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\EventLog\Application\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS
9:05:24.8130334 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS Desired Access: Generic Write, Read Attributes, Disposition: OverwriteIf, Options: Synchronous IO Non-Alert, Non-Directory File, Open No Recall, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, AllocationSize: 0, OpenResult: Overwritten
9:05:24.8130890 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 CreateFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SHARING VIOLATION Desired Access: Generic Read, Disposition: Open, Options: Synchronous IO Non-Alert, Non-Directory File, Open No Recall, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, AllocationSize: n/a
9:05:24.8132022 PM PowerToys.MouseWithoutBorders.exe 18440 WriteFile C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders\settings.json SUCCESS Offset: 0, Length: 2,700, Priority: Normal
9:05:24.8132339 PM PowerToys.Settings.exe 22772 NotifyChangeDirectory C:\Users\dartm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PowerToys\MouseWithoutBorders SUCCESS Filter: FILE_NOTIFY_CHANGE_LAST_WRITE