Undocked tool windows sometimes appear without a fractal window

A bug in the Windows version: When a UF6 window is showing along with undocked tool windows (like Gradient and Layer Properties) and the "Show desktop" button on the taskbar is clicked, everything is minimized as expected. But switching to a different application (not UF6) will incorrectly show the undocked UF6 tool windows.

Workaround: Open a UF6 fractal window and minimize it to make the undocked tool windows disappear.

I see that behaviour too (Windows 10 here). The UF tool windows do not intrude on other apps when appearing like this so I think I only subliminally noticed this. You're probably correct in your expectation that they should stay hidden until UF is properly invoked again.

Well spotted!

Thanks for the report, I'll investigate this!

The tool windows should stay visible when you activate another application, but they shouldn't remain on top of other applications. If you have a reproducible way that leaves the UF tool windows on top of another active application, please let me know!

To sum up:
Minimize -> everything is hidden including tool windows
Deactivate -> tool windows remain visible but not in front

The tool windows aren't on top of another active application. But if all UF windows are minimized, I think the tool windows should be minimized as well. This works fine if the UF windows are minimized individually. But clicking the Windows "Show desktop" button minimizes everything at once (including the UF windows), and the tool windows properly disappear. However something is a bit odd because opening a new application (not UF) will make the tool windows appear even though all UF windows are minimized.

I see this as well, thanks for explaining it further. Will look into it!