A playful Windows desktop companion
Tiny Minpin Parade runs from the Windows notification area. Right-click its icon for quick actions or open Settings for the complete controls.
| Action | Where | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Open Settings | Tray icon - Settings... | Opens every count, speed, size, appearance, interaction, power, and startup control. |
| Toggle sound | Tray icon - Sound | Enables or disables the synthesized bark used for interaction. |
| Make a parade | Tray icon - Surprise me | Changes the count to a random number from 4 through 12. |
| Return to one | Tray icon - Just one | Immediately sets the parade to a single minpin. |
| Exit | Tray icon - Close | Closes the overlay and removes its notification-area icon. |
The app draws a transparent, borderless overlay across the Windows virtual desktop. Under ordinary settings it is click-through, so clicks continue to reach your desktop icons, browser, documents, and other apps.
Each minpin animates independently and stays distributed across the screen using its own territory and neighbour-avoidance behaviour.
The overlay uses Windows' virtual-screen coordinates and per-monitor DPI awareness. It is designed to follow mixed-DPI multi-monitor arrangements without Windows stretching or misaligning the pets.
Opens the dark-themed settings dialog. If it is already open, choosing Settings brings that existing window forward instead of opening a duplicate.
A quick on/off switch for the bark sound. The same option is available in Settings, and both controls remain in sync.
Sets the current count to a random number between four and twelve. Use it when you want an instant parade without choosing a value.
Returns immediately to one minpin.
Exits Tiny Minpin Parade. Your current settings remain saved for the next launch.
Every slider label shows its current value, and every control updates the running parade immediately unless its label explicitly says a restart is required.
| Setting | Range or choices | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Minpins | 1-20 | Sets the number of pets on the desktop. |
| Walking speed | 0.20-4.00 | Scales ordinary walking movement. |
| Running speed | 0.20-4.00 | Scales running movement independently from walking. |
| Minimum size | 0.08-1.00 | Sets the smallest scale assigned to a minpin. |
| Maximum size | 0.08-1.00 | Sets the largest scale. If minimum exceeds maximum, the app swaps them safely. |
| Shadow opacity | 0.05-0.85 | Controls the strength of the soft ground shadow when Shadow is enabled. |
| Coat colour | Natural; Red/fawn; Chocolate and tan | Recolours all extracted animation frames using the selected coat palette. |
| Sound | On or off | Enables the synthesized bark used for interaction. |
| Shadow | On or off | Shows or hides the soft ellipse placed under each pet's actual feet. |
| Start with Windows | On or off | Adds or removes a per-user Windows startup entry. |
| Pause when fullscreen | On or off | Stops overlay rendering while another fullscreen app is active. |
| Save power on battery | On or off | Halves the animation update rate while the PC is unplugged. |
| Click to boop | Experimental; off by default | Enables per-pixel pet interaction after the next launch. |
Using the same value gives every minpin a consistent scale. A wider range gives the parade more visual variety.
The app generates the alternate coats locally from the embedded sprite sheets. No additional artwork or internet download is required.
The shadow position uses each animation frame's trimmed silhouette rather than the bottom of the full transparent sprite cell. This keeps the shadow visually attached to the feet, including during jumps.
Minpins can sit, stand, walk, run, and jump. Each pet has independent state timing, so a larger parade does not move as a single synchronized group.
When enabled, Tiny Minpin Parade detects another foreground app covering a monitor and stops drawing while that fullscreen experience is active. This is useful for games, videos, presentations, and remote sessions.
When enabled and Windows reports that the PC is running on battery, the app reduces its animation update rate. Normal timing returns after power is connected.
This option adds a per-user startup entry, so it does not require a machine-wide installation change. Turning it off removes that entry.
Click to boop a minpin is off by default and takes effect on the next launch. It changes only how the overlay handles clicks directly over visible pet pixels.
Tiny Minpin Parade does not require its own account or cloud synchronisation. Its working files are local to your Windows profile.
| File | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Settings | %LocalAppData%\TinyMinpinParade\settings.json | Saves the current count, speeds, sizes, appearance, sound, startup, power, fullscreen, and boop choices. |
| Diagnostic log | %LocalAppData%\TinyMinpinParade\native.log | Records startup and handled error details for troubleshooting. |
Deleting settings.json while the app is closed resets the next launch to defaults. Keep or share diagnostic logs only when you choose to use them for support.
Select the Windows hidden-icons arrow in the notification area. You can drag Tiny Minpin Parade into the always-visible area if you use it frequently.
This is expected when Pause when a fullscreen app is active is enabled. Leave fullscreen mode or turn the option off.
This is expected when Save power on battery is enabled. Connect power or disable that option.
Confirm the experimental option is enabled, close the app through its tray menu, and launch it again. The feature requires a restart.
%LocalAppData%\TinyMinpinParade\settings.json as a backup.