diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 00f3f638..54a964bb 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -827,6 +827,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "tracing-subscriber",
  "uds_windows",
  "which",
+ "widestring",
  "windows",
  "windows-implement",
  "windows-interface",
@@ -2331,6 +2332,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-sys 0.48.0",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "widestring"
+version = "1.0.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "653f141f39ec16bba3c5abe400a0c60da7468261cc2cbf36805022876bc721a8"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "winapi"
 version = "0.2.8"
diff --git a/komorebi/Cargo.toml b/komorebi/Cargo.toml
index 3a7f7173..4b35ceb9 100644
--- a/komorebi/Cargo.toml
+++ b/komorebi/Cargo.toml
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ windows-implement = { workspace = true }
 windows = { workspace = true }
 color-eyre = { workspace = true }
 dirs = { workspace = true }
+widestring = "1"
 
 [features]
 deadlock_detection = []
diff --git a/komorebi/src/border.rs b/komorebi/src/border.rs
index 466cf8ca..c3ecb48e 100644
--- a/komorebi/src/border.rs
+++ b/komorebi/src/border.rs
@@ -2,15 +2,15 @@ use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 use color_eyre::Result;
-use windows::core::PCSTR;
+use windows::core::PCWSTR;
 use windows::Win32::Foundation::HWND;
-use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::DispatchMessageA;
-use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::FindWindowA;
-use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::GetMessageA;
+use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::DispatchMessageW;
+use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::FindWindowW;
+use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::GetMessageW;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::CS_HREDRAW;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::CS_VREDRAW;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::MSG;
-use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::WNDCLASSA;
+use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::WNDCLASSW;
 
 use komorebi_core::Rect;
 
@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@ impl Border {
     }
 
     pub fn create(name: &str) -> Result<()> {
-        let name = format!("{name}\0");
+        let name: Vec<u16> = format!("{name}\0").encode_utf16().collect();
         let instance = WindowsApi::module_handle_w()?;
-        let class_name = PCSTR(name.as_ptr());
+        let class_name = PCWSTR(name.as_ptr());
         let brush = WindowsApi::create_solid_brush(TRANSPARENCY_COLOUR);
-        let window_class = WNDCLASSA {
+        let window_class = WNDCLASSW {
             hInstance: instance.into(),
             lpszClassName: class_name,
             style: CS_HREDRAW | CS_VREDRAW,
@@ -56,18 +56,18 @@ impl Border {
             ..Default::default()
         };
 
-        let _atom = WindowsApi::register_class_a(&window_class)?;
+        let _atom = WindowsApi::register_class_w(&window_class)?;
 
         let name_cl = name.clone();
         std::thread::spawn(move || -> Result<()> {
-            let hwnd = WindowsApi::create_border_window(PCSTR(name_cl.as_ptr()), instance)?;
+            let hwnd = WindowsApi::create_border_window(PCWSTR(name_cl.as_ptr()), instance)?;
             let border = Self::from(hwnd);
 
             let mut message = MSG::default();
 
             unsafe {
-                while GetMessageA(&mut message, border.hwnd(), 0, 0).into() {
-                    DispatchMessageA(&message);
+                while GetMessageW(&mut message, border.hwnd(), 0, 0).into() {
+                    DispatchMessageW(&message);
                     std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10));
                 }
             }
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ impl Border {
 
         let mut hwnd = HWND(0);
         while hwnd == HWND(0) {
-            hwnd = unsafe { FindWindowA(PCSTR(name.as_ptr()), PCSTR::null()) };
+            hwnd = unsafe { FindWindowW(PCWSTR(name.as_ptr()), PCWSTR::null()) };
         }
 
         BORDER_HWND.store(hwnd.0, Ordering::SeqCst);
diff --git a/komorebi/src/hidden.rs b/komorebi/src/hidden.rs
index 3fe2ad37..47068916 100644
--- a/komorebi/src/hidden.rs
+++ b/komorebi/src/hidden.rs
@@ -2,15 +2,15 @@ use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 use color_eyre::Result;
-use windows::core::PCSTR;
+use windows::core::PCWSTR;
 use windows::Win32::Foundation::HWND;
-use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::DispatchMessageA;
-use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::FindWindowA;
-use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::GetMessageA;
+use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::DispatchMessageW;
+use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::FindWindowW;
+use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::GetMessageW;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::CS_HREDRAW;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::CS_VREDRAW;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::MSG;
-use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::WNDCLASSA;
+use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::WNDCLASSW;
 
 use crate::windows_callbacks;
 use crate::WindowsApi;
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ impl Hidden {
     }
 
     pub fn create(name: &str) -> Result<()> {
-        let name = format!("{name}\0");
+        let name: Vec<u16> = format!("{name}\0").encode_utf16().collect();
         let instance = WindowsApi::module_handle_w()?;
-        let class_name = PCSTR(name.as_ptr());
+        let class_name = PCWSTR(name.as_ptr());
         let brush = WindowsApi::create_solid_brush(TRANSPARENCY_COLOUR);
-        let window_class = WNDCLASSA {
+        let window_class = WNDCLASSW {
             hInstance: instance.into(),
             lpszClassName: class_name,
             style: CS_HREDRAW | CS_VREDRAW,
@@ -47,18 +47,18 @@ impl Hidden {
             ..Default::default()
         };
 
-        let _atom = WindowsApi::register_class_a(&window_class)?;
+        let _atom = WindowsApi::register_class_w(&window_class)?;
 
         let name_cl = name.clone();
         std::thread::spawn(move || -> Result<()> {
-            let hwnd = WindowsApi::create_hidden_window(PCSTR(name_cl.as_ptr()), instance)?;
+            let hwnd = WindowsApi::create_hidden_window(PCWSTR(name_cl.as_ptr()), instance)?;
             let hidden = Self::from(hwnd);
 
             let mut message = MSG::default();
 
             unsafe {
-                while GetMessageA(&mut message, hidden.hwnd(), 0, 0).into() {
-                    DispatchMessageA(&message);
+                while GetMessageW(&mut message, hidden.hwnd(), 0, 0).into() {
+                    DispatchMessageW(&message);
                     std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10));
                 }
             }
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ impl Hidden {
 
         let mut hwnd = HWND(0);
         while hwnd == HWND(0) {
-            hwnd = unsafe { FindWindowA(PCSTR(name.as_ptr()), PCSTR::null()) };
+            hwnd = unsafe { FindWindowW(PCWSTR(name.as_ptr()), PCWSTR::null()) };
         }
 
         HIDDEN_HWND.store(hwnd.0, Ordering::SeqCst);
diff --git a/komorebi/src/windows_api.rs b/komorebi/src/windows_api.rs
index d5640ad1..103c041c 100644
--- a/komorebi/src/windows_api.rs
+++ b/komorebi/src/windows_api.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
 use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::convert::TryFrom;
 use std::ffi::c_void;
-use std::ffi::OsString;
-use std::os::windows::ffi::OsStringExt;
 use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
 
 use color_eyre::eyre::anyhow;
 use color_eyre::eyre::Error;
 use color_eyre::Result;
+use widestring::U16CStr;
 use windows::core::Result as WindowsCrateResult;
-use windows::core::PCSTR;
+use windows::core::PCWSTR;
 use windows::core::PWSTR;
 use windows::Win32::Foundation::CloseHandle;
 use windows::Win32::Foundation::BOOL;
@@ -30,13 +29,13 @@ use windows::Win32::Graphics::Dwm::DWM_CLOAKED_APP;
 use windows::Win32::Graphics::Dwm::DWM_CLOAKED_INHERITED;
 use windows::Win32::Graphics::Dwm::DWM_CLOAKED_SHELL;
 use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::CreateSolidBrush;
-use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::EnumDisplayDevicesA;
+use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::EnumDisplayDevicesW;
 use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::EnumDisplayMonitors;
 use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::GetMonitorInfoW;
 use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::InvalidateRect;
 use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::MonitorFromPoint;
 use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::MonitorFromWindow;
-use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::DISPLAY_DEVICEA;
+use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::DISPLAY_DEVICEW;
 use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::HBRUSH;
 use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::HDC;
 use windows::Win32::Graphics::Gdi::HMONITOR;
@@ -69,7 +68,7 @@ use windows::Win32::UI::Shell::Common::DEVICE_SCALE_FACTOR;
 use windows::Win32::UI::Shell::GetScaleFactorForMonitor;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::AllowSetForegroundWindow;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::BringWindowToTop;
-use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::CreateWindowExA;
+use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::CreateWindowExW;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::EnumWindows;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::GetCursorPos;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::GetDesktopWindow;
@@ -85,7 +84,7 @@ use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::IsWindow;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::IsWindowVisible;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::PostMessageW;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::RealGetWindowClassW;
-use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::RegisterClassA;
+use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::RegisterClassW;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::SetCursorPos;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::SetForegroundWindow;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::SetLayeredWindowAttributes;
@@ -120,7 +119,7 @@ use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::SYSTEM_PARAMETERS_INFO_ACTION;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::SYSTEM_PARAMETERS_INFO_UPDATE_FLAGS;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::WINDOW_LONG_PTR_INDEX;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::WM_CLOSE;
-use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::WNDCLASSA;
+use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::WNDCLASSW;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::WNDENUMPROC;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::WS_DISABLED;
 use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::WS_EX_LAYERED;
@@ -242,21 +241,21 @@ impl WindowsApi {
 
     pub fn enum_display_devices(
         index: u32,
-        lp_device: Option<*const u8>,
-    ) -> Result<DISPLAY_DEVICEA> {
+        lp_device: Option<*const u16>,
+    ) -> Result<DISPLAY_DEVICEW> {
         #[allow(clippy::option_if_let_else)]
         let lp_device = match lp_device {
-            None => PCSTR::null(),
-            Some(lp_device) => PCSTR(lp_device),
+            None => PCWSTR::null(),
+            Some(lp_device) => PCWSTR(lp_device),
         };
 
-        let mut display_device = DISPLAY_DEVICEA {
-            cb: u32::try_from(std::mem::size_of::<DISPLAY_DEVICEA>())?,
+        let mut display_device = DISPLAY_DEVICEW {
+            cb: u32::try_from(std::mem::size_of::<DISPLAY_DEVICEW>())?,
             ..Default::default()
         };
 
         match unsafe {
-            EnumDisplayDevicesA(
+            EnumDisplayDevicesW(
                 lp_device,
                 index,
                 std::ptr::addr_of_mut!(display_device),
@@ -690,10 +689,10 @@ impl WindowsApi {
 
     pub fn monitor(hmonitor: isize) -> Result<Monitor> {
         let ex_info = Self::monitor_info_w(HMONITOR(hmonitor))?;
-        let name = OsString::from_wide(&ex_info.szDevice);
-        let name = name
+        let name = U16CStr::from_slice_truncate(&ex_info.szDevice)
+            .expect("monitor name was not a valid u16 c string")
+            .to_ustring()
             .to_string_lossy()
-            .replace('\u{0000}', "")
             .trim_start_matches(r"\\.\")
             .to_string();
 
@@ -799,8 +798,8 @@ impl WindowsApi {
         unsafe { CreateSolidBrush(COLORREF(colour)) }
     }
 
-    pub fn register_class_a(window_class: &WNDCLASSA) -> Result<u16> {
-        Result::from(WindowsResult::from(unsafe { RegisterClassA(window_class) }))
+    pub fn register_class_w(window_class: &WNDCLASSW) -> Result<u16> {
+        Result::from(WindowsResult::from(unsafe { RegisterClassW(window_class) }))
     }
 
     pub fn scale_factor_for_monitor(hmonitor: isize) -> Result<DEVICE_SCALE_FACTOR> {
@@ -828,9 +827,9 @@ impl WindowsApi {
         .process()
     }
 
-    pub fn create_border_window(name: PCSTR, instance: HMODULE) -> Result<isize> {
+    pub fn create_border_window(name: PCWSTR, instance: HMODULE) -> Result<isize> {
         unsafe {
-            let hwnd = CreateWindowExA(
+            let hwnd = CreateWindowExW(
                 WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW | WS_EX_LAYERED,
                 name,
                 name,
@@ -862,9 +861,9 @@ impl WindowsApi {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    pub fn create_hidden_window(name: PCSTR, instance: HMODULE) -> Result<isize> {
+    pub fn create_hidden_window(name: PCWSTR, instance: HMODULE) -> Result<isize> {
         unsafe {
-            CreateWindowExA(
+            CreateWindowExW(
                 WS_EX_NOACTIVATE,
                 name,
                 name,
diff --git a/komorebi/src/windows_callbacks.rs b/komorebi/src/windows_callbacks.rs
index 8ca7e341..7fad8dba 100644
--- a/komorebi/src/windows_callbacks.rs
+++ b/komorebi/src/windows_callbacks.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
+use widestring::U16CStr;
 
 use windows::Win32::Foundation::BOOL;
 use windows::Win32::Foundation::COLORREF;
@@ -78,19 +79,24 @@ pub extern "system" fn enum_display_monitor(
     if let Ok(mut m) = WindowsApi::monitor(hmonitor.0) {
         #[allow(clippy::cast_possible_truncation)]
         if let Ok(d) = WindowsApi::enum_display_devices(current_index as u32, None) {
-            let name = String::from_utf8_lossy(&d.DeviceName);
-            let clean_name = name
-                .replace('\u{0000}', "")
+            let name = U16CStr::from_slice_truncate(d.DeviceName.as_ref())
+                .expect("display device name was not a valid u16 c string")
+                .to_ustring()
+                .to_string_lossy()
                 .trim_start_matches(r"\\.\")
                 .to_string();
 
-            if clean_name.eq(m.name()) {
+            if name.eq(m.name()) {
                 if let Ok(device) = WindowsApi::enum_display_devices(0, Some(d.DeviceName.as_ptr()))
                 {
-                    let id = String::from_utf8_lossy(&device.DeviceID);
-                    let clean_id = id.replace('\u{0000}', "");
+                    let id = U16CStr::from_slice_truncate(device.DeviceID.as_ref())
+                        .expect("display device id was not a valid u16 c string")
+                        .to_ustring()
+                        .to_string_lossy()
+                        .trim_start_matches(r"\\?\")
+                        .to_string();
 
-                    let mut split: Vec<_> = clean_id.split('#').collect();
+                    let mut split: Vec<_> = id.split('#').collect();
                     split.remove(0);
                     split.remove(split.len() - 1);