MacOS Windows focus bug

[cryohellinc]

Hi all,

Recorded the issue on my work setup, so please check the video (apologies for recording from phone, but that's the only way I can catch the bug and record it):

MacOS window focus bug

www.loom.com

Has someone else experienced this? It's mega annoying as I'm working with a plethora of windows opened at all times and constantly have to switch in between them.

Any suggestions on how this can be fixed?

 

[lincolnqiu]

Hi, my mac(sonoma) have the exact same issue, and is bothering me much. It did not happen when on ventura, but since i upgraded to sonoma beta 1 the bug is there, and continued to exist as beta 6 releases. Tried safe boot, erasing and reinstalling sonoma, neither worked.

My current quick fix is, if the problematic window (should have focus but does not) is a finder window, then click some other application then click back, and the focus is on that finder window. And if the problematic window is not finder, click desktop then click back, and the focus will be back.

This looks like a WindowServer process bug. Weird. Please let me know if you have further findings!

 

[cryohellinc]

Hi, my mac(sonoma) have the exact same issue, and is bothering me much. It did not happen when on ventura, but since i upgraded to sonoma beta 1 the bug is there, and continued to exist as beta 6 releases. Tried safe boot, erasing and reinstalling sonoma, neither worked.

My current quick fix is, if the problematic window (should have focus but does not) is a finder window, then click some other application then click back, and the focus is on that finder window. And if the problematic window is not finder, click desktop then click back, and the focus will be back.

This looks like a WindowServer process bug. Weird. Please let me know if you have further findings!

Hi,

Thank you for your reply.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with this issue. I was already running out of ideas on what could it be on my end.

Seems it's a bug indeed.

The only solution I have now that "helps" is to use an auto-raise app, for example:

Is a great one.

Instead of a click fest, I have to just hover from one screen to another.

That being said, it's a mega annoying issue.

 

[cryohellinc]

Bump, anyone else? There can't be just two people with the same issue.

I'm currently on Sonoma stable, and the issue is still there.

 

[Siliconpsychosis]

Bump, anyone else? There can't be just two people with the same issue.

I'm currently on Sonoma stable, and the issue is still there.

There is no Sonoma stable. Its still in release candidate.

 

[cryohellinc]

There is no Sonoma stable. Its still in release candidate.

On the stable version now, the issue is still there.

Apple customer support and feedback are dead. No replies whatsoever. I'm clueless as to what is causing this.

 

[luckman212]

related threads?

• https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/sonoma-14-0-annoying-focus-bug-frontmost-app-keeps-losing-focus.2406058
• https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...us-so-you-cant-select-windows-behind.2405147/

 

[cryohellinc]

related threads?

• https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/sonoma-14-0-annoying-focus-bug-frontmost-app-keeps-losing-focus.2406058
• https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...us-so-you-cant-select-windows-behind.2405147/

I think you are spot on - this does sound like the same issue. I'm surprised it made all the way to stable 14.0.

 

[gadget_guy]

Same issue today. Anyone else still have this problem or has there been a fix for it yet? I'm on Sonoma 14.1.1

 

[cryohellinc]

Same issue today. Anyone else still have this problem or has there been a fix for it yet? I'm on Sonoma 14.1.1

There appears to be no fix for this as of right now. Personally, this is VERY annoying as it expedites it constantly. My only workaround is to use AutoRaise, with a focus on the hover feature. So instead of clicking, I just move the mouse from one screen to another.

That being said, it's baffling that Apple still ignores this issue. To me, it seems like a priority bug that should have been fixed long ago in a Hotfix.

 

[gadget_guy]

I found the problem on my Mac finally using the python script. It was a pain to get everything installed to run the script successfully but once I did it revealed HP Alerts was stealing focus. Apparently HP made an update recently and their alert to let you know printer status was tossing silent alerts and taking focus. I disabled alerts in the HP app and problem resolved! Would never have found it without the script. Thanks 🙏

 

[cryohellinc]

I found the problem on my Mac finally using the python script. It was a pain to get everything installed to run the script successfully but once I did it revealed HP Alerts was stealing focus. Apparently HP made an update recently and their alert to let you know printer status was tossing silent alerts and taking focus. I disabled alerts in the HP app and problem resolved! Would never have found it without the script. Thanks 🙏

Could you please share what script you are referring to and the process?

Thank you.

 

[gadget_guy]

Could you please share what script you are referring to and the process?

Thank you.

This was the script below. you would run it from the terminal using python3. The question will be if python is installed in such a way that you won't get an error. You may need to change the script to execute permission to run ( chmod 755 scriptname.py ). I named my script focuswindow.py. I also had to do an install of PIP and something else. I did so much trying to get it to work I don't recall the final steps involved but if you google parts of this script there are some tutorials out there I just followed. I had to install pyobjc using pip I remember too. Sorry for the vague instructions but I threw everything at the wall to land on what eventually got this running on Sonoma.

Once it does run you will leave the terminal open with it running and every app that takes focus will output to the terminal.


#!./bin/python3

# Prints current window focus.

# See: https://apple.stackexchange.com/q/123730

from AppKit import NSWorkspace

import time

workspace = NSWorkspace.sharedWorkspace()

active_app = workspace.activeApplication()['NSApplicationName']

print('Active focus: ' + active_app)

while True:

time.sleep(1)

prev_app = active_app

active_app = workspace.activeApplication()['NSApplicationName']

if prev_app != active_app:

print('Focus changed to: ' + active_app)

 

[ozm987]

OMG
I spoke with apple support so many times,
It's driving me CRAZYYYYYYYYYY
I was thinking to return my new mac and get a new one because they keep telling me the issue I have never been reported.
I glad I found this thread.
Someone know if that's everyone's issue or just us?
A new mac will solve it? I can't work with this bug!!!! I just got the new m3 MAX and it's feels like old mac with all this focus issues !!

What you think guys?

 

[cryohellinc]

OMG
I spoke with apple support so many times,
It's driving me CRAZYYYYYYYYYY
I was thinking to return my new mac and get a new one because they keep telling me the issue I have never been reported.
I glad I found this thread.
Someone know if that's everyone's issue or just us?
A new mac will solve it? I can't work with this bug!!!! I just got the new m3 MAX and it's feels like old mac with all this focus issues !!

What you think guys?

Trey AutoRaise for Macos and enable Focus on hover.

That is my only saving grace with this bug. Otherwise, it's impossible to work on a multi-monitor setup.

GitHub - sbmpost/AutoRaise: AutoRaise (and focus) a window when hovering over it with the mouse

AutoRaise (and focus) a window when hovering over it with the mouse - sbmpost/AutoRaise

github.com

I hope this helps you.

 

[ozm987]

Trey AutoRaise for Macos and enable Focus on hover.

That is my only saving grace with this bug. Otherwise, it's impossible to work on a multi-monitor setup.

GitHub - sbmpost/AutoRaise: AutoRaise (and focus) a window when hovering over it with the mouse

AutoRaise (and focus) a window when hovering over it with the mouse - sbmpost/AutoRaise

github.com

I hope this helps you.

I'll try to do it today,
Do you know if that's known problem or only us got it?
Apple planning to fix it?
It feels like i have old computer with this bug! it's insane! new mac 2023 pro with m3 MAX and i have this focus problem everytimeI use external monitors / desktops.
I hope it's not hardware problem since apple say they don't see more reports on this bug

 

[kecinzer]

I noticed few day ago that my windows losing focus. I can't figure out which app does that.

And VOALA!
Focus changed to: CoreServicesUIAgent

 

[abedi]

I noticed few day ago that my windows losing focus. I can't figure out which app does that.

And VOALA!
Focus changed to: CoreServicesUIAgent

Been happening for quite a long time. Intel MacBook Pro and now M3 Max MacBook Pro. Per your suggestion I killed that service when I was having that issue and ... VOALA ... that's the issue. Now how do we permanently fix this.

 

[manofthematch]

I have the same issue. In my case it was caused by the app

bartender 5

I stopped Bartender and the cursor shows the hand again!

EDIT: I started Bartender again and the problem does NOT reappear. Interesting.
EDIT2: After a while, the cursor problem reappears. Closing Bartender App fixes this again.

 

[luisgk]

Hi, guys.

I was having the same issue and used the python script to investigate what was causing it. In my case was the Razer Synapse software. Uninstalled it and it went away, thankfully! Thought it was worth sharing!

 

[Hessel89]

I just installed MacOS 14.3 Beta 2 with zero apps installed and the problem still persists.

 

[gank41]

I think you are spot on - this does sound like the same issue. I'm surprised it made all the way to stable 14.0.

I've had this bug with focus of the app I'm currently in changing to either Finder or another app, and I've had the issue where you're unable to use a folder from the Photos App to randomly cycle thru photos for Background Wallpaper, both since Sonoma was still in Beta, and have been reporting both issues all along the way. At this point I'm waiting for macOS 15. If they can go thru an entire summer of beta testing and then quite literally SEASONS have passed and both of these issues are still there.

I can only assume they're hoping not enough people complain while they shift focus (and PR) towards the Vision Pro headset instead.Problems with your Operating System?? Well then! Let's just introduce another one.

 

[cryohellinc]

The only saving grace for me is the AutoRaise app, which basically creates "window focus follows mouse" functionality. But it makes a set of other issues.

Generally, this issue has been there for close to a year now. I'm baffled that it's still there, honestly.

 

[manofthematch]

Apple developers obviously do not use macOS.

 

[kecinzer]

OMG. Will be there fix for this annoying issue?