Unprovoked Change of Focus

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Ever since my first Windows 10 installation I’ve had problems with the focus changing for no apparent reason.  Most often I see it when I’m in my email, reading or writing a message in a separate Firefox window, and suddenly I’m switched back to the main page.  I also run into it frequently when I’m typing away in a LibreOffice document and suddenly I’m not typing away because while the document is still on my screen the cursor is off in never-never land!

When I posed this question a few years ago in another forum it just got pooh-poohed with responses on the order of “focus doesn’t just change randomly”.  Well, it does, or apparently so, and I’d like to figure out why it’s happening so I can put a stop to it.  Any ideas?

I’ve not been able to discern any patterns except that it’s usually open-source software (which is most of what I use, aside from work-related programs like Quickbooks and my tax software).

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Are you using a laptop?
Is your thumb unconsciously hitting the touchpad?
It only takes a very light brush across it.
Happens to me all the time.
If so, try taping an index card over the touchpad and see if the problem goes away.

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For me, this happens accidentally when the touch pad on my laptop is enabled…

Over the years I have an intention tremor that has steadily worsened, from no signs of tremor to a very pronounced tremor, and finding myself somewhere I had no intention of going happened far too often. I’m not saying others have the same problem… but caffeine, cold medicines, asthma medicines, and stress can cause unintentional movements of the hand, without conscious intention… and send one off who knows where!

Over time I’ve had to make different adjustments, going to the Control Panel-Ease of Access Center- Make the keyboard easier to use- filter keys. There is enough variability between people’s typing that being able to set up filter keys to ignore extra movements can be helpful- especially bounce, repeat, and slow key settings.

There is a small test area for typing text, but you may find it helpful to fine tune the settings over time… and if it only happens very occasionally, it can be hard to pin down… and really, no one can tell you what exact settings will work, and very small changes can make a lot of difference.

I can’t say that this is the definitive fix for what you are experiencing… but it might be worth trying.

Also, as keys get dirty they can change their responsiveness…

Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter

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Pretty sure there was a setting that enabled focus changing on mouse hover on earlier builds of W10, no idea if it’s still the case.

Similar happens on a W7 netbook here, probably down to the mouse/touchpad software settings.

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Thanks for the input so far.  Unfortunately, it happens both on my laptop at home and my desktop at work, and on the desktop my hands are usually nowhere near the mouse (I’m old school; I use the keyboard as much as absolutely possible if for no other reason that it’s quicker).

1 user thanked author for this post.

Elly

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Windows 10 started doing this autonomous window focus shifting bug since the 1607 release. What version are you using? The answer to the question only serve as a guide to remaining user interface bugs; There does not seem to be a solution available except for a needed repair from Microsoft.

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Thanks for the latest reply.  Windows 10 is up to date on both my machines, so if it’s been going on since 1607 it’s not because of an outdated OS (a faulty one, maybe, but not outdated).

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