Linked Questions

23 votes
1 answer
19k views

Stop programs from stealing focus in Windows 7 [duplicate]

In Windows 7, if I launch a program and immediately make its window inactive (e.g. by minimizing or switching windows), it will pop back up after the program has finished loading completely. This is ...
cirkef's user avatar
  • 331
7 votes
1 answer
3k views

Stop Windows XP applications from stealing focus [duplicate]

I have Windows XP Profesional here and it gets very annoying when an application that I launched five minutes ago finally brings up its main window and steals focus from the email that I'm writing (or ...
FrustratedWithFormsDesigner's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
1k views

How do i keep a newly started program from taking focus? [duplicate]

Say i'm coding in emacs and want to start up a music program. Because it takes too long to start up i go back to coding and type away. When the music application starts up, the focus is stolen (gasp!...
jrsconfitto's user avatar
  • 1,086
1 vote
0 answers
95 views

Preventing applications from stealing focus in Windows 10 [duplicate]

There is a dated question asking for a solution for windows 7. I have recently grew tired of newly launched applications to steal focus from my currently opened window. Is there a way how to prevent ...
rluks's user avatar
  • 469
0 votes
0 answers
73 views

sometimes I don't want to be forced to interact with the topmost window. How can I get around it, without closing it? [duplicate]

We've all seen this when we opened a setting or preference window from a context menu in a program we're using-- the window flashes/flickers and forces you to close it if you want to get at ...
paIncrease's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
50 views

is there a way to disable Windows from switching window focus when I am typing? [duplicate]

Sometimes when I am typing in a notepad, command prompt, webpage, or the file explorer address bar, or even any other place where typing is allowed, it happens that the currently active window loses ...
silvercoins's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
30 views

Stop windows 8 applications from stealing focus [duplicate]

I hate it when I'm waiting for an install to finish so I'm typing an email and it pops up and says "Do you want to restart now" right as I hit enter! Is there any way to avoid this? I've seen the ...
THE JOATMON's user avatar
  • 1,912
0 votes
0 answers
26 views

Prevent windows 7 or 8 from opening windows on top [duplicate]

When I launch a program on windows it usually opens on top. It does not care if you are currently working on the other screen. It will take off the focus on the window you are working on and give ...
Tono Nam's user avatar
  • 859
18 votes
2 answers
7k views

Is it possible in Windows 10 to prevent an opening application from stealing focus?

In Linux I can do this but can you do this in Windows? I launch a new application and it takes awhile to load. In the mean time I am tying text in an application or searching for an application in ...
Jason's user avatar
  • 4,056
17 votes
1 answer
18k views

Stop automatic switching of virtual desktops in Windows 10

Having used Linux-based OSs for several years I grew to love the virtual desktops. I was happy to find out that W10 had implemented virtual desktops too. However using them i have found that ...
nluigi's user avatar
  • 223
5 votes
2 answers
8k views

Prevent apps from putting themselves in the foreground

Some applications, when being installed, updated or opened, tend to force themselves in the foreground. When another application is in the foreground already, like in the worst case, a game in full ...
towe's user avatar
  • 96
6 votes
2 answers
8k views

Opened windows don't have focus on Windows 10

When I open a new window by right clicking an application in the task bar such as Visual Studio Code and select a recently opened project, the window does not have focus and the application icon in ...
mike's user avatar
  • 101
4 votes
1 answer
5k views

How to disable auto focus of opened Windows applications?

Often, when I open an application in Windows XP, it takes so long to load that I start using another application that is already open, start typing, then when the application I was trying to open ...
erikvold's user avatar
  • 4,037
11 votes
0 answers
15k views

Windows 7: Disable applications stealing focus

Is there any way to prevent specific programs from stealing window focus in Windows 7? Windows 7 doesn't have the option of using PowerToys' TweakUI, which has been suggested in the past for stopping ...
doppelgreener's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
680 views

Stop windows from activating themselves

I play poker online. When a decision is required, the relevant window activates and brings itself in front of all other windows, so that I can act in time. However, I can pay attention to all opened ...
manilow's user avatar
  • 41

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