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Sonoma application window randomly stays in focus so you can't select windows behind

netnothing

netnothing

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Mar 13, 2007
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Weird random glitch in Sonoma for me. Randomly, and I believe this happens with other apps not just Finder, but there are times where I will CMD+TAB to go from one app to another and in this example the Finder window will lock itself in focus (front) and clicking on the window behind doesn't bring it forward.

Attached is a screenshot showing the Finder window greyed out and Chrome active behind, but nothing I do other than close the Finder window will allow ANY of the behind app windows to come to the front.

I so use Spaces (8 of them) and I'm not sure if this is happening mainly when auto switching from one space to another because an app is tied to that space. For example, I have Finder available in all spaces, where as Chrome is only in Space 1. So I might be in Space 6 (Mail app) and then click CMD+TAB to go to Chrome - it switches spaces but the Finder window is locked in front.

I did adjust the Finder Spaces option to only 1 space and back to all spaces but that hasn't fixed anything.

Anyone else seeing this? Again it's really random - I can go hours with no issues and than randomly it occurs. I'm trying to pay attention now to see if something triggers it.
 

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I'm seeing this exact same issue! For me it seems to only happen with multiple desktops set up. I have the majority of apps I use frequently set to open on Desktop 1 so I can go to Desktop 2 and work in the Finder. I have the Finder set to open on "All Desktops". When I open a Finder window on Desktop 2 and then switch to an app open on Desktop 1 the Finder window gets stuck above all other windows until I close it. Opening a Finder window while on Desktop 1, then switching to the app still on Desktop 1, the Finder window retreats to the back as expected. Very strange!!
 
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theChachi said:
I'm seeing this exact same issue! For me it seems to only happen with multiple desktops set up. I have the majority of apps I use frequently set to open on Desktop 1 so I can go to Desktop 2 and work in the Finder. I have the Finder set to open on "All Desktops". When I open a Finder window on Desktop 2 and then switch to an app open on Desktop 1 the Finder window gets stuck above all other windows until I close it. Opening a Finder window while on Desktop 1, then switching to the app still on Desktop 1, the Finder window retreats to the back as expected. Very strange!!
Click to expand...
Awesome...that's exactly it thank you!

It seems to be a bug in spaces when you open any app that is assigned to All Desktops in any space other than Desktop 1. When you switch then to any other space, that window you just opened follows you and because stuck in front.

Finally - a reproducible scenario....thank you!

Off to file a bug report.
 
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netnothing said:
Awesome...that's exactly it thank you!

It seems to be a bug in spaces when you open any app that is assigned to All Desktops in any space other than Desktop 1. When you switch then to any other space, that window you just opened follows you and because stuck in front.

Finally - a reproducible scenario....thank you!

Off to file a bug report.
Click to expand...
Thank you as well... I was so glad to find someone else experiencing the same problem! Will definitely be filing a bug report on this. Super annoying when it happens, and it happens a lot to me with my regular work flow.
 
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theChachi said:
Thank you as well... I was so glad to find someone else experiencing the same problem! Will definitely be filing a bug report on this. Super annoying when it happens, and it happens a lot to me with my regular work flow.
Click to expand...
With some testing this seems to only impact the windows back on Desktop 1.

So any application you have setup to All Desktops, if you open a window for the app on any desktop other than Desktop 1, when you go back to Desktop 1, that window is locked in focus.

Here's what I am submitting:

1) Setup multiple desktops (spaces). I have 8 desktops setup.
2) In System Preferences -> Desktop & Dock -> When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application -> Toggle to ON. This is to make is easier to switch spaces by clicking on the icon in the dock, but this setting doesn't impact the behavior of the bug.
3) Assign Finder to All Desktops.
4) Make sure all Finder windows are closed.
5) Open an application in Desktop 1 for example, Safari.
6) Go to another desktop, say Desktop 5.
7) Open a Finder window.
8) Go back to Desktop 1, either by directly activating (Control + 1) or clicking on Safari in the dock.
9) When you are taken back to Desktop 1, you will see your Finder window is locked in focus.
10) Any other windows in that Desktop are able to be interacted with, but they will not be able to be brought to the front until the Finder window is closed.

This doesn't seem to impact if you open the application and go to any other desktop other than 1, the window it's locked in front.

I think you are seeing this like me because Desktop 1 has the most focused apps, for me it's where all my browsers are.
 
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That looks perfect! Interesting that this seems to only affect Desktop 1. When I set up my apps to open on Desktop 2, I can open a Finder window on Desktop 1 that does not get stuck when switching to an app open on Desktop 2.

Thanks for sharing your bug report! I have to head out at the moment, but I will submit the bug report asap.
 
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Also this! So frustrating! This is the only really annoying bug I have with Sonoma, so far everything else runs well (sans Da Vinci Resolve after their 18.6.2 update) - filed this one as FB13259453

Would love to know if this is resolved in 14.1 Beta at all.
 
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I wish I had an extra computer I could run the betas on to see if this has been fixed. Best we can all do is file detailed bug reports and cross our fingers.

The only other thing I have discovered is that minimizing and then un-minimizing the offending window releases the window allowing it to move to the back once again. At least this way you don't have to close the window and start all over.
 
theChachi said:
I wish I had an extra computer I could run the betas on to see if this has been fixed. Best we can all do is file detailed bug reports and cross our fingers.

The only other thing I have discovered is that minimizing and then un-minimizing the offending window releases the window allowing it to move to the back once again. At least this way you don't have to close the window and start all over.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the minimizing tip. Also just tried hiding a window and that works as well.
 
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netnothing said:
Just to report that macOS Sonoma 14.1 does NOT fix this issue.
Click to expand...
Same here, not fixed in 14.1 :( This bug keeps biting me even though I have been trying my best to work around it. It's not a show stopper, but super annoying for sure! I've run into bugs in the past that I have reported but nothing was ever done about them because it didn't affect enough people. Maybe that is the case with this as well?
 
theChachi said:
Same here, not fixed in 14.1 :( This bug keeps biting me even though I have been trying my best to work around it. It's not a show stopper, but super annoying for sure! I've run into bugs in the past that I have reported but nothing was ever done about them because it didn't affect enough people. Maybe that is the case with this as well?
Click to expand...
Yeah same here. Never remember to open some windows on Desktop 1 so I end up having to minimize to get the window/app to behave correcrtly.

I am also thinking that multiple desktops is probably a feature a lot of people don't use - so it'll probably go under the radar for a while sadly.
 
I believe I'm running into this same bug, and it is happening very often in my day-to-day usage which involves several Desktops and a window tiling application - previously Spectacle but more recently Rectangle (hoping it might resolve the issue). I also went ahead to file a bug report.
 
Any updates on this? I'm having this issue constantly. The only solution that "helps" me mitigate it is the AutoRaise app with a focus on hover. If issue occurs I just move the mouse to another window, but it's so frequent that at this point, it's a habit.
 
Well, another update (14.1.1) that did not fix this problem for me. So... I decided to close all 3 current desktops I had going and create new ones. This strangely corrected the bug temporarily? Then it came back, and now it seems even more random than before?? 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️
 
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theChachi said:
Well, another update (14.1.1) that did not fix this problem for me. So... I decided to close all 3 current desktops I had going and create new ones. This strangely corrected the bug temporarily? Then it came back, and now it seems even more random than before?? 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️
Click to expand...
Same here, 14.1.1 did not fix the bug.
 
I did create a little helper for the problem that has at least made life a bit more tolerable for me. I created a shortcut with the Shortcuts app to "Run AppleScript" and have it run the following super simple code...

AppleScript: 
on run {input, parameters}
    tell application "Finder"
        set visible to false
        activate
    end tell
end run

All this does is hide and show the Finder, but it's super fast and does the trick (for me at least).

I then assigned the shortcut to "Use as Quick Action" and checked "Services Menu". Then added a keyboard shortcut in...

"System Settings" --> "Keyboard" --> "Keyboard Shortcuts..." --> "Services" --> "√ Shortcuts"
Click to expand...

You can actually just click "Add Keyboard Shortcut" in the Shortcuts app as well.

Now I can just hit the keyboard shortcut whenever the problem arises and voila.
 
I'm not sure if it's related, but I have an issue with focussing on the wrong window. Say for example that in Desktop 2 I have Terminal and Chrome running with Chrome above Terminal. If I am on Desktop 1 and command-tab to Terminal, I get switched to Desktop 2 and the Terminal is shown for a split second before Chrome gets raised to the front.

This isn't specific to any applications, and is driving me bonkers. Command-tab is the primary way I navigate between applications. (just tested, and the same thing happens when clicking on icons in the Dock).

"When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application" is enabled. As expected, disabling it means I'm not switched to a window or the space that I'd want to be on.
 
ohbrilliance said:
I'm not sure if it's related, but I have an issue with focussing on the wrong window. Say for example that in Desktop 2 I have Terminal and Chrome running with Chrome above Terminal. If I am on Desktop 1 and command-tab to Terminal, I get switched to Desktop 2 and the Terminal is shown for a split second before Chrome gets raised to the front.

This isn't specific to any applications, and is driving me bonkers. Command-tab is the primary way I navigate between applications. (just tested, and the same thing happens when clicking on icons in the Dock).

"When switching to an application, switch to a Space with open windows for the application" is enabled. As expected, disabling it means I'm not switched to a window or the space that I'd want to be on.
Click to expand...

I definitely experience similar issues and can't seem to find much rhyme or reason for any of it. I use 3 finger swipe left or right to switch between desktops and notice this same thing you are speaking about.

Also, when using the Screen Sharing app to connect to my iMac on our network I will put it in full screen and notice when swiping back to another Desktop the mouse will disappear until I click the track pad. This can be extremely frustrating as well cause I've clicked many things unintentionally in the process. 🤦‍♂️
 
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Rasmis said:
Is there any way the rest of us can up-vote the bug report?
Click to expand...

The only thing I know of that can be done is for everyone who is affected to file bug reports with as much information as possible. The more repeatable a bug the better. If you are noticing some unexpected behavior and can reproduce it over and over again reliably, that would make for an excellent bug report. But even just filing a bug report and stating random weirdness is better than nothing at all.

If you haven't ever filed a bug report, or even if you have, there is good info here...
https://developer.apple.com/bug-reporting/

The "Feedback Assistant" app is included in the CoreServices folder in all versions of macOS, and can be launched via the applefeedback:// URL scheme or by searching for Feedback Assistant in Spotlight. You can also open a Finder window and select Go to Folder from the Go menu, then enter this path: /System/Library/CoreServices/Applications.
Click to expand...
 
theChachi said:
The only thing I know of that can be done is for everyone who is affected to file bug reports with as much information as possible. The more repeatable a bug the better. If you are noticing some unexpected behavior and can reproduce it over and over again reliably, that would make for an excellent bug report. But even just filing a bug report and stating random weirdness is better than nothing at all.

If you haven't ever filed a bug report, or even if you have, there is good info here...
https://developer.apple.com/bug-reporting/
Click to expand...

I have a question.
Can I use "Feedback Assistant" to submit reports even if I am not a Beta Program participant?
I am only using the official release version, not the beta version.


I have previously reported below.
Feedback - macOS - Apple
www.apple.com

Feedback - macOS

Apple wants to hear from you. Send us your comments and feedback about macOS.
www.apple.com
 
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