Loss of focus in later versions of Windows 10 (1803, 10240)

Martin Nowers · 05 Jun 2018

When I open a new pane from the taskbar e.g. it disappears behind other previously opened panes as soon as I move my mouse pointer from the taskbar. I can overcome the problem by progressively minimising or closing the earlier panes but it is a huge nuisance. Can any one tell me how to get back to sanity.

V. 1803 was really terrible in this way. Hoping that things might be better with V.10240 ( the final version?) I have installed it, but to no avail.

dalchina · 05 Jun 2018

Do you have the bottom setting enabled? That might explain what you are seeing.

Loss of focus in later versions of Windows 10 (1803, 10240)-1.jpg

Bree · 05 Jun 2018

Martin Nowers said:

V. 1803 was really terrible in this way. Hoping that things might be better with V.10240 ( the final version?)...

There seems to be some confusion here between version numbers and the OS build number.

Version 1803 (os build 17134) is the latest public release.
Version 1507 (os build 10240) was the initial public release on 29 July 2015.

dalchina · 05 Jun 2018

For clarity, please post your current build number. (Windows key + R, winver). Thanks.

Martin Nowers · 05 Jun 2018

Thank you Dalchina, at least I know now which flaming version (and build!) is causing me all this grief. So V. 1803 is the latest? I am now downloading an ISO of Windows 10 (again) though I suppose I will have to wait until it has finished before I can see which version it is. As I live a long way from the exchange and for other reasons known to France Telecom, but not to me, a download of windows 10 takes more than 12 hours. Life is sooooooo great here in France!

I am not clear, however, what you mean by "bottom setting". Would you please clarify so that I can check it out?

Thanks for your help

dalchina · 05 Jun 2018

Hi, can you see that's Ease of Access? The text is there...

The bottom setting is the square check box labelled 'Activate a window...' = it's at the bottom of the screenshot.

Can you see how that feature could give rise to your symptom?
Note: some 3rd party utilities can also provide that effect.

Martin Nowers · 06 Jun 2018

To be frank Dalchina, I can not see how that feature could give rise to the symptom I am experiencing. I wish I were that able!

dalchina · 06 Jun 2018

as soon as I move my mouse pointer from the taskbar.

- so as soon as you do that, assuming your mouse is over a different window to that you restored, the one you hover over takes focus and the one you restored disappears behind it.

That's my theory..

You could post a video to show what's happening..

mrgeek · 06 Jun 2018

" I can overcome the problem by progressively minimising or closing the earlier panes but it is a huge nuisance. "

Remember D-Day today. Have you tried Task View (2nd taskbar button R off Start Button) to see all open windows and just select or close from there ? Does that accomplish what you want ?

Martin Nowers · 08 Jun 2018

mrgeek said:

" I can overcome the problem by progressively minimising or closing the earlier panes but it is a huge nuisance. "

Remember D-Day today. Have you tried Task View (2nd taskbar button R off Start Button) to see all open windows and just select or close from there ? Does that accomplish what you want ?

Thank you Mr Geek. Unfortunately TaskView is not shown on my Taskbar, and I do not know how to get it back. The method you propose does not seem much more convenient than what I am doing now, which is vastly less convenient than having proper focus for the active pane. Anyway, thanks for your contribution. I wish I could get proper focus back in Win 10!

Regards, Martin Nowers