reregistered

Q: Magic Trackpad 2 Foreground Window Focus Issue

I've been having the weirdest issue with my Magic Trackpad 2 on El Capitan (10.11.3.) When I'm in one app's window and tap/click to another app's window, the new app's window comes to the foreground but the old app is still in focus. So if I try a keyboard command at this point or type some text, it's actually performing that in the old app and not the new foreground app.

 

 

Say for example I have TextEdit and Safari open and I'm browsing a page in Safari. 50% of the time if I use my Magic Trackpad 2 to tap or click into the empty TextEdit document window from Safari, the TextEdit window will come into foreground focus and Safari will be the background window, but if I start typing text or hit CMD-N for a new document, it'll operate on Safari instead of TextEdit. This is just an example – it literally happens with any app.

 

 

I've messed with everything: accessibility settings for the Trackpad, trackpad settings, etc. No background apps or mouse extension apps installed. Tried both wirelessly and plugged in via Lightning cable. Magic Mouse doesn't seem to have this problem, Trackpad 2 only.

 

 

Anyone else having this issue? It's driving me crazy and makes using the Magic Trackpad 2 on OS X pretty useless.

Magic Trackpad 2, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), null

Posted on Mar 20, 2016 9:55 PM

Close

Q: Magic Trackpad 2 Foreground Window Focus Issue

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by braden85,

    braden85 braden85 Mar 22, 2016 9:40 AM in response to reregistered
    Community Specialists
    Mar 22, 2016 9:40 AM in response to reregistered

    Hey there reregistered,

     

    I understand that you are seeing some issues with your Magic Trackpad 2 and window selection in El Capitan. I would like you to test this behavior in Safe Mode to see if the issue is still present then:

     

    Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

     

    You may also want to consider testing this behavior in a new user account:

     

    How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204443

     

    Thanks for being a part of the Apple Support Communities!

  • by Hamachi Toro,

    Hamachi Toro Hamachi Toro Mar 27, 2016 10:45 PM in response to reregistered
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 27, 2016 10:45 PM in response to reregistered

    I have exactly the same issue here.

     

    I use the trackpad to click on another application, the other one did brought into the foreground but not the focus. I have to click the foreground application again to bring the focus to the foreground application.

  • by Daghis,

    Daghis Daghis Apr 6, 2016 12:20 PM in response to reregistered
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 6, 2016 12:20 PM in response to reregistered

    Oh, thank goodness. It's not just me! I don't have this problem with the original Magic Trackpad, just the Magic Trackpad 2.

  • by Robin Daugherty,

    Robin Daugherty Robin Daugherty Apr 30, 2016 11:46 AM in response to reregistered
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apr 30, 2016 11:46 AM in response to reregistered

    Same problem here. I thought I was going crazy.

     

    I thought it might be related to having "Look up & data selectors" enabled for Force Click, but I'm unable to reproduce it using Force Click on purpose. I'm switching it to use Tap with three fingers, I'l report if that changes anything.

  • by m104,

    m104 m104 Apr 30, 2016 3:07 PM in response to reregistered
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 30, 2016 3:07 PM in response to reregistered

    Same issue on 10.11.3 for me and it's not limited to just the magic trackpad.

     

    I can reproduce it occasionally with command-Tab switching, any window switching with the trackpad (tap to click, click, and force click), as well as with an external track pad. The focus lag seems to be correlated to switching spaces just prior to switching windows.

  • by Robin Daugherty,

    Robin Daugherty Robin Daugherty May 8, 2016 10:04 AM in response to reregistered
    Level 1 (9 points)
    May 8, 2016 10:04 AM in response to reregistered

    I'm still experiencing this using 10.11.4 on my MacBook Pro Mid-2015. It's definitely not limited to use of the Trackpad. Any time a window focus is switched, the window doesn't get notified that it got focus, and it doesn't get keypresses. There are also times where the window is notified and it looks like it has focus, but it still doesn't get keypresses unless the window is clicked again.

  • by sharprichnorth,

    sharprichnorth sharprichnorth May 10, 2016 1:25 PM in response to reregistered
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Peripherals
    May 10, 2016 1:25 PM in response to reregistered

    I'm also having this issue. It's incredibly frustrating, and leads to a lot of errors—in large part because different apps can have vastly differing behaviours for keyboard shortcuts.

  • by pitrini,

    pitrini pitrini May 10, 2016 3:21 PM in response to reregistered
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 10, 2016 3:21 PM in response to reregistered

    I am also having this problem. I first noticed it with the Magic Trackpad 2 also. I can reproduce it fairly well when switching from Excel to Safari. It is making me lose my mind. I am so relieved to find others having this problem too!

    Sadly this is a difficult type of thing to measure, but certainly makes me feel less keen on Apple.

  • by matfromlondon,

    matfromlondon matfromlondon Jun 7, 2016 2:08 AM in response to reregistered
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Peripherals
    Jun 7, 2016 2:08 AM in response to reregistered

    Exact same problem (Magic Trackpad 2, El Capitan 10.11.5 (15F34) on iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014)). Very frustrating. Intermittent too, so it's tough to write a predictable list of steps that will reproduce it. But it needs solving.

  • by pitrini,

    pitrini pitrini Jun 10, 2016 4:37 PM in response to matfromlondon
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 10, 2016 4:37 PM in response to matfromlondon

    I have been so frustrated by this issue, which remains to this day.

     

    However, I have discovered a possible workaround (still testing): go to the trackpad settings in system preferences, and disable "Force Click and haptic feedback". I quite like the force click, so it is sad to turn that off, but I haven't been able to find any problems with it turned off.

     

    My theory is that force click somehow incorrectly implements a "click" and raises the window but never sets its focus.

     

    Perhaps others can try this workaround: I hope it helps ease your frustration.

  • by noqued,

    noqued noqued Jul 21, 2016 12:06 PM in response to reregistered
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 21, 2016 12:06 PM in response to reregistered

    I'm having a similar problem. I'm not sure its the same issue, but seems related. Often, when I point and tap with my Magic Trackpad 2 to bring focus to a text field, it basically ignores me and refuses to change focus (even in the same window, but a different field). I have to point and tap elsewhere and then point back to my text field and tap again. Only then does it change focus where I want.

     

    Pretty frustrating.

  • by madscene,

    madscene madscene Aug 19, 2016 8:49 AM in response to noqued
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 19, 2016 8:49 AM in response to noqued

    Same exact issue and it's really driving me batty.  Tried a friends Trackpad (2) and still had the issue.  Here's another report: http://www.michaelkummer.com/2016/04/05/intermittent-issues-magic-trackpad-2/

     

    I'm on a Macbook Pro, and just tested with built in trackpad and see same issue.