Windows constantly lose focus on Tahoe

I have the same issue on M4 Pro 24GB.

The fix for me was to disable Forti client from App Background Activity in Login Items & Extensions:

I also found this blogpost about bluetooth devices if it helps:

https://medium.com/macoclock/mac-window-focus-bug-dc5211ce570c

Map-Pin wrote:

I’m afraid to say this is not entirely true.

My problem was that I had AirPods pros that were set to connect to two different devices, my iPhone, and the Mac.

They were set to automatically reconnect to the Mac and as a result if they are on they ping-pong between the two.

For some reason when the Mac connects to them, it loses focus so this is a Bluetooth potential issue as well.

Turning off the automatic reconnection, fix my problem directly while I was testing.

Yes indeed, there seems to be multiple issues causing the same symptom. My post was trying to emphasise that there are other causes for the same symptom as well as Bluetooth.

I have now confirmed for sure that it was Logitech G-Hub causing loss of focus on my own Mac Mini desktop, simply by stopping G-Hub. I'm no longer seeing the issue after waking up the computer after it has been in sleep mode. (which is when the issue had been kicking in for me)

The thing that Logitech G-Hub has in common with other software is that it runs a background service that monitors mouse and keyboard input. That seems to have started malfunctioning after Tahoe was patched.

Regarding Bluetooth, I found that Bose multi-path Bluetooth simply doesn't work with Apple devices anyway, even before Tahoe. When I have my headphones paired with both my iPhone and Mac Mini the audio tends to break down into unintelligible noise, and can only be fixed by fully reconnecting. Used to happen with my old Intel Mac Mini and still happens with the M4 model. So I've stopped usign multi-path and only pair with one device at a time.

There also wasn’t a mention that OP WASNT using a custom mouse.

It doesn’t matter either way, this person had the same issue and pointed to their personal fix along with anecdotal information.

A meaningful contribution as it turns out; as I’m having this same issue, and because of this thread I found disabling Logitech GHub to solve my problem.

This has started happening to me too recently, out of the blue. But only after my Mac Mini has been in sleep mode.

When I wake it up and unlock to start using again, the focus keeps jumping away from whatever I'm trying to use, making the computer impossible to use. Reconnecting keyboard and mouse has no affect, nor does restarting applications.

The workaround seems to be to log out and back in again, after which this stops happening - until after I've put the computer into sleep mode again later in the day.

Both my keyboard and mouse are using the LogiTech wireless USB dongles, so Bluetooth is probably not involved.

I'm on Tahoe Version 26.2 (25C56). I can't say for certain, but this issue seemed to kick in after the last Tahoe update some weeks ago.

If you use Logitech devices, see if you have GHub installed. Uninstall GHub, and the problem is fixed.

I built this small tool to help identify which application that steal attention (for me it was Logitech hub as well, but might be a different one for other users).

https://github.com/Magnus-Gille/attention-thief-catcher

Kms10 wrote:

All apps, even System preferences and top menu bar behave like this. Only spotlight does not lose focus.

I restarted/rebooted my computer more than once -- this issue persists.

I turned off all bells and whistles -- no effect.

I would reinstall the macOS on top of your existing macOS to sort upgrade anomalies.

How to reinstall macOS

Recovery (both M1/M2/M3/M4 and Intel) — How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

and compare your results.

I have found the issue and will reopen a case with Apple now I can reproduce it.

I have 2 identical M4 Macs.

I have a pair of AirPods pros

When those AirPods are out of their case, they seem to cause this to happen. If I put them away it is fixed.

Fix: Put AirPods back into the case and close it.

Thank you for this. I started to have the issue today on my MacBook Air M3 with Tahoe, that when I switch spaces, focus is not given to the window in the new space (nothing seems to have focus after switching).

This started happening only after launching Tailscale. After quitting Tailscale, the status bar at the top of the screen gets invisible in fullscreen spaces. After switching back to the Desktop space, this is resolved. And now also the windows in other spaces also gain immediate focus again after switching.

There might be a general issue with applications that add themselves to the top bar.

If you use Logitech products, uninstall GHub.

I had the exact same issue of whatever I was interacting with would lose focus (except spotlight).

Toggling off Logitech G Hub (driver for custom mouse) did the trick. It's been struggling to work on MacOS 26

tombot86 wrote:

I had the exact same issue of whatever I was interacting with would lose focus (except spotlight).

Toggling off Logitech G Hub (driver for custom mouse) did the trick. It's been struggling to work on MacOS 26

There was no mention of a custom mouse in the OP.

see if there is anything here for your issue:

https://www.macworld.com/article/3025889/its-not-you-a-logitech-blunder-borked-your-mac-mouse-but-theres-a-fix.html

Tip: To investigate which app causes the issue I would recommend to disable all App Background Activity than slowly turn them on one by one.

My first try, see below, using CleanMyMac only worked temporarily. Further search of the background apps (SystemSettings>Login Items & Extensions) showed an app that I thought I had deleted long ago. Turning that off solved the problem: it has not recurred so far -- a week later.

Test in Safe Mode. Same problem?