Issues with Input Focus After macOS 26.1 Update

After updating my MacBook to macOS 26.1 yesterday morning, I began experiencing recurring issues where applications fail to gain or maintain input focus when brought to the foreground or opened. Affected applications include Notes, Outlook, Teams, various browsers, and potentially others.

Within our company, multiple MacBook devices exhibit the same behavior since updating to version 26.1. There have been no changes on the MDM side, which I manage myself.

I also found a report describing the same issue here: Apps and windows have trouble getting and keeping input focus : r/MacOS

I have already contacted Apple Support under Case ID 10**********, but unfortunately they stated that they are unable to run further diagnostics because all our company devices are managed via MDM. So, we would need to uninstall that - which is not possible and we don´t have a spare device right now.

Do you have any suggestions on how we could test or identify the root cause of this issue? It is extremely disruptive in daily work.

Best regards,

Dominic

[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Pro (M4, 2024)

Posted on Nov 19, 2025 7:05 AM

Top-ranking reply

domidetres Author

Level 1

43 points

Posted on Nov 27, 2025 3:02 AM

Update on AdminByRequest Side:

We've now implemented a fix which doesn't require modifications to a policy-file. Below a complete step-by-step procedure to remediate the issue:

1. Download ABR v5.1.2 for macOS from the Download section in your portal

2. On affected devices, either deploy the client via an endpoint manager, or install it manually as a true administrator.

3. In the test-portal located at https://test.adminbyrequest.com/ (please note, you will need to sign in with credentials as to not get redirected to the production-site) browse to Mac Settings (or potential sub-setting) -> Lockdown -> Admin Rights.

4. Enable Disable in-app updaters.

5. Finally, invoke About ... from the ABR taskbar icon on affected devices.

Please be aware that enabling the setting will prevent some in-app updaters from gaining privileges. These will instead need to be handled via, for example, an Admin Session.

I´ve implemented this solution above - and that worked like a charm!

Hopefully this helps other in the meantime!

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18 replies

gjs.68

Level 1

4 points

Nov 24, 2025 7:21 AM in response to domidetres

More then happy to tet the fix as well. Did update recently and this behaviour is really bothering me. Especially since I have presentations planned.

mosmou60

Level 1

8 points

Nov 25, 2025 4:40 AM in response to domidetres

any updates on this?

Dec 17, 2025 1:43 AM in response to domidetres

macOS Tahoe 26.2 is officially released and I've upgraded but this issue is unfortunately still present.

@domidetres Any update from AdminByRequest?

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Issues with Input Focus After macOS 26.1 Update