OS X apps keep popping up in front. Any way to stop that?

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Level 3

543 points

OS X apps keep popping up in front. Any way to stop that?

I've been using the Mac for years and years and there is a behavior of OS X that drives me up the wall so I thought I'd see if there is a way to turn this behavior off.

Let's pretend I'm using Photoshop. I then plug in my iPhone to be charged. Both iTunes and iPhoto will steal focus away from Photoshop and pop to the front. I then have to switch back to Photoshop, only to have either iTunes or iPhoto pop back in front for some reason.

This happens often in various circumstances and I completely disagree with Apple's decision to have apps able to FORCE themselves as the app in "focus". If I want to switch to that app, I will do that on my own.

Is there a way to hack OS X so it can't do that?

Thanks!

Dual 2.8 Ghz 2008 Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6), 10 gigs RAM (and need more!), Radeon 5770

Posted on Mar 11, 2011 5:54 AM

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Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Mar 11, 2011 10:47 AM in response to Scot Walker

Stop plugging in your iPhone. When you do that, you're telling the OS to recognize what's going on and to do something. Either that, or quit PS, insert the iPhone, and then relaunch PS.

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Answer 2

Lyssa

Level 8

41,405 points

Mar 11, 2011 10:52 AM in response to Scot Walker

iPhoto's preferences offer the option to NOT open iPhoto when your iPhone is connected. iTunes has the same option.

iTunes: With iPhone connected, click on it in the sidebar, scroll down the Summary tab to "Open iTunes when this iPhone is connected." Uncheck the box.

iPhoto:Preferences pane>*Connecting Camera Opens* option should be set to "No Application."

Then, you can simply launch iTunes/iPhoto if you need them.

~Lyssa

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Answer 3

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Mar 11, 2011 10:56 AM in response to Lyssa

Thanks for popping in. No mobile devices here, so didn't chase those settings down. 😉

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Answer 4

Scot Walker Author

Level 3

543 points

Mar 11, 2011 10:56 AM in response to baltwo

Other applications shouldn't be able to steal focus away from the application I'm currently in, in my opinion. It's rude. If you want to inform me about something, do that. Don't switch my apps on me by force.

Telling me to behave in a way the OS wants me to behave is not helpful. Telling me of a way to tell OS X to not do it would be helpful.

Don't be a fanboy.

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Answer 5

Lyssa

Level 8

41,405 points

Mar 11, 2011 10:58 AM in response to baltwo

No problem!

I too dislike having an application abruptly take control of my machine, so I try to find ways to limit such behavior 🙂

~Lyssa

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Answer 6

Scot Walker Author

Level 3

543 points

Mar 11, 2011 11:05 AM in response to Lyssa

Thanks, Lyssa!

Does the iPhone still sync if those apps aren't launched?

Those apps will steal focus even if they are already launched. I understand that when you LAUNCH an app, you want it to come front and center. However, it steals focus even if they are already launched.

Thanks for the help.

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Answer 7

Lyssa

Level 8

41,405 points

Mar 11, 2011 11:12 AM in response to Scot Walker

iTunes needs to be open in order for the phone to sync. So, you may want to just open iTunes yourself so it can get its focusing issue out of its system.

I'm not sure if the syncing process will start. I don't think so, but since I recently synced my phone, I can't really check for you!

~Lyssa

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Answer 8

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Mar 11, 2011 12:08 PM in response to Scot Walker

Other applications shouldn't be able to steal focus away from the application I'm currently in, in my opinion. It's rude.

Sorry, you didn't take the tongue-in-cheek comment as intended. All I can say is that, unless you're running background apps, expect anything else you launch to demand your attention when the app requires it. The only alternative is to not launch the offender, if it doesn't have a "don't bother me" option. E.g., Eudora notifies when mail arrives by making a sound, but doesn't take focus from what I'm doing. If that's what you want, but it's not included, contact the developer for that capability.;)

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Answer 9

Jul 9, 2011 9:47 AM in response to baltwo

Meanwhile, anyone has found a solution to this problem?

It's not just when you start up applications, it's also when applications do things, like: when my scanner is ready scanning, the result pops up in Preview. When you where just typing a sentence, your last typed words will be lost. VERY annoying.

And Pages does it when finishing saving.

I'll go searching a little futher for a solution...

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