Finder Focus in Full Screen Mode

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Level 1

8 points

Finder Focus in Full Screen Mode

Hi all,

I am on MacBook Air using OSX 10.9.5. I love the fullscreen mode.

I basically use the keyboard to do pretty much everything. So to switch to another app Cmd-Tab is the way to go.

The problem is with Finder. If Finder is in full screen mode, the user switches to finder, the focus stays with the last window. The screen displays the finder winder, the visual cues show that window is in focus. So if the next thing is to open a file/folder (Cmd-O) or even delete a file/folder (Cmd-Delete) the action is against the last focus - even though it is not seen. This has resulted in some unfortunately mistakes.

My big question is how what do I have to change so that when I switch to a finder window the window is in focus and active?

Has anyone else seen this behaviour? Is this a bug or something intentional? If this is by design how is it supposed to work?

Thanks for you help.

MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Oct 14, 2014 3:56 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 14, 2014 8:22 AM in response to aomega88

Each full screen application in full screen gets its own "desktop"; plus, you can have multiple separate full screen windows in the Finder. To move between those desktops, you can use Control-right arrow and Control-left arrow. This way you can switch focus to a different Finder window (fullscreen or not).

That said, I tried and cannot reproduce your symptoms: whenever I command-tab to the Finder the window that appears to be in focus is in fact in focus.

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Answer 2

aomega88 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 14, 2014 8:06 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Luis,

Thanks so much for your reply. I think I am getting it. The face that finder can take multiple full screen windows has helped me get my mind around it.

I did some more experimenting.

If I am in a fullscreen app and then change to finder (in full screen) with Cmd-Tab. All is good, the window is in focus and active.

If I am in a fullscreen app and then change to finder using Ctrl-arrow or the mouse swipe. All is good, the window is in focus and active.

If however, I am in a window on the desktop (not fullscreen) and then move to finder using Cmd-Tab, then the finder window visually shows as active, however it is not in focus. I need to either switch desktops using Ctrl-Arrow or press the mouse to gain focus. The confusing thing was I expected that either the window would be in focus or the visual cues would show the window is not in focus.

I know it only a small thing, however I switch between apps a lot and small things become very annoying.

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Answer 3

Oct 15, 2014 3:14 AM in response to aomega88

If I am in a fullscreen app and then change to finder (in full screen) with Cmd-Tab. All is good, the window is in focus and active.

If I am in a fullscreen app and then change to finder using Ctrl-arrow or the mouse swipe. All is good, the window is in focus and active.

If however, I am in a window on the desktop (not fullscreen) and then move to finder using Cmd-Tab, then the finder window visually shows as active, however it is not in focus. I need to either switch desktops using Ctrl-Arrow or press the mouse to gain focus. The confusing thing was I expected that either the window would be in focus or the visual cues would show the window is not in focus.

I know it only a small thing, however I switch between apps a lot and small things become very annoying.

I don't think this is such a small thing, it is a problem that should not occur. I don't know what is causing it, and it may be something local to your system, since try as I may I cannot reproduce this error. I am sorry but I don't know what else to suggest.

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Answer 4

aomega88 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 15, 2014 4:13 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks Luis,

Doesn't help be solve it, however knowing that it is not supposed to work that way helps me know that I should look somewhere else.

Cheers.

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