Magic Trackpad 2 Foreground Window Focus Issue

Running Sierra, having this same issue and yes it is driving me insane.
What is currently my workaround is slowing down work progress.

I have to quit an app, to open another app; to maintain focus.

So ..... anyone else with a real solution on this would be really helpful.

Safe mode? Really Apple? #sigh

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I've had the same issue, but since macOS Sierra, it seems to be fixed for me.

I started having this issue after upgrading to Sierra. Here's what helps in my case:

Go to System Preferences, then choose Ink, then uncheck "Allow me to Ink in any application".