DisplayFusion RSS: Feature request? Prevent active inputs from losing focus https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/RSS/?TopicID=cb2461a7-3911-4d58-b8c9-785f5fecabf8 DisplayFusion RSS: Feature request? Prevent active inputs from losing focus Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:51:58 GMT en hourly 1 https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/RSS/?TopicID=cb2461a7-3911-4d58-b8c9-785f5fecabf8 RE: Feature request? Prevent active inputs from losing focus https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/feature-request-prevent-active-inputs-from-losing-focus/?ID=cb2461a7-3911-4d58-b8c9-785f5fecabf8#4 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 14:49:46 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/feature-request-prevent-active-inputs-from-losing-focus/?ID=cb2461a7-3911-4d58-b8c9-785f5fecabf8#4 DisplayFusion We do indeed use global hooks. I'll create a feature request with that info. If we're able to make something like this work in a future version, we'll be sure to let you know.

Thanks! ]]> RE: Feature request? Prevent active inputs from losing focus https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/feature-request-prevent-active-inputs-from-losing-focus/?ID=cb2461a7-3911-4d58-b8c9-785f5fecabf8#3 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 23:12:01 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/feature-request-prevent-active-inputs-from-losing-focus/?ID=cb2461a7-3911-4d58-b8c9-785f5fecabf8#3 DisplayFusion
Quote:
Unfortunately this isn't really possible to do. Windows doesn't send a message that the focus has changed until after it's actually changed, so the best we could do is hook that message and give focus back to the other application, but by that time you've already dropped a few keystrokes :(

Sorry!


Thank you for your answer!

Hmm. I guess you've got globally injected hooks, am I right? Wouldn't it be possible to globally hook the API events, listen for common keystrokes (and retain them perhaps) and apply a timed threshold after a keystroke has happened, to ignore the next/previous WM_ACTIVATE, or reactivate the previous window automatically and replaying the retained keystrokes? (While maintaining ALT+TAB and mouse actions)

First thing that jumped me: http://superuser.com/a/404246 ]]> RE: Feature request? Prevent active inputs from losing focus https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/feature-request-prevent-active-inputs-from-losing-focus/?ID=cb2461a7-3911-4d58-b8c9-785f5fecabf8#2 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 21:54:05 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/feature-request-prevent-active-inputs-from-losing-focus/?ID=cb2461a7-3911-4d58-b8c9-785f5fecabf8#2 DisplayFusion Unfortunately this isn't really possible to do. Windows doesn't send a message that the focus has changed until after it's actually changed, so the best we could do is hook that message and give focus back to the other application, but by that time you've already dropped a few keystrokes :(

Sorry! ]]> Feature request? Prevent active inputs from losing focus https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/feature-request-prevent-active-inputs-from-losing-focus/?ID=cb2461a7-3911-4d58-b8c9-785f5fecabf8 Thu, 10 Nov 2016 08:36:42 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/feature-request-prevent-active-inputs-from-losing-focus/?ID=cb2461a7-3911-4d58-b8c9-785f5fecabf8 DisplayFusion Hey,

I love your software. It fits all my needs and despite certain struggles with new Windows versions, you tend to fix those pretty fast.

I've been searching for one particular feature over years now, since Windows 7: prevent focus stealing.
When any windows input/text control is active (with blinking cursor) there's no sane reason why any other starting application which sets focus should be able to steal the input focus of my current window. It also tends to happen often with installers that take a certain amount of time - I'm typing in Chrome in some messageboard, the installer asks me something, and I trigger the default action because I'm typing.

This is especially awful when using stuff like Pageant on Windows startup, which requires me to enter several private key passwords - while Skype is starting two instances and constantly stealing focus while I'm trying to enter my passwords.

Judging by the depth that the DF display hooks seem to go, would that be something you'd be willing to try? Try searching for "focus stealing" to measure the possible popularity of this feature.

Thank you very much! ]]>