Games lose focus constantly in Windows 11

My laptop manufacturer gave me a link with the drivers of my machine and told me to check/install them as needed if they were missing or something. Most of them didn't install as there were newer versions presently installed. It didn't work. They also recommended reformatting if that didn't work. So, I guess I'll do a clean install of Windows 11. I think that's the same as reformatting the drive it's installed on. I'm also considering installing Windows 10 and dual booting in case Windows 11 still has this problem and try that too.

Can I install Windows 10 from inside Windows 11 with a usb disk?

glasskuter said:

I'll be the first to admit I'm not a gamer but I read complaints about these issues for over 2 hours. Since so many are experiencing this problem on a widespread basis, is it not prudent to try the things that can be tried, especially if everything one tries can be easily undone if it makes no difference. Perhaps this poster wants to use Windows Focus Logger on his own system to see if it leads him in another direction.

How to Prevent Programs From Stealing Focus in Windows

Follow these steps to stop programs from popping up in front of other ones, called "stealing focus." This should never happen. Here's what to do.

www.lifewire.com

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Tbf this is the first thread ive seen on this forum with regards to this, Also been using win 11 since its first build for gaming until now, Never an issue. So i wouldn't say "So many" Considering its thread #1 here.

Yeah, if you're not a gamer, you can't make such a claim. Anyway, I've also had no issues gaming under Windows 11.

Upgraded to 11 about a month ago and have been plagued with this focus thing.. mostly in Rocket league.. occasionally in Apex Legends.
I found the reg hacks and other stuff, including Focus Logger before coming here. My focus logger showed that it was the Radeon Software that stole focus. I was curious if anyone else logging has seen this?

Devlin1888 said:

Considering its thread #1 here.

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Dru2 said:

you can't make such a claim

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It may be the first thread here, but it's certainly not across the web. Have a look-see on Microsoft, reddit, and game forums. When trying to offer possible solutions to things that are not familiar to me, I always do my reading first. Sorry that you both feel I deserve a put-down for doing it.

glasskuter said:

It may be the first thread here, but it's certainly not across the web. Have a look-see on Microsoft, reddit, and game forums. When trying to offer possible solutions to things that are not familiar to me, I always do my reading first. Sorry that you both feel I deserve a put-down for doing it.

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That's reaching a bit is it not? I literally said its the first thread made here and you have you're full armour set complete with sword and shield on for what? lolol.
If you search the web for a problem, You're gonna find it. No one said it doesn't exist, No one is saying that there aren't threads elsewhere, Ofc there are, But don't make out its a mainstream issue when it isn't.

glasskuter said:

It may be the first thread here, but it's certainly not across the web. Have a look-see on Microsoft, reddit, and game forums. When trying to offer possible solutions to things that are not familiar to me, I always do my reading first. Sorry that you both feel I deserve a put-down for doing it.

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No one is putting anyone down. That's just you taking things personal. I'm simply replying to a forum post.

Anyway, as a gamer myself, and having just finished Cyberpunk 2077 to see how it performed under Windows 11, I had no issues.

And no, I'm not saying gaming issues can't happen under 11, I'm saying the issue is as widespread as some would like you to believe. And I do visit gaming forums such as Steam and other independent gaming forums. Yes, there are those complaining 11 is problematic with gaming, but there are far more saying the same thing I'm saying... "no issues here with 11"

And you can always find a Windows 11 horror story on the net, just as one can find people on the internet saying the earth is flat. Just because someone posts something doesn't make it fact. There are too many variables to explicitly single out Windows 11 as the primary cause of gaming issues.

Dru2 said:

No one is putting anyone down. That's just you taking things personal. I'm simply replying to a forum post.

Anyway, as a gamer myself, and having just finished Cyberpunk 2077 to see how it performed under Windows 11, I had no issues.

And no, I'm not saying gaming issues can't happen under 11, I'm saying the issue is as widespread as some would like you to believe. And I do visit gaming forums such as Steam and other independent gaming forums. Yes, there are those complaining 11 is problematic with gaming, but there are far more saying the same thing I'm saying... "no issues here with 11"

And you can always find a Windows 11 horror story on the net, just as one can find people on the internet saying the earth is flat. Just because someone posts something doesn't make it fact. There are too many variables to explicitly single out Windows 11 as the primary cause of gaming issues.

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I am new here.. and I think 11 is good so far for gaming other than this focus thing.. which I feel is more of an issue with something else.. in my case... possibly the Radeon software since that is what Windows Focus Logger is telling me. I did an end task on it and played with no issue for a bit.. but I think more testing is still required on my part before I go off saying its fixed. Also.. before finding this site.. I had tried every suggestion I found out there to no avail. So ya.. People do try suggestions and still have issues like myself.

Unfortunately, PC gaming is one of those tasks where anything can throw a game into a tizzy. I wrote a troubleshooting guide I posted on Seven forums some years back but a lot of it is still relative today - Tips on Troubleshooting Game Issues - Windows 7 Help Forums

While I don't have all the answers (no one does), I can say I'm familiar with troubleshooting game issues and have been doing it a long time.

This is a known Windows 11 24H2 bug: an invisible explorer.exe window of class MSCTFIME UI (part of the text input framework) grabs focus after clicks. I built a small free tray tool that recognizes that window and sends focus straight back to your game: NoFocusSteal (GitHub - BoazCohenJ/NoFocusSteal: Stop apps from stealing focus on Windows, and find out which app keeps doing it. Tiny tray app, no install, no DLL injection.). Disclosure: I'm the author.

It also stops other apps (Teams, updaters, launchers) from pulling you out of a game while you're pressing keys. Its log shows exactly which process took focus, so you can check whether you have the MSCTFIME bug or something else. It's a single exe with no installer and no DLL injection; it never injects into or modifies the game. MIT licensed.

I've dealt with this problem before. 1 it could be caused by a registry tweak that was set with the wrong "type" string vs dword for example. Something I dealt with personally. It was a long time ago so I don't remember what registry value it was, but it was a cosmetic tweak to disable something.

Or it could be background apps with "always on top", like a performance monitor like librehardwaremonitor or an "app overlay" like discord or nvidia or steam. If you are trying to set "fullscreen exclusive" mode in your game. "always on top" apps will always try to steal focus, even if it's not active. And app overlays will always try to steal focus. Disable app overlays, discord and steam have it enabled by default I think. And turn off "always on top" for any type of performance monitors.

How dwm works is, every app/process has a physical window actually open but it's hidden behind a desktop z-index. Even if it is not active or in focus. It is actually drawing on the desktop, you just don't see it because it's behind the desktop layer or just "hidden" by transparency or something, I don' t know for sure. If you use a "winspy" app, it will expose these hidden app layers. If you have an "always on top" app open, even though it's hidden. It will fight your games ability to get "Fullscreen exclusive" because it wants to be on top of the game layer, and the game wants to be on top because it's "Fullscreen exclusive" so it's constantly fighting with the offending app like a tug of war. For fullscreen borderless, this shouldn't be an issue, it's made to work well with DWM layer composition.

Or it could be something else entirely.