Unexpected window switching when pressing Windows key and left-clicking

[evernation]

Describe the bug

I've noticed an issue that has been present for several Windows versions now, and I was hoping it might have been resolved in newer builds—but it still persists.

When I press the Windows key and then left-click, sometimes the active window changes unexpectedly. This behavior doesn't just affect Open-Shell but also occurs with the default Windows Start Menu. In some cases, the window focus changes only after the second or third attempt with the Windows key and a left-click.

It's a bit frustrating, as it disrupts the workflow when trying to open the start menu or interact with pinned items.

It would be wonderful if this could be looked into and potentially resolved.

Thank you very much for your time and for your continued work on this project!

Best regards,

Area of issue

Start menu

To reproduce

1. Open multiple application windows (e.g., File Explorer, browser, etc.).
2. Focus any one of the open windows.
3. Briefly press and release the Windows key (as if opening the Start Menu).
4. Then, left-click inside another window (e.g., the browser).
5. Observe if the active window unexpectedly changes. If it doesn’t happen immediately, repeat steps 3 and 4 once or twice.

Expected behavior

Expected:
The Start Menu opens, and the window focus stays the same.

Actual:
Sometimes, the active window switches unexpectedly to another one. In some cases, this happens only after repeating the Windows key + left-click combination two or three times.

Open-Shell version

4.4.196

Windows version

Windows 11 23H2

Additional context

No response

[ge0rdi]

Observe if the active window unexpectedly changes.

How does it change?
For me the active window stays the one that I left-clicked into.
I haven't observed any weird behavior (though I'm on Win11 24H2).

[evernation]

I press the Windows key, and within 1 second I left-click with the mouse. I also have multiple windows open when this happens.
The view suddenly switches from the current window to another one, without me actively selecting or switching it – it happens automatically.
I currently have 14 windows open (all Internet browser windows).

[ge0rdi]

Ok, I can replicate some focus related weirdness.

It seems to happen when window focus is changed during Open-Shell start menu animation.
By default the animation is 200ms long, so it is not that easy to spot.
But when I change Main menu animation speed to 2000 it is more easier to replicate.

Though it seems the behavior is different for different applications(?).

For example with Explorer windows it works this way:

• press Win key
• during start menu animation left-click to some Explorer window
• when start menu animation finishes the focus is set to start menu (so Explorer window loses focus)

But for web browser (Edge in my case) it works differently:

• press Win key
• during start menu animation left-click to browser window
• when start menu animation finishes the focus is set to window that was in focus prior to browser window (so it looks like random focus change)

I'll try to have a look how we handle the focus during the start menu displaying. And see whether I can do something about it.