When I switch desktops in macOS with multiple displays, why is focus switching to another unexpected application (iTerm2 or VSCode in my case)?

user_8930149 0
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I have a MacBook Pro running Catalina with an additional display. I typically have my development-related apps on one display (iTerm2, VSCode, etc.) and everything else on the other display (Chrome, Slack, etc.)

Sometimes (not all the time), when I switch desktops (Ctrl+left or Ctrl+right), access an app using Spotlight (Cmd+space and type), or use Cmd+Tab to switch applications, the focus would suddenly jump to iTerm2 or VSCode. This happens even if iTerm2 or VSCode isn't currently showing; for example, if I try to switch to Chrome on display 1 and iTerm2 is on a different hidden desktop on display 2, Chrome would appear on display 1 and then display 2 would show the desktop containing iTerm2 sliding into view (along with focusing iTerm2).

This severely impacts workflow, since this behavior is unpredictable and involves a lot of typing in the wrong application and reaching for the mouse. What is causing this behavior?

iterm2 visual-studio-code multiple-monitors macos
2 Answers

This bug still exists in macOS Big Sur 11.4. Another symptom is that, after the erroneous focusing happens, manually switching to a space with no windows in it will leave that focused app focused, after briefly focusing Finder, rather than just focusing Finder. It's this last erroneous focusing that causes the space-switching.

Workaround: when it happens, invoke "Show All" from the menu bar (I have a keyboard shortcut for this). Note that switching to an empty space now does a single focusing of Finder, and no further space-switching happens.

user_161804750

I found that it only happens when I have windows of the same app on both screens.

Say I switch desktop on a screen 1 and Chrome should become active there, then if I also have a Chrome window on my screen 2, it's actually the one on screen 2 that becomes active. Very frustrating..

user_37770620
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