Windows 10: Prevent Apps From Stealing Focus

Don’t you just hate it when a program that’s running in the background suddenly pops up in front of an active program?

If you want to avoid similar situations and prevent programs from stealing the focus on Windows 10, follow the steps we listed in this guide.

How to Stop Programs From Stealing Focus on Windows 10

Scan Your System for Malware

If the programs that are stealing the focus now did not do that before, this may indicate that malicious code changed their behavior.

Run an in-depth malware scan on your computer to detect and remove malicious software.

1. If you’re using Windows Security, go to Virus and threat protection.
2. Then, select Scan options.
3. Click on Full scan.
4. Wait until Windows Security has completed the scan. This may occasionally take longer than one hour.

Reinstall the Program

If that malware code is so deeply rooted in the program files, you may need to reinstall it. Corrupted program files may also cause the program to steal the focus. Reinstalling it should fix the issue.

1. To uninstall a program, open the Control Panel.
2. Then navigate to Programs and Features.
3. Click on Uninstall a program.
4. Select the program that’s stealing the focus.
5. Click on the Uninstall button.

Install an Anti-Focus-Stealing Tool

Another solution to prevents apps from stealing the focus is to simply install a program that can block such a behavior.

TurboTop

If you want to keep a certain window always on top, you can install TurboTop. Even if you launch other programs afterward, the window that you selected will remain on top.

TurboTop remains hidden in your System Tray after you launch it. Simply click on the TurboTop icon, and the program will list all the windows running on your computer.

Click on the window you want to set on top of all the other windows.

If you want to check what window is already set on top, there’s a checkmark next to the name of that window.

DeskPins, AlwaysonTop, and AutoHotKey are three other programs that work in a similar manner. They allow you to pin windows on top to prevent other programs from stealing the focus.