Public bug reported:
When an application requests focus (e.g., a terminal when a background process
completes), the window manager immediately grants the request even when the
user is actively typing/interacting with another window. This results in
keystrokes being misdirected to the newly-focused window, causing data loss and
unintended commands.
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open Terminal or any application with long-running background process
2. Start a long-running task
3. Switch to another application and begin actively typing
4. When background process completes and requests focus, continue typing
5. Keystrokes are sent to the wrong application
Expected Behavior:
Window manager should ignore or delay focus requests when user is actively
interacting with current window
OR: Provide user setting to prevent focus-stealing entirely
OR: Implement "focus-follows-typing" - once user begins input, lock focus until
user explicitly switches
Actual Behavior:
Focus immediately switches, intercepting in-flight keystrokes including
dangerous commands like CTRL+C (terminal interrupt).
Related Settings:
Current "Focus stealing prevention" in GNOME Tweaks is insufficient - it only
affects window raising, not focus changes.
Impact:
Critical - Users lose work, issue unintended commands (delete files, interrupt
processes, paste sensitive data in wrong context).
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 22.04
Package: mutter (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.8.0-83.83~22.04.1-generic 6.8.12
Uname: Linux 6.8.0-83-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu82.10
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Thu Nov 20 15:19:52 2025
InstallationDate: Installed on 2024-07-09 (498 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS "Jammy Jellyfish" - Release amd64
(20240220)
SourcePackage: mutter
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
** Affects: mutter (Ubuntu)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Tags: amd64 apport-bug jammy wayland-session
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2132023
Title:
Context stealing is undesired
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