Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

My active window changes when Windows wallpaper changes [win10]

  • 6 cavab
  • 2 have this problem
  • 8 views
  • Last reply by Wayne Mery

more options

Hello, while using Thunderbird, when I open a new window (like a new message, an event, a search, etc.), that window is what I call the active window. I'm typing in that new active window and then - it's gone. It happens when my Windows 10 wallpaper cycles to the next picture. I continue to type, but I'm no longer in that window. I'm brought back to the "main window" where I have my messages and calendar. Sometimes those continuing keystrokes cause problems like moving messages to new folders (which I did not want of course). I then have to go and find my old active window to continue what I was doing.

I have not seen this happen in any other application under windows 10, but Thunderbird is the one where I usually have multiple windows open (new message, new event, etc. being typed). When I put on a single background picture on my desktop the problem goes away.

Is there any way to fix this?

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Hello, while using Thunderbird, when I open a new window (like a new message, an event, a search, etc.), that window is what I call the active window. I'm typing in that new active window and then - it's gone. It happens when my Windows 10 wallpaper cycles to the next picture. I continue to type, but I'm no longer in that window. I'm brought back to the "main window" where I have my messages and calendar. Sometimes those continuing keystrokes cause problems like moving messages to new folders (which I did not want of course). I then have to go and find my old active window to continue what I was doing. I have not seen this happen in any other application under windows 10, but Thunderbird is the one where I usually have multiple windows open (new message, new event, etc. being typed). When I put on a single background picture on my desktop the problem goes away. Is there any way to fix this? Thank you for any help you can provide.

Modified by Wayne Mery

Chosen solution

USLowRates said

I will turn off the slide show and report back.

How did that go?

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (6)

more options

This has nothing to do with Thunderbird as it is your OS causing the issue. I have found another similar situation here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files/windows-10-file-and-folder-rename-fails/9d477c86-89a4-40b3-9f10-499ffef29eab

I would suggest you ask on the Windows 10 microsoft forum.

more options

Hello and thank you, I will do that. It certainly is caused by the slide show. I just would like to reiterate that Thunderbird is the ONLY application with which this happens. I can have any other application open (Firefox, Word documents, .pdf documents, file manager, etc.) at the same time and this Never happens. Just now as I was looking at this forum, my Thunderbird mail screen "jumped" out in front. Never with any other application, and never with Thunderbird if the other screens are minimized, only if they are open. Maybe there's a new clue in there? Thank you for your help.

more options

just posting a cross link to the only other post I have seen with this issue https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1097361

more options

Located a tool you could use to locate which program is causing the problem. http://www.happydroid.com/focus I've not used this tool and I'm not advertising it nor promoting it, but in your case it might be worth a try to get absolute confirmation what is going on.

Otherwise, turn off the slideshow. If the problem goes away then you know it is a Windows 10 slideshow issue. This used to be an issue years ago under XP, Vista etc. but I'm not sure the same info is relevant in Win10. To prevent applications from stealing the focus from the window you are working

  • Start Regedit
  • Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER Control Panel Desktop
  • Edit the key ForegroundLockTimeout
  • Give it a value of 00030d40
more options

Toad-Hall said

Located a tool you could use to locate which program is causing the problem. http://www.happydroid.com/focus I've not used this tool and I'm not advertising it nor promoting it, but in your case it might be worth a try to get absolute confirmation what is going on. Otherwise, turn off the slideshow. If the problem goes away then you know it is a Windows 10 slideshow issue. This used to be an issue years ago under XP, Vista etc. but I'm not sure the same info is relevant in Win10. To prevent applications from stealing the focus from the window you are working
  • Start Regedit
  • Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER Control Panel Desktop
  • Edit the key ForegroundLockTimeout
  • Give it a value of 00030d40

The setting you indicate is what my Registry Setting is already set at. The issue is not resolved with this setting.

I will turn off the slide show and report back.

more options

Seçilmiş Həll

USLowRates said

I will turn off the slide show and report back.

How did that go?