Security Codes

Question

Security Codes

Angel Caron 20

Why doesn't my cursor automatically go to the pop up window that requests a security code? I am using Windows 11 Pro. It doesn't seem to matter what program I am using.;

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Answer 1

Allan Solomon Mejia 9,825

Hello @Angel Caron

This may be normal Windows behavior rather than a Windows 11 issue.

Windows intentionally restricts applications from automatically taking foreground focus. Microsoft documents that an application may be prevented from bringing its window to the foreground while you're working in another window; in that situation, Windows can instead notify you by flashing the application's taskbar button.

Since you're seeing this with different programs, the key question is whether the security-code window appears but doesn't automatically receive keyboard focus, or whether the popup isn't appearing at all.

If the window appears but isn't focused, that can be consistent with Windows' foreground-window restrictions. The behavior also depends on how the individual application implements its authentication dialog.

If you can provide the name of one application where this happens and describe exactly what you see when the security-code prompt appears, we can check whether that application has a documented issue or setting affecting the behavior.

Reference: SetForegroundWindow function

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Angel Caron 20 Reputation points

2026-09-27T16:31:45.83+00:00

I use Google Chrome, example programs are TaxDome, Wolters Kluwer CCH CPElink, Paychex Flex Login, etc. The window will pop up for me to enter the code, but my cursor isn't inside the box. It is somewhere else. The Stripe website and QuickBooks Online website do take me to the box to directly enter the code.
Allan Solomon Mejia 9,825 Reputation points

2026-09-27T16:58:15.88+00:00

Thanks for clarifying.

Since the security-code window already appears and the issue is specifically that the cursor isn't automatically placed inside the code-entry box, this is different from Windows preventing a window from taking foreground focus.

The fact that Stripe and QuickBooks Online automatically place the cursor in the code field, while TaxDome, CCH CPELink, and Paychex Flex do not, also suggests that the behavior depends on how each website implements its sign-in page rather than a Windows 11 setting.

Microsoft's SetForegroundWindow documentation applies to activating an application window and directing keyboard input to that window; it doesn't control which input field a website automatically selects inside Chrome.

For the affected sites, you can click the security-code field or use Tab to move keyboard focus to it. If you want the field to be selected automatically, check with the individual website/vendor, because no Microsoft-supported Windows setting forces a particular HTML input field in Chrome to receive focus automatically.
Angel Caron 20 Reputation points

2026-09-27T19:25:45.32+00:00

Ok. Thank you for the information. I don't see were to accept answer.
Allan Solomon Mejia 9,825 Reputation points

2026-09-27T20:12:12.4066667+00:00

Hi @Angel Caron ,

You may accept the answer above.