How to Fix the Input Focus Bug in macOS Tahoe 26.1

After updating to macOS Tahoe 26.1, several users have reported issues with input focus—specifically, that windows and apps lose focus or the cursor jumps out of text fields unexpectedly. This can affect productivity, especially when working with multiple applications or text fields. While no official solution has been provided yet, there are several workarounds you can try to resolve the issue temporarily until a fix is released.

How to Fix Input Focus Issues After macOS Tahoe 26.1 Update

If you are using macOS Tahoe 26.1 on a machine that is managed by MDM (Mobile Device Management) or has any security privilege‑management tools, these may be causing the input focus issues. Try disabling or unhooking specific system-level authorization rights related to ServiceManagement. To do this:

Open your MDM configuration or security tool settings.
Disable the ServiceManagement policy for modification rights (e.g. com.apple.ServiceManagement.daemons.modify).
Restart your Mac to apply the changes and see if the input focus issue persists.

2. Test in a Clean User Account

To determine whether the issue is related to your current user settings or profiles, try creating a clean user account on your Mac:

Go to System Settings > Users & Groups.
Add a new user account (make sure this account doesn’t have any custom settings or profiles).
Log into the new account and test if the input focus issue continues.
If the issue doesn’t appear in the new account, it’s likely related to your original user settings or profiles.

3. Boot in Safe Mode

Booting your Mac in Safe Mode can help identify if the problem is being caused by third-party software or extensions:

Shut down your Mac completely.
Turn it back on and immediately hold down the Shift key until the login screen appears.
Log in to your account in Safe Mode and check if the input focus issue persists.
If the problem doesn’t occur in Safe Mode, the issue is likely related to third-party software or extensions running in normal mode.

4. Report the Issue to Apple Support

If none of the above workarounds resolve the issue, it’s likely a bug introduced with macOS 26.1. In this case, it’s important to report the problem to Apple:

Go to Apple Support > Feedback and submit a report on the input focus problem.
Be sure to include as much detail as possible, including whether the issue persists in Safe Mode, and which software or configurations you are using.
Monitor updates to macOS, as Apple may release a patch or system update to address the issue.

macOS Tahoe 26.1 Input Focus Bug: Tips

Try disabling all unnecessary background services and apps while troubleshooting to isolate the issue.
Keep your macOS and any third-party software up to date to ensure you get any relevant fixes.
Consider resetting your PRAM or SMC if the issue is still unresolved after applying the steps above.

Summary

If using MDM or privilege-management tools, disable the ServiceManagement modify‑hook policy.
Test the issue in a clean user account or in Safe Mode to isolate the problem.
If the issue persists, report it to Apple and monitor for official fixes or patches.

For now, while waiting for an official fix from Apple, try disabling certain security settings, booting in Safe Mode, or testing with a clean user account to work around the input focus issue in macOS 26.1.