Cluely is intended to not steal away focus from your current browser tab / application, but each operating system handles window focus a bit differently. Follow the tips below for best practices to minimize Cluely taking window focus.
macOS
When you press ⌘ + Enter to open the Cluely’s query box, your typing cursor should remain in the application you were typing in, even while you type inside Cluely. If Cluely steals focus anyway:
Update macOS to 15+.
Restart your Mac and test again.
Focus‑grab issues on older macOS versions can happen; updating resolves nearly all cases as Cluely is built for newer macOS versions. If you are already on the latest 15.x build and the problem persists, email [email protected] with your macOS version, laptop specs and how to reproduce the issue.
Note: Cluely will always steal the typing cursor from certain native macOS apps, such as Notes, Reminders, or Mail, ****whenever you type inside the Cluely overlay. This is a limitation of macOS and is expected behavior, but it does not affect browsers or most third‑party apps.
Windows
Windows manages input focus differently, so Cluely provides an Auto‑focus toggle:
Press Ctrl + Enter to open Cluely’s query box.
To left of the Smart toggle you should see an Auto‑focus checkbox:
Checked – Cluely immediately places the cursor in the query box and Windows shifts focus so you can type.
Unchecked – Cluely opens the query box without stealing focus. You can then:
press Ctrl + Enter again to capture a screenshot for analysis, or
press Tab once to bring the cursor into the text box and start typing to Cluely. (This will trigger your browser to know you changed tabs)
If your goal is to stay undetectable from applications listening for you to change tabs, please ensure the Auto Focus box is un-checked**.** If Cluely still takes focus when Auto‑focus is unchecked, email [email protected] with:
The action that triggered the focus change
Your Windows version
Any other foreground apps at the time