Photoshop CS causes random focus switching in Windows 11.

[Exertive]

After using Photoshop CS for many years without any issues, I am experiencing a serious problem after upgrading to from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

Device: Dell Precision 3930 Rack; Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9700K CPU @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz

Installed RAM: 32.0 GB (31.8 GB usable)
Graphics Gard: NVIDIA Quadro P2200; Driver Version: 31.0.15.2886, 22/03/2023
Windows OS: Windows 11 Pro; Version 22H2; Installed 23/‎03/‎2023; Build 22621.1992

Photoshop loads fine, but when a file is opened or created (which also works perfectly), the focus goes haywire, jumping repeatedly, several times a second, thereby making it impossible to do anything. The 'focus switching' affects all applications running on the system and persists when Photoshop is closed. Signing out and back is therefore necessary.

I have not heard specific mention of this issue anywhere. The only similar issues relate to graphics card compatibility. Given that the issue did not arise on Windows 10, this is unlikely to be the problem. Disabling all GPU optimization has no effect.

Does Adobe or anyone else know of this problem? Has it been identified? Is there a resolution/fix/workaraound?

Currently I am left with no choice but to run Photoshop on a Mac which I am fortunate to have, and export and transfer files. This is far from ideal!

[D Fosse]

Do you really expect 20 year old (!) software to work flawlessly on a modern up to date operating system?

[Exertive]

Call me deluded or hopelessly optimistic, but I expect all software that I pay significant license fees for to work. Too many goods and services sold these days simply do not work. It has become a modern disease.

[davescm]

On your last point, how would you expect the designers of CS to anticipate the hardware and operating system that would exist 20 years in the future? CS will work exactly as you installed it, provided you keep the hardware and OS frozen in time.

CS is way past end of life and no-one will be looking at developments or issuing fixes for it.

That said, I have not heard of the issue you describe, or seen any other reports here. If you run task manager can you see which process is running and taking the focus away from other apps?

Dave

[Jeff Arola]

Is that photoshop CS (photoshop ver 8) circa 2003 or what exact version of photoshop do you have on Windows 11?

Sounds like you have a more modern version of photoshop.

You can see by going in Photoshop to Help>System Info and looking the top line for the Adobe Photoshop Version.

[Exertive]

I understand the comments now. My apologies. My choice of version name was completely misleading. I always get confused by the myriad version names given for applications.

To put the record straight I am always running the latest Version of Adobe Creative Cloud and use Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premier, Audition and Animate on a regular basis. So, to be entirely precise and accurate, I am using Photoshop Version 24.6. As far as I am aware I am only having this issue with Photoshop.

My apologies once again for the confusion caused.

Nico Aspinall

[Jeff Arola]

In photoshop go to Edit>Preferences>Technology Previews, check Disable Native Canvas and restart photoshop.

[Exertive]

Thanks Jeff,
That did the trick.
Nico