Photoshop (Windows) locks focus on blending mode/dropdown menus

[Nick2049]

On a Mac, if you select a blending mode in your layers pallete you can carry on working as normal and keyboard shortcuts function as expected.

In Windows, if you change the blending mode (or anything that uses a dropdown window), focus is then locked dropdown, essentially disabling your keyboard shortcuts until you either hit escape or click away. Please can this be fixed?

I was hoping this would be resolved by now but it's still a huge annoyance for those who have had the misfortune of switching to Windows from MacOS. I know it's just one additional click/keypress but it adds up over time and ultimately just slows you down/drives me insane.

[CoryShubert]

Hi @Nick2049 

Let's make sure we're in a default state and there are no stale settings somewhere: 

Restore your preferences using this manual method:  

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#Manually  

Does it work correctly? 

If that doesn't solve it, you can quit Photoshop and put the Settings folder back. 

It may help if we could see your Photoshop System Info. Launch Photoshop, and select Help >System Info...and copy/paste the text in a reply.  

[Nick2049]

Hi @CoryShubert 

I don't need to reset my preferences because this is a new install of the latest PS release, on a clean install of Windows 11. This issue has existed for years and was also present in Windows 10. I tried it on a third workstation (also Win 10) just to be sure and I can confirm it was the same.

If you just try what I have described on any windows machine you will see what I mean. It's not specific to mine.

thanks 

[Nick2049]

Here's an example:

I simply created a new layer, changed the blending mode to lighten, and now you can see focus is locked on the blending mode dropdown (blue outline) and thus prevents you from using any keyboard shortcuts. You have to first click away, or hit escape to release focus from that dropdown. You do not have to do this in PS on a Mac.

[CoryShubert]

Thank you for the update @Nick2049 

This appears to work as designed on WinOS. 

[Nick2049]

So you're saying its a limitation of the OS and it can't be resolved, basically?

Thanks