microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys

CmdPal: Restore correct focus behavior in Extensions settings page

Open
#46,643 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Area-Accessibility CmdPal-Settings Needs-Triage Product-Command Palette
Dominant language
C
Stars
139k
Forks
8.6k
PR merge metrics
PR metrics pending

Description

### Description of the new feature / enhancement

Focus management in the Command Palette Extensions settings page should preserve user context when navigating with the keyboard.

When a user navigates through the extensions list and then leaves it, returning via Shift or Shift+Tab should restore focus to the previously selected extension card. Currently, focus may jump to the first or last item, which breaks navigation continuity.

This issue tracks re-implementation of a previously reverted change that attempted to address this behavior.

Previously implemented by #45903, but that has unintended side-effects.

### Scenario when this would be used?

Keyboard-only and assistive technology users can lose context due to unexpected focus movement. This increases navigation effort and reduces usability of the Extensions page.

### Supporting information

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Review the focus-management behavior described for the Command Palette Extensions settings page, then compare the previously implemented change in #45903 with the linked work in #46642. Confirm how keyboard navigation currently restores focus after leaving and returning to the extensions list; done means Shift and Shift+Tab restore focus to the previously selected extension card without the earlier side effects.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
accessibility, desktop
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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