iPadOS: 'Focus on tab group' command does not work

Steps to reproduce

  1. Connect external keyboard (optional).
  2. Open two or more tabs side-by-side or top-down or both in split view. Place caret in desired tab.
  3. Press hotkey to ‘Focus on tab group’ above, below, left or right OR use same command from command palette.

Did you follow the troubleshooting guide? [Y/N]

Yes

Expected result

Focus correctly shifts to the adjacent target tab group, including caret.
This works correctly on macOS.

Actual result

Focus shifts only partially. Caret disappears and up/down arrow keys still seem to be focused on original tab. Caret does not shift to target tab. Typing is not possible without tapping the screen to activate caret, however switching to reading mode seems to affect target tab. Switching back from reading mode doesn’t activate caret.

Environment

SYSTEM INFO:
Operating system: ios 18.3.2 (Apple iPad16,3)
Obsidian version: 1.8.9 (195)
API version: v1.8.9
Login status: logged in
Language: en
Catalyst license: none
Live preview: on
Base theme: adapt to system
Community theme: none
Snippets enabled: 0
Restricted mode: on

RECOMMENDATIONS:
none


Additional information

Bug reproducible both on M4 Magic Keyboard and third-party external keyboard.
Perhaps related to Can’t use Ctrl+tab on iOS / Ctrl + tab doesn’t cycle to next tab - Bug reports - Obsidian Forum

1 Like

I’d also like to add that focus is also lost when switching tabs (left, right, first tab, last tab, numbered tab), opening an existing note in a new tab (from the files sidebar), splitting tabs, closing a single tab, and closing tab groups as well. (This happens regardless of whether you’re using a hotkey or the command palette.)

Focus is not lost when navigating within the same tab (forwards, backwards, to another note).

It seems that focus is lost whenever you switch away from a tab, when you would expect focus to move to another tab. Notably, however, when a new note is created - whether it’s in a new tab or in a new split - focus is retained, i.e. moved to the new note, in line with expected behavior.

So it seems that whenever focus is expect to move to another tab, focus is lost, unless a new tab is being created. I’m guessing that a new note event is immediately followed by an autofocus event, which would explain why focus only moves as expected when creating a new note.