iPadOS/iOS: cursor vanishes and loses position after app switch

Bug reports
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1

Platform: iOS/iPadOSObsidian

Mobile version: v1.11.5

Device: iPad (M2) with External/Magic Keyboard

Steps to reproduce

Open Obsidian and start editing a note → Switch to another app (command+tab or click) → Return to Obsidian (Behavior does seem inconsistent. Quick examples of apps it does happen with: Safari, PDF Expert, Preview. May not happen with Claude, Mail, Messages, Settings.)

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

Y

Expected result

Cursor remains where I left it in text field, can immediately resume typing or paste text copied from elsewhere

Actual result

Text field cursor focus is lost, must tap to start typing again.

Additional information

  • This exact bug MIGHT have been previously fixed in v1.4.5 (May 2023): “iPad: Fixed switching apps causes Obsidian to lose text focus.” This is NOT the cursor-position bug fixed in v1.11—this is complete loss of text field focus, likely a regression.
  • Seems to happen regardless of OS-level multi-tasking setting.
2

This happens specifically with the keyboard attached? (I briefly tested without one and didn’t see it.)

1 Like
3

Seems to with or without keyboard. From what I can tell, it doesn’t happen with every single application.

Video here: https://imgur.com/a/EYbri9R

The usual pattern is I have Obsidian open and a pdf reader (highlighting or copying text or whatever) and when I command+tab back to Obsidian my cursor has lost its place. Doesn’t behave this way on desktop, of course. I have tested in a new vault, with and without plugins, with and without sidebars open, etc.

4

Does it happen in a new vault?

What is the output of show debug info?

1 Like
5

Yes, happens in a new vault. Happy to upload another video if necessary.

Is there a way to show debug info on iPad?

6

See here for new vault. Using command+tab to switch to and from safari.

https://imgur.com/a/WvVcYVv

7

ah found the debug info, sorry—here it is for the test vault:

SYSTEM INFO:

Operating system: ios 26.2 (Apple iPad14,10)

Obsidian version: 1.11.5 (279)

API version: v1.11.5

Login status: logged in

Language: en

Catalyst license: insider

Live preview: on

Base theme: adapt to system

Community theme: none

Snippets enabled: 0

Restricted mode: on

RECOMMENDATIONS:

none
8

My brief test was switching between Obsidian and Safari, first using the bottom of screen swipe and then pulling up the dock and tapping the app icons.

9

Further testing indicates that this only happens when the application isn’t maximized. It occurs regularly if the app is in stage manager or windowed.

10

OK, with the screen split between Obsidian and Safari I can reproduce with Cmd Tab. I can’t by tapping. I also wasn’t able to reproduce when Obsidian was windowed and Safari was full screen. I don’t have a mouse handy to test.

1 Like
11

thanks for narrowing it down

1 Like
12

Thanks for your attentiveness!