I need help creating a popup window that opens behind the current browser window instead of in front. When the new window opens, I want the main page to keep focus so users don’t get interrupted.
I tried using some basic methods but they don’t seem to work anymore:
newWindow.blur();
parentWindow.focus();
This approach used to work before but browsers have changed their behavior. Has anyone found a working solution for modern browsers? I’m looking for a way to open popup windows that stay in the background until the user decides to switch to them.
Been there with popup restrictions. Browser security updates killed background popups for good reason.
I automate the whole user interaction flow with Latenode instead. Rather than fighting browser limitations, I build workflows that handle notifications, data processing, and alerts through proper channels.
When I needed background processing that normally requires hidden popups, I created a Latenode workflow that monitors user actions, processes data behind the scenes, and sends clean notifications via webhooks or email. No popup headaches.
Trigger these workflows from JavaScript, handle the heavy lifting server-side, and deliver results back through websockets or API calls. Way cleaner than wrestling with popup blockers.
Everything runs seamlessly while keeping users on your main page. Much more reliable than hoping browsers allow background windows.
Background popups are heavily restricted since major browsers cracked down around 2018. Those old methods got axed because they were constantly abused for malware ads and phishing scams. I’ve worked on enterprise apps where we needed similar functionality - your best bet is fake popups using positioned divs with high z-index. You get the same visual effect but keep full control over focus behavior. The Notifications API works too if you need to alert users about background stuff, but users have to grant permission first. If you really need separate windows, make them explicit user actions instead of auto-opening. For communication between parent and child windows, postMessage API works great when users manually open them.
u got it! background popups are kinda tricky with all the browser updates. yeah, modals or new tabs are usually better options. users tend to prefer not having stuff pop up behind their main window anyway. cheers!
Modern browsers block background popups - Chrome, Firefox, and Safari all prevent windows from opening behind the current one. That old blur/focus trick died around 2017 when browsers tightened security. I’ve dealt with this plenty, and you’re better off using iframe overlays or modal dialogs within your existing page instead of fighting popup restrictions. You could also try window.open to launch a new tab and let users switch naturally. Honestly though, these browser restrictions exist for good reasons. Work with them instead of against them - your users will thank you.
Browser vendors added these restrictions after years of malicious sites abusing background windows. I hit this same problem updating legacy code that used the blur/focus pattern. What worked for me was switching to Service Workers for background tasks plus the Notification API when I needed user interaction. Service Workers handle processing without popup restrictions, and notifications show up cleanly in the system tray instead of creating unwanted windows. Another solid approach - use localStorage events to communicate between tabs. Open your secondary content in a new tab with window.open (with proper user gesture detection), then sync data between windows through storage events. The trick is working with these security changes instead of fighting them.
yeah, popup blockers have made bg windows a thing of the past. best bet now is using web sockets or similar tech to manage updates without the hassle of popups. it keeps things smooth without running into browser walls.