You have been subscribed to a public bug: When a window application is open, the desktop icons can get mouse focus but the keyboard event are send to the last window. Trying renaming or deleting files on the desktop with the keyboard is impossible in this scenario.
I have the focus mode "follow the mouse", but reverting to the default setting has the same problem. Also have a look at this question on Ask Ubuntu http://askubuntu.com/questions/514930/unity-14-04-desktop-does-not-take- focus-for-focus-under-mouse I'm using Ubuntu 14.10 but this problem also happened on 14.04 (and I think in older versions too) ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.10 Package: unity 7.3.1+14.10.20141016-0ubuntu1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-31.41-generic 3.16.7-ckt5 Uname: Linux 3.16.0-31-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.14.7-0ubuntu8.2 Architecture: amd64 CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins' CurrentDesktop: Unity Date: Tue Mar 3 11:21:00 2015 InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-02-10 (20 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.10 "Utopic Unicorn" - Release amd64 (20141022.1) SourcePackage: unity UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) ** Affects: compiz (Ubuntu) Importance: Undecided Status: New ** Tags: amd64 apport-bug utopic -- Desktop doesn't get keyboard focus https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1427636 You received this bug notification because you are a member of compiz packagers, which is subscribed to compiz in Ubuntu. _______________________________________________ Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~compiz Post to : compiz@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~compiz More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp