Mouse focus - why it is not possible to work like with Windows 10/11?

There was a hidden setting from over a decade ago (maybe two) which enabled FFM and click through more globally. It seems many such settings have been purged.

Click through is an application dependent capability (at least at that time). The OS doesn’t support it globally. Apps have to implement it.

Why don't you use command-tab (between different applications) or command-` (between different windows of same application) to switch between windows? Saves a mouse click

you can suggest they do by using apples feedback channel

Product Feedback - Apple

This in not intended to be a flippant response 🤞 I hope not received that way.

Microsoft Windows works one way and macOS works the Apple way.

When I made the switch from Microsoft Windows to OS X 10.4 Tiger back in about 2003 - 2004, it did take some time to Unlearn my workflow in MS Windows and put on my " Apple Hat " and think OS X / macOS.

Yes, from time to time, I still fire up my MS Windows computer and have to remember to put on my " MS Windows Hat "

> you very often have to perform an additional mouse click to select text from a window, for example, first to activate the window with the focus and then again to select the text

hmm I feel your pain ... but I often have three or more app's somewhat overlapping windows open and mouse over to one of them to just scroll its contents. But I'd not want to unintentionally insert my whole focus to that window so I don't accidentally drag 'n drop or otherwise mess with its contents.

...so maybe a deeply buried user .plist preference would be the solution for this. Then we would be quite sure the user complaining GUI behavior is correct or some user might have changed that (deeply buried setting) and then forgot doing so...

I think it is focus follows mouse (FFM), but they are somewhat related. So, if you are searching for a hidden preference setting on the web, that may get some other results.