master layout - allow to focus on master window after close slave window

[C-Entropy]

I’m currently using the master layout in Hyprland and enjoying the workflow a lot. However, I’ve run into a small usability issue that disrupts my workflow, and I’m wondering if there’s an existing solution — or if this could be considered for a future feature.

Problem:

When I close a non-master (slave) window, Hyprland doesn’t automatically return focus to the master window. Instead, focus sometimes shifts to another non-master window or remains unfocused depending on the layout state.

Why this matters:

In my workflow, I frequently spawn temporary popup or floating windows (dialogs, previews, etc.) while keeping my main work in the master window. After closing these temporary windows, I often have to manually refocus the master window, which interrupts my flow and adds friction to repeated tasks.

This breaks focus consistency and hurts the “flow” of working, especially when switching back and forth quickly between main and temporary windows.

What I’d like:

An option or behavior where:

When a non-master window is closed,

Focus automatically returns to the master window (if it exists in the current workspace).

This would help maintain a predictable focus model, especially for workflows centered around the master window.

Proposal:

Could there be a config option like:

master:focus_on_close = true

Or any dispatch option that helps shift focus back to the master window directly?

I’m curious if others have encountered this, or if there's a better way to handle it. Would appreciate any thoughts or improvements on this idea.

Thanks for the great work on Hyprland!

[vaxerski]

promoted #10813