Stop a game pausing when you alt-tab

You alt-tab to check something and come back to a pause menu. Here is why games do that, and what stops it.

Why it happens

When its window loses focus, a game is told so by Windows, and many games respond by opening their pause menu. On a single screen that is a sensible default, because alt-tabbing usually means you stepped away. On two screens it just gets in the way.

Free fixes first

Check the game's settings for "Pause when unfocused", "Pause on focus loss" or "Pause in background". It is often under Gameplay or Interface rather than Video.
Emulators usually have one too: Dolphin and PCSX2 both have a Pause on Focus Loss option.
Unreal Engine games: in the game's Engine.ini under %LOCALAPPDATA%, add:
```
[/Script/Engine.Engine]
bPauseOnLossOfFocus=False
```
If you only need to read or scroll the other screen, skip the click entirely: turn on Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them in Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Mouse.

When the free fixes are not enough

Plenty of games have no option, and the pause is tied to the focus change itself, which nothing in the game's files controls.

How Second Screen Gaming fixes it

With Answer the instant focus is lost turned on, the focus assist replies the moment the game loses focus, with the same messages a real return to the game produces. Games that open their pause screen in response to losing focus close it again in response to getting it back, usually before you see it.

Some games open a menu and never close it on their own. The focus assist cannot help those, and they need a rule written for that game.