diff --git a/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYBackend.cpp b/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYBackend.cpp
index f2e172e63..2117f3acb 100644
--- a/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYBackend.cpp
+++ b/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYBackend.cpp
@@ -369,6 +369,7 @@ void TTYBackend::WriterThread()
 {
 	bool gone_background = false;
 	try {
+		_focused = !_far2l_tty; // assume starting focused unless far2l_tty, this trick allows notification to work in best effort under old far2l that didnt support focus change notifications
 		TTYOutput tty_out(_stdout, _far2l_tty, _norgb, _nodetect);
 		DispatchPalette(tty_out);
 //		DispatchTermResized(tty_out);
@@ -959,7 +960,7 @@ void TTYBackend::OnConsoleExit()
 
 bool TTYBackend::OnConsoleIsActive()
 {
-	return false;//true;
+	return _focused;
 }
 
 void TTYBackend_OnTerminalDamaged(bool flush_input_queue)
@@ -1082,6 +1083,16 @@ void TTYBackend::OnInspectKeyEvent(KEY_EVENT_RECORD &event)
 	}
 }
 
+void TTYBackend::OnFocusChange(bool focused)
+{
+	fprintf(stderr, "OnFocusChange: %u\n", (unsigned)!!focused);
+	_focused = focused;
+	INPUT_RECORD ir = {};
+	ir.EventType = FOCUS_EVENT;
+	ir.Event.FocusEvent.bSetFocus = focused ? TRUE : FALSE;
+	g_winport_con_in->Enqueue(&ir, 1);
+}
+
 void TTYBackend::OnFar2lEvent(StackSerializer &stk_ser)
 {
 	if (!_far2l_tty) {
diff --git a/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYBackend.h b/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYBackend.h
index 77478b576..d4d6c46a1 100644
--- a/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYBackend.h
+++ b/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYBackend.h
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ class TTYBackend : IConsoleOutputBackend, ITTYInputSpecialSequenceHandler, IFar2
 	COORD _largest_window_size{};
 	std::atomic<bool> _largest_window_size_ready{false};
 	std::atomic<bool> _flush_input_queue{false};
+	std::atomic<bool> _focused{true}; // assume starting focused
 
 	struct BI : std::mutex { std::string flavor; } _backend_info;
 
@@ -145,6 +146,7 @@ class TTYBackend : IConsoleOutputBackend, ITTYInputSpecialSequenceHandler, IFar2
 	// ITTYInputSpecialSequenceHandler
 	virtual void OnUsingExtension(char extension);
 	virtual void OnInspectKeyEvent(KEY_EVENT_RECORD &event);
+	virtual void OnFocusChange(bool focused);
 	virtual void OnFar2lEvent(StackSerializer &stk_ser);
 	virtual void OnFar2lReply(StackSerializer &stk_ser);
 	virtual void OnInputBroken();
diff --git a/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYInputSequenceParser.cpp b/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYInputSequenceParser.cpp
index 0aef72899..525f59d1a 100644
--- a/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYInputSequenceParser.cpp
+++ b/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYInputSequenceParser.cpp
@@ -314,6 +314,11 @@ size_t TTYInputSequenceParser::ParseEscapeSequence(const char *s, size_t l)
 	fprintf(stderr, "\n");
 	*/
 
+	if (l > 1 && s[0] == '[' && (s[1] == 'I' || s[1] == 'O')) { // focus
+		_handler->OnFocusChange(s[1] == 'I');
+		return 2;
+	}
+
 	if (l > 2 && s[0] == '[' && s[2] == 'n') {
 		return 3;
 	}
diff --git a/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYInputSequenceParser.h b/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYInputSequenceParser.h
index 184390318..10bca76aa 100644
--- a/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYInputSequenceParser.h
+++ b/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYInputSequenceParser.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ struct ITTYInputSpecialSequenceHandler
 {
 	virtual void OnUsingExtension(char extension) = 0;
 	virtual void OnInspectKeyEvent(KEY_EVENT_RECORD &event) = 0;
+	virtual void OnFocusChange(bool focused) = 0;
 	virtual void OnFar2lEvent(StackSerializer &stk_ser) = 0;
 	virtual void OnFar2lReply(StackSerializer &stk_ser) = 0;
 	virtual void OnInputBroken() = 0;
diff --git a/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYOutput.cpp b/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYOutput.cpp
index 4ea0b0e7b..20ecf45ec 100644
--- a/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYOutput.cpp
+++ b/WinPort/src/Backend/TTY/TTYOutput.cpp
@@ -174,7 +174,8 @@ TTYOutput::TTYOutput(int out, bool far2l_tty, bool norgb, DWORD nodetect)
 	}
 #endif
 
-	Format(ESC "7" ESC "[?47h" ESC "[?1049h" ESC "[?2004h");
+	// enable mouse and focus notifications
+	Format(ESC "7" ESC "[?47h" ESC "[?1049h" ESC "[?2004h" ESC "[?1004h");
 
 	if ((_nodetect & NODETECT_W) == 0) {
 		Format(ESC "[?9001h"); // win32-input-mode on
@@ -185,6 +186,7 @@ TTYOutput::TTYOutput(int out, bool far2l_tty, bool norgb, DWORD nodetect)
 	if ((_nodetect & NODETECT_K) == 0) {
 		Format(ESC "[=15;1u"); // kovidgoyal's kitty mode on
 	}
+
 	ChangeKeypad(true);
 	ChangeMouse(true);
 
@@ -215,7 +217,7 @@ TTYOutput::~TTYOutput()
 		if ((_nodetect & NODETECT_K) == 0) {
 			Format(ESC "[=0;1u" "\r"); // kovidgoyal's kitty mode off
 		}
-		Format(ESC "[0m" ESC "[?1049l" ESC "[?47l" ESC "8" ESC "[?2004l" "\r\n");
+		Format(ESC "[0m" ESC "[?1049l" ESC "[?47l" ESC "8" ESC "[?2004l" ESC "[?1004l" "\r\n");
 		if ((_nodetect & NODETECT_W) == 0) {
 			Format(ESC "[?9001l"); // win32-input-mode off
 		}
diff --git a/WinPort/src/Backend/WX/wxMain.cpp b/WinPort/src/Backend/WX/wxMain.cpp
index 62155402d..1ba88dbfe 100644
--- a/WinPort/src/Backend/WX/wxMain.cpp
+++ b/WinPort/src/Backend/WX/wxMain.cpp
@@ -2052,15 +2052,28 @@ void WinPortPanel::CheckPutText2CLip()
 void WinPortPanel::OnSetFocus( wxFocusEvent &event )
 {
 	//fprintf(stderr, "OnSetFocus\n");
+	const bool was_focused = (_focused_ts != 0);
 	const DWORD ts = WINPORT(GetTickCount)();
 	_focused_ts = ts ? ts : 1;
 	ResetTimerIdling();
+	if (!was_focused) {
+		INPUT_RECORD ir = {};
+		ir.EventType = FOCUS_EVENT;
+		ir.Event.FocusEvent.bSetFocus = TRUE;
+		g_winport_con_in->Enqueue(&ir, 1);
+	}
 }
 
 void WinPortPanel::OnKillFocus( wxFocusEvent &event )
 {
 	fprintf(stderr, "OnKillFocus\n");
-	_focused_ts = 0;
+	if (_focused_ts) {
+		_focused_ts = 0;
+		INPUT_RECORD ir = {};
+		ir.EventType = FOCUS_EVENT;
+		ir.Event.FocusEvent.bSetFocus = FALSE;
+		g_winport_con_in->Enqueue(&ir, 1);
+	}
 	ResetInputState();
 }
 
diff --git a/far2l/src/vt/IVTShell.h b/far2l/src/vt/IVTShell.h
index c6446a1cf..6257a9e9b 100644
--- a/far2l/src/vt/IVTShell.h
+++ b/far2l/src/vt/IVTShell.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ struct IVTShell
 {
 	virtual void OnMouseExpectation(MouseExpectation mex, bool enabled) = 0;
 	virtual void OnBracketedPasteExpectation(bool enabled)              = 0;
+	virtual void OnFocusChangeExpectation(bool enabled)                 = 0;
 	virtual void OnWin32InputMode(bool enabled)                         = 0;
 	virtual void SetKittyFlags(int flags)                               = 0;
 	virtual int  GetKittyFlags()                                        = 0;
diff --git a/far2l/src/vt/vtansi.cpp b/far2l/src/vt/vtansi.cpp
index c04aa1ac1..3617ff2be 100644
--- a/far2l/src/vt/vtansi.cpp
+++ b/far2l/src/vt/vtansi.cpp
@@ -800,6 +800,9 @@ struct VTAnsiContext
 	//					alternative_screen_buffer.Toggle(suffix == 'h');
 	//					break;
 
+					case 1004:
+						vt_shell->OnFocusChangeExpectation(suffix == 'h');
+						break;
 					case 2004:
 						vt_shell->OnBracketedPasteExpectation(suffix == 'h');
 						break;
diff --git a/far2l/src/vt/vtshell.cpp b/far2l/src/vt/vtshell.cpp
index 35d7ba21c..7bc304334 100644
--- a/far2l/src/vt/vtshell.cpp
+++ b/far2l/src/vt/vtshell.cpp
@@ -40,8 +40,10 @@
 #include "AnsiEsc.hpp"
 #include "TestPath.h"
 
-#define BRACKETED_PASTE_SEQ_START "\x1b[200~"
-#define BRACKETED_PASTE_SEQ_STOP  "\x1b[201~"
+#define BRACKETED_PASTE_SEQ_START  "\x1b[200~"
+#define BRACKETED_PASTE_SEQ_STOP   "\x1b[201~"
+#define FOCUS_CHANGED_SEQ_ACTIVE   "\x1b[I"
+#define FOCUS_CHANGED_SEQ_INACTIVE "\x1b[O"
 
 const char *VT_TranslateSpecialKey(const WORD key, bool ctrl, bool alt, bool shift, unsigned char keypad = 0, WCHAR uc = 0);
 std::string VT_TranslateKeyToKitty(const KEY_EVENT_RECORD &KeyEvent, int kitty_kb_flags);
@@ -118,6 +120,7 @@ class VTShell : VTOutputReader::IProcessor, VTInputReader::IProcessor, IVTShell
 	std::atomic<unsigned char> _keypad{0};
 	std::atomic<bool> _bracketed_paste_expected{false};
 	std::atomic<bool> _win32_input_mode_expected{false};
+	std::atomic<bool> _focus_change_expected{false};
 	std::atomic<int> _kitty_kb_flags{0};
 	INPUT_RECORD _last_window_info_ir;
 	std::unique_ptr<VTFar2lExtensios> _far2l_exts;
@@ -456,6 +459,21 @@ class VTShell : VTOutputReader::IProcessor, VTInputReader::IProcessor, IVTShell
 		}		
 	}
 
+	virtual void OnFocusChanged() // called from worker thread
+	{
+		if (_focus_change_expected) {
+			bool active = WINPORT(IsConsoleActive)() != FALSE;
+			const char *seq = active ? FOCUS_CHANGED_SEQ_ACTIVE : FOCUS_CHANGED_SEQ_INACTIVE;
+			if (!WriteTerm(seq, strlen(seq))) {
+				fprintf(stderr, "VT: OnFocusChanged - write error %d\n", errno);
+			} else {
+				fprintf(stderr, "VT: OnFocusChanged - %s\n", active ? "active" : "inactive");
+			}
+		} else {
+				fprintf(stderr, "VT: OnFocusChanged - SKIPPED\n");
+		}
+	}
+
 	void OnCtrlC(bool alt)
 	{
 		if (alt) {
@@ -554,6 +572,14 @@ class VTShell : VTOutputReader::IProcessor, VTInputReader::IProcessor, IVTShell
 		_bracketed_paste_expected = enabled;
 	}
 
+	virtual void OnFocusChangeExpectation(bool enabled)
+	{
+		bool was_enabled = _focus_change_expected.exchange(enabled);
+		if (!was_enabled) {
+			OnFocusChanged();
+		}
+	}
+
 	virtual void OnWin32InputMode(bool enabled)
 	{
 		_win32_input_mode_expected = enabled;
diff --git a/far2l/src/vt/vtshell_ioreaders.cpp b/far2l/src/vt/vtshell_ioreaders.cpp
index 19c1e8a2a..fe01142e5 100644
--- a/far2l/src/vt/vtshell_ioreaders.cpp
+++ b/far2l/src/vt/vtshell_ioreaders.cpp
@@ -213,6 +213,9 @@ void *VTInputReader::ThreadProc()
 		} else if (ir.EventType == KEY_EVENT) {
 			_processor->OnInputKey(ir.Event.KeyEvent);
 
+		} else if (ir.EventType == FOCUS_EVENT) {
+			_processor->OnFocusChanged();
+
 		} else if (ir.EventType == BRACKETED_PASTE_EVENT) {
 			_processor->OnBracketedPaste(ir.Event.BracketedPaste.bStartPaste != FALSE);
 
diff --git a/far2l/src/vt/vtshell_ioreaders.h b/far2l/src/vt/vtshell_ioreaders.h
index 3735cac84..3855c9573 100644
--- a/far2l/src/vt/vtshell_ioreaders.h
+++ b/far2l/src/vt/vtshell_ioreaders.h
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ class VTInputReader : protected WithThread
 	{
 		virtual void OnInputMouse(const MOUSE_EVENT_RECORD &MouseEvent) = 0;
 		virtual void OnInputKey(const KEY_EVENT_RECORD &KeyEvent) = 0;
+		virtual void OnFocusChanged() = 0;
 		virtual void OnInputResized(const INPUT_RECORD &ir) = 0;
 		virtual void OnInputInjected(const std::string &str) = 0;
 		virtual void OnBracketedPaste(bool start) = 0;