diff --git a/.changes/window-builder-focused.md b/.changes/window-builder-focused.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5ffe4bde9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/window-builder-focused.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"tao": "patch"
+---
+
+Add `WindowBuilder::with_focused` to specify whether to initially focus the window or not.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/platform_impl/linux/window.rs b/src/platform_impl/linux/window.rs
index 8dfbe8ac9..6ddb5a1ca 100644
--- a/src/platform_impl/linux/window.rs
+++ b/src/platform_impl/linux/window.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ use std::{
   cell::RefCell,
   collections::VecDeque,
   rc::Rc,
-  sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicI32, Ordering},
+  sync::{
+    atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicI32, Ordering},
+    Arc,
+  },
 };
 
 use gdk::{WindowEdge, WindowState};
@@ -70,7 +73,10 @@ impl Window {
   ) -> Result<Self, RootOsError> {
     let app = &event_loop_window_target.app;
     let window_requests_tx = event_loop_window_target.window_requests_tx.clone();
-    let window = gtk::ApplicationWindow::new(app);
+    let window = gtk::ApplicationWindow::builder()
+      .application(app)
+      .accept_focus(attributes.focused)
+      .build();
     let window_id = WindowId(window.id());
     event_loop_window_target
       .windows
@@ -246,6 +252,21 @@ impl Window {
       window.set_transient_for(Some(&parent));
     }
 
+    // restore accept-focus after the window has been drawn
+    // if the window was initially created without focus
+    if !attributes.focused {
+      let signal_id = Arc::new(RefCell::new(None));
+      let signal_id_ = signal_id.clone();
+      let id = window.connect_draw(move |window, _| {
+        if let Some(id) = signal_id_.take() {
+          window.set_accept_focus(true);
+          window.disconnect(id);
+        }
+        Inhibit(false)
+      });
+      signal_id.borrow_mut().replace(id);
+    }
+
     let w_pos = window.position();
     let position: Rc<(AtomicI32, AtomicI32)> = Rc::new((w_pos.0.into(), w_pos.1.into()));
     let position_clone = position.clone();
diff --git a/src/platform_impl/macos/window.rs b/src/platform_impl/macos/window.rs
index 784a92486..b8d6f736e 100644
--- a/src/platform_impl/macos/window.rs
+++ b/src/platform_impl/macos/window.rs
@@ -488,6 +488,7 @@ impl UnownedWindow {
     let fullscreen = win_attribs.fullscreen.take();
     let maximized = win_attribs.maximized;
     let visible = win_attribs.visible;
+    let focused = win_attribs.focused;
     let decorations = win_attribs.decorations;
     let inner_rect = win_attribs
       .inner_size
@@ -526,8 +527,12 @@ impl UnownedWindow {
     // state, since otherwise we'll briefly see the window at normal size
     // before it transitions.
     if visible {
-      // Tightly linked with `app_state::window_activation_hack`
-      unsafe { window.ns_window.makeKeyAndOrderFront_(nil) };
+      if focused {
+        // Tightly linked with `app_state::window_activation_hack`
+        unsafe { window.ns_window.makeKeyAndOrderFront_(nil) };
+      } else {
+        unsafe { window.ns_window.orderFront_(nil) };
+      }
     }
 
     if maximized {
diff --git a/src/platform_impl/windows/window.rs b/src/platform_impl/windows/window.rs
index 272616c60..82ecee412 100644
--- a/src/platform_impl/windows/window.rs
+++ b/src/platform_impl/windows/window.rs
@@ -880,6 +880,8 @@ unsafe fn init<T: 'static>(
   // WindowFlags::VISIBLE and MAXIMIZED are set down below after the window has been configured.
   window_flags.set(WindowFlags::RESIZABLE, attributes.resizable);
 
+  window_flags.set(WindowFlags::MARKER_DONT_FOCUS, !attributes.focused);
+
   let parent = match pl_attribs.parent {
     Parent::ChildOf(parent) => {
       window_flags.set(WindowFlags::CHILD, true);
diff --git a/src/platform_impl/windows/window_state.rs b/src/platform_impl/windows/window_state.rs
index 80592dc41..8d962a6ab 100644
--- a/src/platform_impl/windows/window_state.rs
+++ b/src/platform_impl/windows/window_state.rs
@@ -79,26 +79,28 @@ bitflags! {
         const TRANSPARENT      = 1 << 6;
         const CHILD            = 1 << 7;
         const MAXIMIZED        = 1 << 8;
-        const POPUP            = 1 << 14;
-        const ALWAYS_ON_BOTTOM = 1 << 16;
+        const POPUP            = 1 << 9;
+        const ALWAYS_ON_BOTTOM = 1 << 10;
 
         /// Marker flag for fullscreen. Should always match `WindowState::fullscreen`, but is
         /// included here to make masking easier.
-        const MARKER_EXCLUSIVE_FULLSCREEN = 1 << 9;
-        const MARKER_BORDERLESS_FULLSCREEN = 1 << 13;
+        const MARKER_EXCLUSIVE_FULLSCREEN = 1 << 11;
+        const MARKER_BORDERLESS_FULLSCREEN = 1 << 12;
 
         /// The `WM_SIZE` event contains some parameters that can effect the state of `WindowFlags`.
         /// In most cases, it's okay to let those parameters change the state. However, when we're
         /// running the `WindowFlags::apply_diff` function, we *don't* want those parameters to
         /// effect our stored state, because the purpose of `apply_diff` is to update the actual
         /// window's state to match our stored state. This controls whether to accept those changes.
-        const MARKER_RETAIN_STATE_ON_SIZE = 1 << 10;
+        const MARKER_RETAIN_STATE_ON_SIZE = 1 << 13;
 
-        const MARKER_IN_SIZE_MOVE = 1 << 11;
+        const MARKER_IN_SIZE_MOVE = 1 << 14;
 
-        const MINIMIZED = 1 << 12;
+        const MARKER_DONT_FOCUS = 1 << 15;
 
-        const IGNORE_CURSOR_EVENT = 1 << 15;
+        const MINIMIZED = 1 << 16;
+
+        const IGNORE_CURSOR_EVENT = 1 << 17;
 
         const EXCLUSIVE_FULLSCREEN_OR_MASK = WindowFlags::ALWAYS_ON_TOP.bits;
     }
@@ -277,7 +279,15 @@ impl WindowFlags {
 
     if new.contains(WindowFlags::VISIBLE) {
       unsafe {
-        ShowWindow(window, SW_SHOW);
+        ShowWindow(
+          window,
+          if self.contains(WindowFlags::MARKER_DONT_FOCUS) {
+            self.set(WindowFlags::MARKER_DONT_FOCUS, false);
+            SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE
+          } else {
+            SW_SHOW
+          },
+        );
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/window.rs b/src/window.rs
index 1747019b0..fe9a9870b 100644
--- a/src/window.rs
+++ b/src/window.rs
@@ -208,6 +208,13 @@ pub struct WindowAttributes {
   pub window_menu: Option<platform_impl::Menu>,
 
   pub preferred_theme: Option<Theme>,
+
+  /// Whether the window should be initially focused or not.
+  ///
+  /// ## Platform-specific:
+  ///
+  /// **Android / iOS:** Unsupported.
+  pub focused: bool,
 }
 
 impl Default for WindowAttributes {
@@ -230,6 +237,7 @@ impl Default for WindowAttributes {
       window_icon: None,
       window_menu: None,
       preferred_theme: None,
+      focused: false,
     }
   }
 }
@@ -411,6 +419,17 @@ impl WindowBuilder {
     self
   }
 
+  /// Whether the window will be initially focused or not.
+  ///
+  /// ## Platform-specific:
+  ///
+  /// **Android / iOS:** Unsupported.
+  #[inline]
+  pub fn with_focused(mut self, focused: bool) -> WindowBuilder {
+    self.window.focused = focused;
+    self
+  }
+
   /// Builds the window.
   ///
   /// Possible causes of error include denied permission, incompatible system, and lack of memory.