diff --git a/crates/ui/src/docking/native_tests.rs b/crates/ui/src/docking/native_tests.rs
index 388bb445d..5fd79bdc7 100644
--- a/crates/ui/src/docking/native_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ui/src/docking/native_tests.rs
@@ -1710,6 +1710,50 @@ fn a_focused_field_and_a_held_press_stay_inert_across_a_block() {
     assert_eq!(d.content.count, 0);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn blocking_input_hands_focus_from_a_native_window_to_the_main_window() {
+    let focus_main = |d: &DockDriver<u32, Content>| {
+        d.host().commands.iter().filter(|(v, c)| *v == egui::ViewportId::ROOT && matches!(c, ViewportCommand::Focus)).count()
+    };
+    let steps = |d: &mut DockDriver<u32, Content>, n: usize| {
+        for _ in 0..n {
+            d.step(vec![]);
+        }
+    };
+    let focused_float = || {
+        let mut d = blocked_driver();
+        let viewport = d.viewport(id_of(&d));
+        d.host().focus = Some(viewport);
+        d.step(vec![]);
+        d.input_blocked = true;
+        d
+    };
+    // A dialog opened from a floating panel needs the keys there, in the main window: once,
+    // after a short wait.
+    let mut d = focused_float();
+    steps(&mut d, 2);
+    assert_eq!(focus_main(&d), 0, "not yet: an OS dialog may still take focus");
+    steps(&mut d, 30);
+    assert_eq!(focus_main(&d), 1);
+    // An OS dialog took focus meanwhile: no window of the area has it, so nothing is sent.
+    let mut d = focused_float();
+    d.step(vec![]);
+    d.host().focus = None;
+    steps(&mut d, 30);
+    assert_eq!(focus_main(&d), 0);
+    // Blocking ended before the wait was over.
+    let mut d = focused_float();
+    d.step(vec![]);
+    d.input_blocked = false;
+    steps(&mut d, 30);
+    assert_eq!(focus_main(&d), 0);
+    // With the main window focused already, nothing is sent.
+    let mut d = blocked_driver();
+    d.input_blocked = true;
+    steps(&mut d, 30);
+    assert_eq!(focus_main(&d), 0);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn blocking_input_cancels_a_drag_in_progress() {
     // A tab drag a native window owns.
diff --git a/crates/ui/src/docking/render/mod.rs b/crates/ui/src/docking/render/mod.rs
index 8c433ac55..b669502c7 100644
--- a/crates/ui/src/docking/render/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ui/src/docking/render/mod.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,39 @@ pub(in crate::docking) use body_drag::{cancel_body_route, mark_app_drag};
 #[cfg(feature = "native-windows")]
 pub(in crate::docking) use native::{InputHook, set_input_hook};
 
+/// How long after blocking starts a native window that still has the keyboard hands it to the
+/// main window: an OS dialog the app opens with the modal (a file dialog) takes focus a little
+/// later, and a Focus sent before then could raise the main window over it.
+#[cfg(feature = "native-windows")]
+const BLOCKED_FOCUS_WAIT: f64 = 0.2;
+
+/// While input is blocked (`starts`: from this frame), a native window of the dock area `area`
+/// with the keyboard would drop the keys the modal needs, so once, after
+/// [`BLOCKED_FOCUS_WAIT`], the main window, where the modal is, takes the keyboard if one still
+/// has it. If focus went elsewhere meanwhile, such as to an OS dialog, nothing is sent.
+#[cfg(feature = "native-windows")]
+pub(in crate::docking) fn focus_main_from_native<P>(ctx: &Context, area: Id, layout: &Layout<P>, blocked: bool, starts: bool) {
+    let (key, now) = (area.with("blocked-focus"), ctx.input(|i| i.time));
+    if !blocked {
+        ctx.data_mut(|d| d.remove::<f64>(key));
+        return;
+    }
+    if starts {
+        ctx.data_mut(|d| d.insert_temp(key, now));
+    }
+    let Some(since) = ctx.data(|d| d.get_temp::<f64>(key)) else { return };
+    if now - since < BLOCKED_FOCUS_WAIT {
+        ctx.request_repaint_after(std::time::Duration::from_secs_f64(BLOCKED_FOCUS_WAIT - (now - since)));
+        return;
+    }
+    ctx.data_mut(|d| d.remove::<f64>(key));
+    let focused =
+        ctx.input(|i| layout.floating.iter().any(|w| i.raw.viewports.get(&native_viewport(area, w.id)).and_then(|v| v.focused) == Some(true)));
+    if focused {
+        ctx.send_viewport_cmd_to(egui::ViewportId::ROOT, egui::ViewportCommand::Focus);
+    }
+}
+
 /// The viewport of the native window `window` of the dock area `area`.
 #[cfg(feature = "native-windows")]
 pub(in crate::docking) fn native_viewport(area: Id, window: u64) -> egui::ViewportId {
diff --git a/crates/ui/src/docking/surface.rs b/crates/ui/src/docking/surface.rs
index 77fecb91f..c1af45d24 100644
--- a/crates/ui/src/docking/surface.rs
+++ b/crates/ui/src/docking/surface.rs
@@ -1136,9 +1136,12 @@ impl<'a, P: Clone + Eq + Hash + Debug + Send + Sync + 'static> DockArea<'a, P> {
         // Blocking starts while the pointer may be down: a drag that went on would act on its
         // release, under the modal.
         let blocked_key = self.id.with("input-blocked");
-        if self.input_blocked && !ui.ctx().data(|d| d.get_temp::<bool>(blocked_key).unwrap_or(false)) {
+        let starts = self.input_blocked && !ui.ctx().data(|d| d.get_temp::<bool>(blocked_key).unwrap_or(false));
+        if starts {
             cancel_drag::<P>(ui.ctx(), self.id);
         }
+        #[cfg(feature = "native-windows")]
+        super::render::focus_main_from_native(ui.ctx(), self.id, layout, self.input_blocked, starts);
         ui.ctx().data_mut(|d| d.insert_temp(blocked_key, self.input_blocked));
         cancel_drag_if_replaced(ui.ctx(), self.id, layout);
         release_moved_tab_focus(ui.ctx(), self.id, layout);
diff --git a/docs/ui-docking.md b/docs/ui-docking.md
index c27f2291d..9123eaece 100644
--- a/docs/ui-docking.md
+++ b/docs/ui-docking.md
@@ -491,8 +491,12 @@ windows from the first frame. `DockArea::native_windows(bool)` overrides the cho
     main window is raised last, in front of the normal windows and of a palette the user
     clicked.
   - *Edges.* Turning blocking on cancels a drag in progress, and a widget of a native window
-    loses keyboard focus. A zoom gesture still shows in egui's `InputState::zoom_delta`, which
-    cannot be cleared; a widget that zooms only while hovered ignores it. egui smooths wheel
+    loses keyboard focus. If a native window has the OS keyboard focus then (the modal was
+    opened from it, say by a double-click in a floating panel) and still has it 0.2 s later,
+    the main window gets `ViewportCommand::Focus`, so the modal gets the keys. The wait lets an
+    OS dialog opened with the modal (a file dialog) take focus first; then nothing is sent. A
+    zoom gesture still shows in egui's `InputState::zoom_delta`, which cannot be cleared; a
+    widget that zooms only while hovered ignores it. egui smooths wheel
     scrolling, so a scroll area in a native window may still scroll for about 100 ms after
     blocking ends, with the remainder of a wheel turn made just before it began.
   - Floating windows drawn in the main window need nothing: the modal covers them.