An apparatus and method for controlling an in-focus window in a graphical user interface (GUI) are disclosed. For example, the apparatus includes a processor and a computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, perform operations including displaying a plurality of windows that is overlaid on top of one another in the GUI, receiving a control operation intended for the in-focus window while a cursor of the GUI is over an area of an out-of-focus window that is adjacent to the in-focus window, analyzing one or more parameters to determine an intent of the control operation and applying the control operation to the in-focus window.