Unable to focus an input using JavaScript in IE11

The issue was focusing in IE11 is broken when the css property -ms-user-select: none is applied to the input. So by changing:

* {
  -ms-user-select: none;
}

into

*:not(input) {
  -ms-user-select: none;
}

I was able to solve the problem. Here is a codepen for reproducing the issue: http://codepen.io/anon/pen/yNrJZz

As stated in https://stackoverflow.com/a/31971940, running element.focus() has no effect in IE11 when the css property -ms-user-select: none is set. A workaround can be

element.style['-ms-user-select'] = 'text';
element.focus()
element.style['-ms-user-select'] = '';

Does not work in IE: https://codepen.io/macjohnny-zh/details/WPXWvy
(Code: https://codepen.io/macjohnny-zh/pen/WPXWvy)

Works in IE, too: https://codepen.io/macjohnny-zh/details/LqOvbZ
(Code: https://codepen.io/macjohnny-zh/pen/LqOvbZ)

Note: this also happens e.g. for

:-ms-input-placeholder {
  -ms-user-select: none;
}

See https://github.com/angular/material2/issues/15093

I don't think that your issue is coming from the focus() function, I think it's coming from the selector.

To prove it I just opened my IE11 and tried to focus the SO search input on the top right of the page using the following command:

document.getElementById('search')[0].focus()

So, just open your IE console (F12) and type that, it should focus the search input. If so, then the issue is coming from the selector which isn't an input as you may think.

It works on my IE 11.0.9600.17905