diff --git a/Modules/MainScreen/MainScreen.qml b/Modules/MainScreen/MainScreen.qml
index 8b8fe9e49..8cd6ef194 100644
--- a/Modules/MainScreen/MainScreen.qml
+++ b/Modules/MainScreen/MainScreen.qml
@@ -50,11 +50,17 @@ PanelWindow {
       return WlrKeyboardFocus.None;
     }
     // Panel open on THIS screen: use panel's preferred focus mode
-    // Exception: Hyprland's Exclusive captures all input globally, preventing
-    // click-to-close from working on other monitors, so always use OnDemand
-    if (root.isPanelOpen && !CompositorService.isHyprland) {
+    if (root.isPanelOpen) {
+      // Hyprland's Exclusive captures ALL input globally (including pointer),
+      // preventing click-to-close from working on other monitors.
+      // Workaround: briefly use Exclusive when panel opens (for text input focus),
+      // then switch to OnDemand (for click-to-close on other screens).
+      if (CompositorService.isHyprland) {
+        return PanelService.isInitializingKeyboard ? WlrKeyboardFocus.Exclusive : WlrKeyboardFocus.OnDemand;
+      }
       return PanelService.openedPanel.exclusiveKeyboard ? WlrKeyboardFocus.Exclusive : WlrKeyboardFocus.OnDemand;
     }
+    // Panel open on ANOTHER screen: OnDemand allows receiving pointer events for click-to-close
     return WlrKeyboardFocus.OnDemand;
   }
 
diff --git a/Services/UI/PanelService.qml b/Services/UI/PanelService.qml
index d6938af61..e255d8ead 100644
--- a/Services/UI/PanelService.qml
+++ b/Services/UI/PanelService.qml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 pragma Singleton
 
+import QtQuick
 import Quickshell
 import qs.Commons
 
@@ -14,6 +15,9 @@ Singleton {
   property var openedPanel: null
   property var closingPanel: null
   property bool closedImmediately: false
+  // Brief window after panel opens where Exclusive keyboard is allowed on Hyprland
+  // This allows text inputs to receive focus, then switches to OnDemand for click-to-close
+  property bool isInitializingKeyboard: false
   signal willOpen
   signal didClose
 
@@ -87,6 +91,16 @@ Singleton {
     return name in registeredPanels;
   }
 
+  // Timer to switch from Exclusive to OnDemand keyboard focus on Hyprland
+  Timer {
+    id: keyboardInitTimer
+    interval: 100
+    repeat: false
+    onTriggered: {
+      root.isInitializingKeyboard = false;
+    }
+  }
+
   // Helper to keep only one panel open at any time
   function willOpenPanel(panel) {
     if (openedPanel && openedPanel !== panel) {
@@ -100,6 +114,12 @@ Singleton {
     openedPanel = panel;
     assignToSlot(0, panel);
 
+    // Start keyboard initialization period (for Hyprland workaround)
+    if (panel.exclusiveKeyboard) {
+      isInitializingKeyboard = true;
+      keyboardInitTimer.restart();
+    }
+
     // emit signal
     willOpen();
   }
@@ -115,6 +135,10 @@ Singleton {
       assignToSlot(1, null);
     }
 
+    // Reset keyboard init state
+    isInitializingKeyboard = false;
+    keyboardInitTimer.stop();
+
     // emit signal
     didClose();
   }