diff --git a/common/include/common/KVMFR.h b/common/include/common/KVMFR.h
index 6d8847ae..7564720e 100644
--- a/common/include/common/KVMFR.h
+++ b/common/include/common/KVMFR.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "types.h"
 
 #define KVMFR_MAGIC   "KVMFR---"
-#define KVMFR_VERSION 16
+#define KVMFR_VERSION 17
 
 #define KVMFR_MAX_DAMAGE_RECTS 64
 
diff --git a/host/include/interface/platform.h b/host/include/interface/platform.h
index c529a9b5..23fe215f 100644
--- a/host/include/interface/platform.h
+++ b/host/include/interface/platform.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ const char * os_getExecutable();
 const char * os_getDataPath();
 void os_showMessage(const char * caption, const char * msg);
 
+bool os_getAndClearPendingActivationRequest(void);
 bool os_blockScreensaver();
 bool os_hasSetCursorPos(void);
 void os_setCursorPos(int x, int y);
diff --git a/host/platform/Linux/src/platform.c b/host/platform/Linux/src/platform.c
index 11051816..83fb4f89 100644
--- a/host/platform/Linux/src/platform.c
+++ b/host/platform/Linux/src/platform.c
@@ -81,6 +81,12 @@ const char * os_getDataPath(void)
   return app.dataPath;
 }
 
+bool os_getAndClearPendingActivationRequest(void)
+{
+  // TODO
+  return false;
+}
+
 bool os_blockScreensaver()
 {
   return false;
diff --git a/host/platform/Windows/src/platform.c b/host/platform/Windows/src/platform.c
index e40c7959..adc4a90b 100644
--- a/host/platform/Windows/src/platform.c
+++ b/host/platform/Windows/src/platform.c
@@ -59,11 +59,14 @@ struct AppState
   char           systemLogDir[MAX_PATH];
   char         * osVersion;
   HWND           messageWnd;
+  UINT           shellHookMsg;
   NOTIFYICONDATA iconData;
   UINT           trayRestartMsg;
   HMENU          trayMenu;
   HANDLE         exitWait;
   HANDLE         taskHandle;
+
+  _Atomic(bool)  hasPendingActivationRequest;
 };
 
 static struct AppState app = {0};
@@ -254,6 +257,14 @@ LRESULT CALLBACK DummyWndProc(HWND hwnd, UINT msg, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
     default:
       if (msg == app.trayRestartMsg)
         RegisterTrayIcon();
+      else if (msg == app.shellHookMsg)
+      {
+        switch (LOWORD(wParam))
+        {
+          case HSHELL_FLASH:
+            atomic_store(&app.hasPendingActivationRequest, true);
+        }
+      }
       break;
   }
 
@@ -403,6 +414,10 @@ int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine
   // set the global
   MessageHWND = app.messageWnd;
 
+  // get shell events (e.g., for activation requests)
+  app.shellHookMsg = RegisterWindowMessage(TEXT("SHELLHOOK"));
+  RegisterShellHookWindow(app.messageWnd);
+
   app.trayMenu = CreatePopupMenu();
   AppendMenu(app.trayMenu, MF_STRING   , ID_MENU_SHOW_LOG, "Open Log File");
   AppendMenu(app.trayMenu, MF_SEPARATOR, 0               , NULL           );
@@ -573,6 +588,11 @@ HWND os_getMessageWnd(void)
   return app.messageWnd;
 }
 
+bool os_getAndClearPendingActivationRequest(void)
+{
+  return atomic_exchange(&app.hasPendingActivationRequest, false);
+}
+
 bool os_blockScreensaver()
 {
   static bool      lastResult = false;
diff --git a/host/src/app.c b/host/src/app.c
index 2f8fc02d..6695323b 100644
--- a/host/src/app.c
+++ b/host/src/app.c
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ static bool sendFrame(void)
   fi->pitch             = frame.pitch;
   fi->offset            = app.pageSize - FrameBufferStructSize;
   fi->blockScreensaver  = os_blockScreensaver();
-  fi->requestActivation = true; // TODO
+  fi->requestActivation = os_getAndClearPendingActivationRequest();
   app.frameValid        = true;
 
   fi->damageRectsCount  = frame.damageRectsCount;