diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/components/utils.ts b/packages/web-util/src/components/utils.ts
index ca47bb440..8a3f3ef92 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/components/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/components/utils.ts
@@ -107,7 +107,37 @@ export function doAutoFocus<T extends HTMLElement>(
 ) {
   if (element) {
     setTimeout(() => {
+      // The view may have moved on (step change, dialog closed) meanwhile.
+      if (!element.isConnected) return;
       element.focus({ preventScroll: true });
     }, 100);
   }
 }
+
+/**
+ * Focus an element once, when the component mounts with `focus` set.
+ *
+ * Use this instead of `ref={doAutoFocus}` when the element's ref callback is
+ * created inline: a new ref callback on every render would focus the element
+ * again on each render and pull the cursor back while the user is typing
+ * elsewhere.
+ *
+ * @param focus whether the component should start with focus
+ * @param element returns the element to focus, read after mounting
+ */
+export function useAutoFocus(
+  focus: boolean | undefined,
+  element: () => HTMLElement | null | undefined,
+): void {
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!focus) return;
+    // Look the element up when the timer fires, not now: a parent may not
+    // have attached its children yet when this effect runs.
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      const target = element();
+      if (target?.isConnected) target.focus({ preventScroll: true });
+    }, 100);
+    return () => clearTimeout(timer);
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps -- focus is taken on mount only; re-running when `focus` or the getter changes would move the cursor while the user is typing.
+  }, []);
+}
diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputArray.tsx b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputArray.tsx
index e095b0ab2..e8e0090c3 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputArray.tsx
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputArray.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   RecursivePartial,
   useForm,
 } from "../../hooks/useForm.js";
+import { useAutoFocus } from "../../components/utils.js";
 import { useTranslationContext } from "../../context/translation.js";
 import { RenderAllFieldsByUiConfig } from "../forms-ui.js";
 import { resolveFieldHandler, UIFormProps } from "../FormProvider.js";
@@ -146,6 +147,7 @@ export function InputArray(
   const [editor, setEditor] = useState<Editor | undefined>();
   const returnFocusRef = useRef<HTMLButtonElement | null>(null);
   const addButtonRef = useRef<HTMLButtonElement | null>(null);
+  useAutoFocus(props.focus, () => addButtonRef.current);
   const generatedId = useId();
   const fieldId = `array-${generatedId}`;
   const labelId = `${fieldId}-label`;
diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputChoiceHorizontal.tsx b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputChoiceHorizontal.tsx
index 1b473c3fb..5ea4348d2 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputChoiceHorizontal.tsx
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputChoiceHorizontal.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import { TranslatedString } from "@gnu-taler/taler-util";
 import { Fragment, VNode, h } from "preact";
+import { useRef } from "preact/hooks";
+import { useAutoFocus } from "../../components/utils.js";
 import { resolveFieldHandler, UIFormProps } from "../FormProvider.js";
 import { LabelWithTooltipMaybeRequired } from "./InputLine.js";
 
@@ -15,6 +17,15 @@ export function InputChoiceHorizontal<ChoiceVal>(
 ): VNode {
   const { hidden, choices, label, tooltip, help, required, converter } = props;
   const { value, onChange } = resolveFieldHandler(props.handler, props.name);
+  const fieldset = useRef<HTMLFieldSetElement>(null);
+  useAutoFocus(
+    props.focus,
+    () =>
+      fieldset.current?.querySelector<HTMLElement>(
+        'button[aria-pressed="true"]:not([disabled])',
+      ) ??
+      fieldset.current?.querySelector<HTMLElement>("button:not([disabled])"),
+  );
   if (hidden) {
     return <Fragment />;
   }
@@ -28,15 +39,17 @@ export function InputChoiceHorizontal<ChoiceVal>(
         tooltip={tooltip}
         name={props.name as string}
       />
-      <fieldset class="mt-2 min-w-0 max-w-full overflow-x-auto">
+      <fieldset ref={fieldset} class="mt-2 min-w-0 max-w-full overflow-x-auto">
         <div class="isolate inline-flex rounded-md shadow-sm">
           {choices.map((choice, idx) => {
             const convertedValue = converter?.fromStringUI(choice.value as any);
+            const isSelected =
+              convertedValue !== undefined && convertedValue === value;
             const isFirst = idx === 0;
             const isLast = idx === choices.length - 1;
             let clazz =
               "relative inline-flex items-center px-3 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-gray-900 ring-1 ring-inset ring-gray-300  focus:z-10";
-            if (convertedValue !== undefined && convertedValue === value) {
+            if (isSelected) {
               clazz +=
                 " text-white bg-indigo-600 hover:bg-indigo-500 ring-2 ring-indigo-600 hover:ring-indigo-500";
             } else {
@@ -54,6 +67,7 @@ export function InputChoiceHorizontal<ChoiceVal>(
               <button
                 type="button"
                 key={idx}
+                aria-pressed={isSelected}
                 disabled={props.disabled}
                 class={clazz}
                 onClick={(e) => {
diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputChoiceStacked.tsx b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputChoiceStacked.tsx
index e469006d0..629da896d 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputChoiceStacked.tsx
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputChoiceStacked.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { TranslatedString } from "@gnu-taler/taler-util";
 import { Fragment, VNode, h } from "preact";
-import { useEffect, useId } from "preact/hooks";
+import { useEffect, useId, useRef } from "preact/hooks";
+import { useAutoFocus } from "../../components/utils.js";
 import { resolveFieldHandler, UIFormProps } from "../FormProvider.js";
 import { LabelWithTooltipMaybeRequired } from "./InputLine.js";
 
@@ -40,6 +41,16 @@ export function InputChoiceStacked<Choices>(
     if (value !== undefined) onChange(undefined);
   }, [choices, onChange, value]);
 
+  const fieldset = useRef<HTMLFieldSetElement>(null);
+  useAutoFocus(
+    props.focus,
+    () =>
+      fieldset.current?.querySelector<HTMLElement>(
+        "input:checked:not([disabled])",
+      ) ??
+      fieldset.current?.querySelector<HTMLElement>("input:not([disabled])"),
+  );
+
   if (hidden) {
     return <Fragment />;
   }
@@ -53,7 +64,7 @@ export function InputChoiceStacked<Choices>(
         tooltip={tooltip}
         name={props.name as string}
       />
-      <fieldset class="mt-2">
+      <fieldset ref={fieldset} class="mt-2">
         <div class="space-y-4">
           {choices.map((choice, idx) => {
             const optionId = `${groupName}-${idx}`;
diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputDrilldown.tsx b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputDrilldown.tsx
index 163ede8c0..ff685ac6e 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputDrilldown.tsx
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputDrilldown.tsx
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ export function InputDrilldown(
       <InputSelectOne
         name={props.name}
         label={localI18n.str`${props.label} (Classification level ${lvl + 1})`}
+        focus={props.focus && lvl === 0}
         required={required}
         disabled={props.disabled}
         handler={{
diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputDuration.tsx b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputDuration.tsx
index bcc4a8f72..dc7a8786a 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputDuration.tsx
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputDuration.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { Duration } from "@gnu-taler/taler-util";
 import { Fragment, VNode, h } from "preact";
 import { useEffect, useRef } from "preact/hooks";
+import { useAutoFocus } from "../../components/utils.js";
 import { useTranslationContext } from "../../context/translation.js";
 import { resolveFieldHandler, UIFormProps } from "../FormProvider.js";
 import { InputWrapper } from "./InputLine.js";
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export function InputDuration(props: UIFormProps<Duration>): VNode {
   const daysRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
   const monthsRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
   const yearsRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+  useAutoFocus(props.focus, () => yearsRef.current);
 
   // useEffect(() => {
   //   onChange(
diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputFile.tsx b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputFile.tsx
index 8b934cb4c..3d1001fc2 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputFile.tsx
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputFile.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 */
 
 import { Fragment, VNode, h } from "preact";
-import { useState } from "preact/hooks";
+import { useRef, useState } from "preact/hooks";
+import { useAutoFocus } from "../../components/utils.js";
 import { useTranslationContext } from "../../context/translation.js";
 import { resolveFieldHandler, UIFormProps } from "../FormProvider.js";
 import { FileFieldData } from "../forms-types.js";
@@ -25,6 +26,8 @@ export function InputFile(
     props.name,
   );
   const [fileError, setFileError] = useState<string>();
+  const fileInput = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+  useAutoFocus(props.focus, () => fileInput.current);
 
   if (hidden) return <Fragment />;
 
@@ -100,6 +103,7 @@ export function InputFile(
                 >
                   <span>{i18n.str`Upload a file`}</span>
                   <input
+                    ref={fileInput}
                     id={String(props.name)}
                     type="file"
                     class="sr-only"
diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputLine.tsx b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputLine.tsx
index 17d350762..1bb726fe7 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputLine.tsx
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputLine.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { TranslatedString } from "@gnu-taler/taler-util";
 import { ComponentChildren, Fragment, VNode, h } from "preact";
 import { useEffect, useId, useRef } from "preact/hooks";
-import { composeRef, saveRef } from "../../components/utils.js";
+import { composeRef, saveRef, useAutoFocus } from "../../components/utils.js";
 import { Addon, resolveFieldHandler, UIFormProps } from "../FormProvider.js";
 
 //@ts-ignore
@@ -213,6 +213,8 @@ export function InputLine<Value = string>(
       value === undefined || value === null ? "" : toString(value);
   }, [toString, value]);
 
+  useAutoFocus(props.focus, () => input.current);
+
   // useHiddenHandler(name as string, hidden ?? false, value, onChange);
   if (hidden) {
     return <Fragment />;
@@ -274,7 +276,6 @@ export function InputLine<Value = string>(
           id={inputId}
           rows={4}
           ref={composeRef(saveRef(input))}
-          // ref={composeRef(saveRef(input), doAutoFocus)} FIXME: enable autofocus when form has focus
           name={String(name)}
           onInput={(e) => {
             updateFromString(e.currentTarget.value);
@@ -307,7 +308,6 @@ export function InputLine<Value = string>(
         id={inputId}
         name={String(name)}
         ref={composeRef(saveRef(input))}
-        // ref={composeRef(saveRef(input), doAutoFocus)} FIXME: enable autofocus when form has focus
         type={type}
         onInput={(e) => {
           updateFromString(e.currentTarget.value);
diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputSelectMultiple.tsx b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputSelectMultiple.tsx
index 4f0bf0353..c92811cbf 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputSelectMultiple.tsx
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputSelectMultiple.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 import { Fragment, VNode, h } from "preact";
 import { useId, useRef, useState } from "preact/hooks";
+import { useAutoFocus } from "../../components/utils.js";
 import { useTranslationContext } from "../../context/translation.js";
 import { resolveFieldHandler, UIFormProps } from "../FormProvider.js";
 import { ChoiceS } from "./InputChoiceStacked.js";
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ export function InputSelectMultiple<ChoiceVal>(
   const [dirty, setDirty] = useState<boolean>();
   const id = `select-many-${useId()}`;
   const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+  useAutoFocus(props.focus, () => inputRef.current);
   const normalizedFilter = (filter ?? "").toLocaleLowerCase();
   const list = (value ?? []) as string[];
   const choiceMap = new Map(
diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputSelectOne.tsx b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputSelectOne.tsx
index ff65005d8..61153cd37 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputSelectOne.tsx
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputSelectOne.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import { i18n } from "@gnu-taler/taler-util";
 import { Fragment, VNode, h } from "preact";
 import { useId, useRef, useState } from "preact/hooks";
+import { useAutoFocus } from "../../components/utils.js";
 import { resolveFieldHandler, UIFormProps } from "../FormProvider.js";
 import { ChoiceS } from "./InputChoiceStacked.js";
 import { LabelWithTooltipMaybeRequired } from "./InputLine.js";
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ export function InputSelectOne<Choices>(
   const [dirty, setDirty] = useState<boolean>(); // FIXME: dirty state should come from handler
   const id = `select-one-${useId()}`;
   const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+  useAutoFocus(props.focus, () => inputRef.current);
   const normalizedFilter = (filter ?? "").toLocaleLowerCase();
   const choiceMap = choices.reduce(
     (prev, curr) => {
diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputToggle.tsx b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputToggle.tsx
index 37a8666f0..02a298669 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputToggle.tsx
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/forms/fields/InputToggle.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { Fragment, VNode, h } from "preact";
-import { useState } from "preact/hooks";
+import { useRef, useState } from "preact/hooks";
+import { useAutoFocus } from "../../components/utils.js";
 import { resolveFieldHandler, UIFormProps } from "../FormProvider.js";
 import { LabelWithTooltipMaybeRequired } from "./InputLine.js";
 
@@ -33,6 +34,8 @@ export function InputToggle(
     props.name,
   );
   const [dirty, setDirty] = useState<boolean>();
+  const toggle = useRef<HTMLButtonElement>(null);
+  useAutoFocus(props.focus, () => toggle.current);
 
   const isOn = trueValue === value;
 
@@ -51,6 +54,7 @@ export function InputToggle(
           name={props.name as string}
         />
         <button
+          ref={toggle}
           type="button"
           data-state={isOn ? "on" : value === undefined ? "undefined" : "off"}
           class="bg-indigo-600 data-[state=off]:bg-gray-200 data-[state=undefined]:bg-gray-200  relative inline-flex h-6 w-12 flex-shrink-0 cursor-pointer rounded-full border-2 border-transparent transition-colors duration-200 ease-in-out focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-indigo-600 focus:ring-offset-2"
diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/forms/forms-ui.test.tsx b/packages/web-util/src/forms/forms-ui.test.tsx
index e0c7aea1e..bac402402 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/forms/forms-ui.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/forms/forms-ui.test.tsx
@@ -229,3 +229,66 @@ test("form fields show untranslated technical names below their labels", async (
   cleanup();
   await window.happyDOM.abort();
 });
+
+test("a form with focus starts on its first fillable field only once", async () => {
+  const window = installDom();
+  const { cleanup, render } = await import("@testing-library/preact");
+  const focusDesign: FormDesign = {
+    type: "double-column",
+    sections: [
+      {
+        title: "Account" as TranslatedString,
+        fields: [
+          { type: "caption", label: "Introduction" as TranslatedString },
+          {
+            type: "text",
+            id: "skipped",
+            label: "Hidden field" as TranslatedString,
+            hidden: true,
+          },
+          {
+            type: "text",
+            id: "first",
+            label: "First field" as TranslatedString,
+          },
+          {
+            type: "text",
+            id: "second",
+            label: "Second field" as TranslatedString,
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      {
+        title: "Details" as TranslatedString,
+        fields: [
+          {
+            type: "text",
+            id: "third",
+            label: "Third field" as TranslatedString,
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+    ],
+  };
+  const settle = () => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 150));
+
+  function Harness() {
+    const form = useForm(focusDesign, {});
+    return <FormUI design={focusDesign} model={form.model} focus />;
+  }
+
+  const view = render(<Harness />);
+  await settle();
+  assert.equal(document.activeElement, view.getByLabelText("First field"));
+
+  // Typing elsewhere re-renders the form; that must not pull focus back.
+  const second = view.getByLabelText("Second field") as HTMLInputElement;
+  second.focus();
+  second.value = "typed";
+  second.dispatchEvent(new Event("input", { bubbles: true }));
+  await settle();
+  assert.equal(document.activeElement, second);
+
+  cleanup();
+  await window.happyDOM.abort();
+});
diff --git a/packages/web-util/src/forms/forms-ui.tsx b/packages/web-util/src/forms/forms-ui.tsx
index 2d2260760..f61639874 100644
--- a/packages/web-util/src/forms/forms-ui.tsx
+++ b/packages/web-util/src/forms/forms-ui.tsx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   UIFormElementConfig,
 } from "./forms-types.js";
 import { convertFormConfigToUiField } from "./forms-utils.js";
+import { UIFormProps } from "./FormProvider.js";
 import { AcceptTosForm, AcceptTosFormValues } from "./AcceptTosForm.js";
 import { Attention } from "../components/Attention.js";
 import { FormLanguagePolicy } from "./forms-types.js";
@@ -218,6 +219,13 @@ export function FormUI<T>({
       );
     }
     case "double-column": {
+      // Only one field can start with focus: the first one of the first
+      // section that is shown.
+      const focusSection = !focus
+        ? -1
+        : design.sections.findIndex(
+            (section, i) => !!section && !model.isSectionHidden(`${i}`),
+          );
       const ui = design.sections.map((section, i) => {
         if (!section) return <Fragment key={i} />;
         return (
@@ -227,7 +235,7 @@ export function FormUI<T>({
             name={name}
             section={section}
             model={model}
-            focus={focus}
+            focus={i === focusSection}
             disabled={disabled}
             onSubmit={onSubmit}
           />
@@ -395,6 +403,14 @@ export function SingleColumnFormSectionUI<T>({
   );
 }
 
+const NOT_FILLABLE_FIELDS: UIFormField["type"][] = [
+  "caption",
+  "group",
+  "htmlIframe",
+  "external-link",
+  "download-link",
+];
+
 export function RenderAllFieldsByUiConfig({
   focus,
   fields,
@@ -406,6 +422,16 @@ export function RenderAllFieldsByUiConfig({
   disabled?: boolean;
   hidden?: boolean;
 }): VNode {
+  // Give focus to the first field the user can fill in, skipping captions,
+  // groups, links, embedded documents and hidden or disabled fields.
+  const focusIndex =
+    !focus || hidden
+      ? -1
+      : fields.findIndex((field) => {
+          if (NOT_FILLABLE_FIELDS.includes(field.type)) return false;
+          const props = field.properties as UIFormProps<unknown>;
+          return !props.hidden && !(disabled ?? props.disabled);
+        });
   return create(
     Fragment,
     {},
@@ -415,7 +441,7 @@ export function RenderAllFieldsByUiConfig({
       ] as FieldComponentFunction<any>;
       const p: Record<string, any> = {
         ...field.properties,
-        focus: !!focus && i === 0,
+        focus: i === focusIndex,
         hidden:
           hidden || ("hidden" in field.properties && field.properties.hidden),
       };