diff --git a/examples/shared/scripts/lan-bootstrapper.gd b/examples/shared/scripts/lan-bootstrapper.gd
index 838446d..6976eb0 100644
--- a/examples/shared/scripts/lan-bootstrapper.gd
+++ b/examples/shared/scripts/lan-bootstrapper.gd
@@ -72,24 +72,34 @@ func join():
 	print("Client started")
 	connect_ui.hide()
 	
-	# Ensure game window has keyboard focus for input
-	get_window().grab_focus()
+	# Force window focus for keyboard input (Windows GUI apps need this)
+	_ensure_input_focus()
 	
 	# Only start manually if NetworkEvents is not handling it (e.g. multiplayer-simple)
 	if not NetworkEvents.enabled:
 		NetworkTime.start()
 
+func _ensure_input_focus() -> void:
+	## Force the game window to have keyboard focus and captured mouse.
+	## On Windows GUI exports, the window may not hold keyboard focus after
+	## the connection UI is dismissed, causing Input.get_axis() to return 0.
+	OS.move_to_foreground()
+	Input.set_mouse_mode(Input.MOUSE_MODE_CAPTURED)
+	# Deferred retry after window settles
+	get_window().call_deferred("grab_focus")
+	Input.call_deferred("set_mouse_mode", Input.MOUSE_MODE_CAPTURED)
+
 func _enter_tree():
 	# Hide and show UI as appropriate
 	# These handlers are necessary, since the game could have started via
 	# autoconnect, or any other method
 	NetworkEvents.on_client_start.connect(func(__):
 		connect_ui.hide()
-		get_window().grab_focus()
+		_ensure_input_focus()
 	)
 	NetworkEvents.on_server_start.connect(func():
 		connect_ui.hide()
-		get_window().grab_focus()
+		_ensure_input_focus()
 	)
 	NetworkEvents.on_client_stop.connect(func(): connect_ui.show())
 	NetworkEvents.on_server_stop.connect(func(): connect_ui.show())