MapInfo Pro lets you set a Layout Designer window preference that manages how to deactivate a layout frame. A layout frame is active when you click on the frame, and is no longer active when you click somewhere else. You can turn off this setting, so that a layout frame remains active when clicking outside of the frame.
To turn off deactivating a layout frame by clicking somewhere else:
When this option is turned off, clicking outside of a frame in the Layout window no longer deactivates the frame.