In Windows 11 File Explorer, when I create a new folder instead of moving the typing focus to the folder's name it jumps to the address bar. I.e.: I click the "new folder" button (or right-click -> new folder) It creates a new folder called "New Folder" The cursor moves to the Windows 11 address bar. This sets the new folder's name to "New Folder" and if I type anything it types it into the address bar I have to click on the "New Folder" folder and go through the standard folder rename process (e.g. press F2 or right-click -> rename). How do I stop this? I expect that when I create a new folder I can type it's name directly. Edition Windows 11 Pro Version 23H2 Installed on ‎2023-‎09-‎06 OS build 22631.2861 Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22681.1000.0

My test procedure is correct. Try it on Windows 10 (or the old Windows 10 style Explorer available via the Control Panel). It always works correctly in that case. It always fails (i.e. causes the address bar to drop down) on Windows 11. Once the focus is in the main window (e.g. by tabbing there) it always works correctly. The issue is that Explorer no longer changes the focus to the main window when it should (and always did in Windows 10).

Then I tested by creating a new folder and no longer have the focus issue! Try first navigating to a different folder using the address bar (so that the focus is in the address bar) then create a new folder by selecting "Folder" from the upper left "New" menu. Does the focus change to the folder name or does the focus stay in the address bar, causing the address bar history to drop down? I am not sure you describe a correct test: should the test be done that way?: 1 you should be working in the main windows (on the right) on an existing folder (eg. renaming it), and then 2 you go directly to the button new on the left in the address bar and select "folder" When I do this it fails: the folder is created, but I cannot name it. The focus jumps back to the address bar, causing the address bar history to drop down.

Then I tested by creating a new folder and no longer have the focus issue! Try first navigating to a different folder using the address bar (so that the focus is in the address bar) then create a new folder by selecting "Folder" from the upper left "New" menu. Does the focus change to the folder name or does the focus stay in the address bar, causing the address bar history to drop down?

I asked ChaptGPT for a summary: You’ve run into a known File Explorer bug that first showed up in late‑2023 builds of Windows 11 (23H2) and still pops up for some people on 24H2. When you make a new folder, the UI should keep keyboard focus on the folder so you can rename it—instead, it slides up to the address bar (often with a drop‑down that blocks the view) and you have to click or press Esc before you can type. Microsoft has acknowledged the focus problem in Feedback Hub and Insider release notes and has been rolling out fixes, but not everyone has them yet. Then I tested by creating a new folder and no longer have the focus issue! So despite silence from MS, it looks like they are working on the problem. My probIem was on a laptop with these specs: M$ Windows 11 Pro Version 10.0.26100 Build 26100 System Manufacturer Dell Inc. System Model Latitude 5531 System Type x64-based PC System SKU 0B0F Processor 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12500H, 1700 Mhz, 12 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s) BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. 1.29.0, 2/6/2025 Hope the fix is permanent and that other users are similarly finding the issue is resolved.

Windows 11 File Explorer - focus jumps to address bar when creating new folder

Anonymous

In Windows 11 File Explorer, when I create a new folder instead of moving the typing focus to the folder's name it jumps to the address bar. I.e.:

I click the "new folder" button (or right-click -> new folder)
It creates a new folder called "New Folder"
The cursor moves to the Windows 11 address bar. This sets the new folder's name to "New Folder" and if I type anything it types it into the address bar
I have to click on the "New Folder" folder and go through the standard folder rename process (e.g. press F2 or right-click -> rename).

How do I stop this? I expect that when I create a new folder I can type it's name directly.

Edition Windows 11 Pro

Version 23H2

Installed on ‎2023-‎09-‎06

OS build 22631.2861

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22681.1000.0

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Les Ferch 10,361 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-06-16T14:46:27+00:00

My test procedure is correct.

Try it on Windows 10 (or the old Windows 10 style Explorer available via the Control Panel). It always works correctly in that case. It always fails (i.e. causes the address bar to drop down) on Windows 11.

Once the focus is in the main window (e.g. by tabbing there) it always works correctly.

The issue is that Explorer no longer changes the focus to the main window when it should (and always did in Windows 10).
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Anonymous

2025-06-16T14:09:39+00:00

Then I tested by creating a new folder and no longer have the focus issue!

Try first navigating to a different folder using the address bar (so that the focus is in the address bar) then create a new folder by selecting "Folder" from the upper left "New" menu. Does the focus change to the folder name or does the focus stay in the address bar, causing the address bar history to drop down?

I am not sure you describe a correct test: should the test be done that way?:

1 you should be working in the main windows (on the right) on an existing folder (eg. renaming it), and then

2 you go directly to the button new on the left in the address bar and select "folder"

When I do this it fails: the folder is created, but I cannot name it. The focus jumps back to the address bar, causing the address bar history to drop down.
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Les Ferch 10,361 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-06-11T21:53:15+00:00

Then I tested by creating a new folder and no longer have the focus issue!

Try first navigating to a different folder using the address bar (so that the focus is in the address bar) then create a new folder by selecting "Folder" from the upper left "New" menu. Does the focus change to the folder name or does the focus stay in the address bar, causing the address bar history to drop down?
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Anonymous

2025-06-11T21:16:16+00:00

I asked ChaptGPT for a summary:

You’ve run into a known File Explorer bug that first showed up in late‑2023 builds of Windows 11 (23H2) and still pops up for some people on 24H2. When you make a new folder, the UI should keep keyboard focus on the folder so you can rename it—instead, it slides up to the address bar (often with a drop‑down that blocks the view) and you have to click or press Esc before you can type. Microsoft has acknowledged the focus problem in Feedback Hub and Insider release notes and has been rolling out fixes, but not everyone has them yet.

Then I tested by creating a new folder and no longer have the focus issue!

So despite silence from MS, it looks like they are working on the problem.

My probIem was on a laptop with these specs:

M$ Windows 11 Pro

Version 10.0.26100 Build 26100

System Manufacturer Dell Inc.

System Model Latitude 5531

System Type x64-based PC

System SKU 0B0F

Processor 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12500H, 1700 Mhz, 12 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s)

BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. 1.29.0, 2/6/2025

Hope the fix is permanent and that other users are similarly finding the issue is resolved.
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1 person found this answer helpful.

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