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

Hi. I had the same issue. It has been some months now. Right now, after reading some posts here, playing back and forth with Explorer View Options seems to be working (for now, will see in the next days). Specifically:

1. In the beginning my explorer setting was on the second radio button, "Select the typed item in the view"
2. I changed it to the first radio button, "Automatically type into the Search Box"
3. At this point, the issue did not show up
4. I went back to settings and changed it back again to "Select the typed item in the view"
5. The issue was still not showing up. I left it like this

Let's see how it goes.

As OP, I've quietly tried every suggestion here. The closest to working is the one to change the Options to default to typing into Search and then off again, but I find it only fixes it for a bit.

Whoever suggested it was a "focus" issue nailed it. Because I've noticed that:

a) It always happens after I do something with the navigation bar. Right-click copy as text, type into there, copy from it, etc., and

b) After it starts, it happens with any of the toolbar buttons, not just New Folder.

Cause: What is happening is that once you click on the navigation bar, the focus is stuck there, and clicking New Folder or Delete or Copy or anything returns focus to the navigation bar after you click.

Workaround: What you CAN do, immediately, to make it go away (until you click into the navigation bar again), is simply click into the Search text box and then continue on with your Windows Explorer file options.

I wish MSFT would fix this, it's ridiculous how long it's been around. (The person cussing out MS a few posts above has also nailed it - how the f is this fing sh still a problem?)

First, users are reporting this issue are saying it occurs using both the right-click context menu and the File=>New Folder flow.

Secondly, I do NOT agree it doesn't resolve the issue. Evidence is to the contrary.

This registry change does in fact resolve the issue on all the systems where I tested this. I concur that restarting explorer is sufficient to activate the registry change. However, I offered the restart step as the least complicated path for those who may be less familiar.

The registry change provided is there for the purpose of reverting back to the classic Windows 11 FIle Explorer context menus, as you have pointed out.

With that said,, this is a Windows Explorer bug, and that registry change does also clear the bug. Whether it's a permanent fix remains to be seen. I can only speculate that the cause may be something getting stuck in a cache buffer or some such condition. Regardless, the reg change does fix the issue everywhere I could test it on machines exhibiting the bug.

I don't have dozens more systems on which to test it - I only have 12 on the affected builds.

So as always, your mileage may vary.

Cheers,

-=Cameron

Hi Cameron,

See my video above from January 31, 2025. That problem is still present whether the context menu is the default modern version or has been changed to the classic context menu using the registry setting you posted.

You must be looking at a different problem, but not one that I have been able to replicate. Regardless of the context menu setting, I don't see an issue creating a new folder using right-click.

I'm testing with Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.3194. Maybe that makes a difference.

Please post the steps I need to follow to replicate the issue you see with right-click > new > folder (prior to applying the change to the classic menu). I would like to post another video showing that problem if I can replicate it.

Thanks,

Les

Merci - been having issues with this for what feels like forever! That has worked perfectly.