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

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?)

I have the same issue: I create a new folder and Windows makes the folder and then highlights the location in the address bar. My PC was set to "Select the typed item in the view" for "When typing into list view". I switched to "Automatically type into the Seach Box" and the problem was fixed. However, I immediately switched back to "Select the typed item in the view" and it continues to work, so may not be the issue.

Yes!

The setting was initially "Select the typed item in the view" which is obviously what it should be.. I guess the setting has changed with an update, but the UI isn't reflecting it.

I changed the setting to "Automatically type into the Seach Box", hit Apply, then back to "Select the typed item in the view" and it seems to be fine. Time will tell if it lasts!

In case anyone doesn't know where to find this:

1. In file explorer, to the right of the toolstrip (cut/copy/paste etc) hit the 3 dots
2. select Options
3. select View Tab
4. scroll down to "When typing into list view" (has a yellow folder icon)
5. set it to "Automatically type into the Seach Box"
6. Hit Apply
7. change it back to "Select the typed item in the view"
8. Hit OK/Apply

Just pipping in to say I'm experiencing the same issue currently and found this thread. The alternative way of going about this is fine but it would be great if the best way to do it wasn't annoying.

I'm having this issue on my work computer but only noticed it happen on network shared folders browsed via UNC path. If I browsed to the exact same folder by its mapped drive there was no issue with creating a new folder.

Any folder stored locally on my device was OK.

I'm the same - this seems to temporarily resolve the issue if I set and then un-set this setting, but after some time it returns. Problem is, I want to be able to type into a folder to jump to items in it, so I can't just leave it on the "automatically search" setting, nor should I have to.

This happens for me in non-OneDrive folders, and given its seeming link to the search function, my guess it's linked to the integration of Copilot into the OS.