Explorer.exe randomly taking focus - Windows 11

Anonymous
2023-02-08T00:52:23+00:00

Firstly, I've been using my same PC for 3 years (minus a few upgrades, graphics card etc) on windows 10 and never ever had this issue.

Recently I had the pop up saying I'm eligible to upgrade to Windows 11 - Cool, why not.

So I've been using windows 11 for a couple of weeks now and I'm enjoying it... apart from one VERY annoying issue I'm having.

When playing a fullscreen application (or borderless window, it doesnt matter) It will randomly minimize itself to start bar, the same kind of action If I were to Alt-Tab out of it.

This isn't an issue with any one program, it can happen in any game I'm playing, or even just fullscreen applications I leave running, such as Heaven benchmark or other benchmarking programs.

Its not an accidental press of windows key or anything daft like that, It even happens when gaming with a PS5 controller, hands nowhere near the desk.

This can happen within a minute or 2 of playing a game, or sometimes go as long as 20 minutes without happening, but it WILL happen and will repeat itself periodically.

I figured somehow another window is taking focus out of my game and tabbing to it, but no other window or notification etc actually pops up, I'm just left staring at my desktop.

I managed to find a program online someone created which logs which windows are in focus in order, so using this program I was able to determine that when im gaming and this happens, the window taking focus is 'Explorer.exe'. which is suspiciously the same thing that is in focus if I just click on my background on my desktop from another program. Its essentially like my PC is just tabbing itself to desktop for no reason.

As mentioned above, ive not had this issue ever in 3 years with windows 10 and its only started happening when upgrading to windows 11 so clearly something new or different is causing this.

Things ive already tried... Disabling notifications, Turning on/off 'Game Mode'. Changing power plans. Disabling 'minimize when a second monitor is plugged in or removed.

None of these have solved this. At this point im thinking of just reverting back to windows 10 for now.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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.

0 comments

124 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2023-05-19T19:15:10+00:00

    Hi Michael,

    Thanks for the quick response. Unfortunately, I had disabled both, the search bar on the taskbar and the widgets in order to save on RAM. It hasn't worked for me. This is probably not the solution. The issue persists.

    Was this answer helpful?

    8 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. _AW_ 69,211 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-12-05T08:57:37+00:00

    This is fixed in the update KB5032288 currently available as a Cumulative Update Preview.

    • This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer windows. When you do not expect them, they appear in the foreground.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/december-4-2023-kb5032288-os-builds-22621-2792-and-22631-2792-preview-538fbe4a-e9de-4312-85cd-d870444341d0

    Was this answer helpful?

    7 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-11-08T14:11:16+00:00

    I have to agree with all who have posted here.

    This needs to be fixed.

    I have just deleted or moved or done something completely different to several files on my work laptop because I was in the middle of writing an email in Outlook when Windows Explorer stole focus. The result being:

    • The files are gone from the folder
    • Maybe they are deleted. Maybe they are moved. Reality is I don't know because I don't know my keystrokes and key combinations pressed when Windows Explorer stole focus
    • I have no clue on how to restore them as a consequence
    • I have to recreate the documents and files if possible

    This is simply put not good enough, and frankly I am pissed, that I have lost several days of work and critical files because you still haven't fixed a major bug, that you have known about for at least a year.

    Normally I wouldn't write in such a forum, but I am desperate for you to acknowledge a) that there is a bug and b) that you are intent on fixing it. My logic being, that if enough people write to you about this bug, you will fix it eventually. But so far my logic has clearly been flawed and I have no high hopes for the future.

    Was this answer helpful?

    7 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-10-06T21:33:35+00:00

    Same for me on Windows 11 fully patched. Same for all my colleagues. 8 pages of me too's and no solution. FFS MS fix this problem already!

    Was this answer helpful?

    7 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-05-19T19:02:48+00:00

    Sorry I havnt replied to any body in here. I did resolve this issue.

    Disable the search bar on the start bar so you no longer have that typing box there. Also disable widgets. This seemed to stop it for me!

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments