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

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-09-12T14:27:07+00:00

    Maybe everyone can help my tweet to become Viral: https://twitter.com/FedeStories/status/1701603040065986714

    It could push Microsoft to pay attention.

    Feel free to create yours also and tag the same people and organizations!

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-09-05T00:55:22+00:00

    I don't think it works since I have even uninstalled the Widgets several months ago and still experience the same issue.

    It turns out, sadly, you are correct.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-09-04T17:12:51+00:00

    I don't think it works since I have even uninstalled the Widgets several months ago and still experience the same issue.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-09-04T16:56:21+00:00

    So I DID Resolve this issue a few weeks after posting this, and I've now been running windows 11 since without the problem and no more taking itself to desktop.

    However I'm not EXACTLY sure what specifically fixed it. But I'm sure it was one of the following.

    I don't use the search box and no Razer. After reading your message, I disabled Widgets (a good idea even if it has no relevance to this issue) and it's been almost 24 hours without an open Explorer window popping to the front. It could be just coincidental but I am hopeful.

    Someone else here said that did not work for them, but I remain hopeful.

    Update: When only ONE explorer window was open (for over 30 hours) it stole focus zero times. As soon as I had TWO explorer windows open, the problem reappeared.

    These folks seem to also be onto something since they can actually make this happen on cue, i.e., not randomly.: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-11-most-recently-opened-explorer-window/26e097bd-1eba-4462-99bd-61597b5195a0?page=19

    Thanks

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-08-25T18:54:53+00:00

    Hi all. I only just randomly came back to this post as I continuously get emails about it.

    So I DID Resolve this issue a few weeks after posting this, and I've now been running windows 11 since without the problem and no more taking itself to desktop.

    However I'm not EXACTLY sure what specifically fixed it. But I'm sure it was one of the following.

    Disable widgets

    Disable search box on the windows bar

    If you use the Razer application, exit out of it or disable it in start up

    If I had to guess if say it's the search box on windows bar that fixed it for me, but I did post this elsewhere once and it didn't work for them.

    Either way I've not had the issue now in forever (thank god!) It made playing any competitive online game literally impossible

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