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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-08-25T07:08:51+00:00

    [...] my antivirus is Bit Defender. Someone else with the same antivirus here?

    It's not Bit Defender which is the problem since I don't have it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T23:05:22+00:00

    Could this problem be related to a third party software then? Maybe an antivirus, for example? I have this issue with Explorer stealing focus all the time, and my antivirus is Bit Defender. Someone else with the same antivirus here?

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T18:20:13+00:00

    I don't think it actually explorer. I killed explorer.exe (with taskmanager) then started a game of starcaft, after 5-10 minutes it suddenly focussed to to a black desktop - nothing there. Could alt-tab back to starcraft and continue though.

    I suspect you are correct. While I was reading your message in my inbox, another outlook window (calendar invite I had open) suddenly popped in front and took the focus for no reason.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T18:06:32+00:00

    Please vote in the Feedback Hub and bring your comments here: https://aka.ms/AAjglx2

    Also, you can add your comments or create a new ticket.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T18:06:00+00:00

    Please vote in the Feedback Hub and bring your comments here: https://aka.ms/AAjglx2

    Perhaps, in this way the Microsoft developers pay attention. Also, you can create a ticket. The more of us complain there, the "faster" Microsoft will do something. It will be crazy if Microsoft releases Windows 23H2 with this bug.

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