This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
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.
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.
This appears to have fixed it for me (Windows 11 Pro 22621.1778)
- Open an Explorer window
- Open Options
- Select the View tab
- Scroll down and check "Launch folder windows in a separate process"
- Click Apply, then OK
Not a fix for the bug but an effective workaround for this annoyance.
This was the only thing that fixed this for me.
I got the same issue (fresh W11 install) but this fix does not help me, seeing as I don't have that registry entry to begin with.
It doesn't happen every day, but I'm not using full-screen apps either all the time when it happens. I can sit in Notepad and it randomly decides to tab to an open Explorer window.
Trying out the "Launch folder windows in a separate process" option.
I've been having this happen to me as well. The last two times I noticed the time was 8:59am (PST), although maybe that's a coincidence.
Windows 11 v22H@ (build 22624.1755)
Two 4K monitors, side-by-side (left/right)
I have a static wallpaper, not a slideshow (saw someone mention that)
I don't have the search bar enabled in Explorer (saw someone mention that too)
I'm not using "widgets" as far as I know
Tabs are enabled in Explorer I never use them -- I only ever use 1 tab per Explorer window
This has been going on for months -- can we please get a fix?!
I can't say I've paid attention to when it happens, but it just happened to me at around 8:59 PDT.
This issue is also
No - just one screen.
