Re: Renaming files: annoying automatic re-selection of entire filename in Windows 8

Anonymous
2020-10-19T14:19:02+00:00

So I think I've found a workaround that doesn't require a third party program. I simply can't reply to the original thread because it's closed, but I think my two cents may help some people since I'm having this problem on Windows 10 nearly seven years later.

It seems that, because I'm trying to rename something on dropbox, that there's a lag between me choosing to rename the file and dropbox recognizing that I'm trying to rename a file. At first, I would wait a few seconds, hit "Home" or the left arrow key, and then work on renaming the file hoping it doesn't happen again, which sometimes it does.

It seems though, that if I hit backspace (when the filename is still initially selected), ctrl+z (to undo deleting the file name), and then home (to get back to the beginning of the file name), I can use the arrow keys to move to the portion I need to rename unmolested, almost like it forces dropbox to recognize that a file is being renamed.

Original thread: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8\_1-files/renaming-files-annoying-automatic-re-selection-of/3e451ce8-282a-4638-88ee-fd9f7cca2536

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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
    2022-05-12T22:29:45+00:00

    Greetings! It is now May 2022 and this is still happening. Did anyone hear back from Microsoft that this will be addressed, or found a good workaround?

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-05-05T17:56:57+00:00

    This was reported at least SIX years back. It is 2020 and Microsoft is selling a product with a fundamental flaw in their OS. It's as if every single refrigerator that Frigidaire sold took a **** on your kitchen floor every once in a while and we're all supposed to just go, Oh, that's what refrigerators do.

    It's now another 2 years later and the issue still exists :)

    This happens with any sync application, not just onedrive, so I assume it's actually a windows issue.

    I don't think they care tbh

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-04-22T15:50:31+00:00

    Here we are in the middle of 2022 on Windows 11 and the issue persists.

    Problem:

    When renaming files, text will be automatically highlighted in the middle of typing, deleting the entire filename.

    This makes renaming files an unnecessary challenge. If you are running any sort of batch process, it could be devastating to that operation. Even trying to manually tab to the next file and quickly edit a series of file names becomes a chore.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-04-02T14:45:48+00:00

    Hi, wondering if this might help you

    I set up a new desktop recently and had sporadic recurrence of the issue. I found a thread in which the problem was (also) linked to automatic refresh of windows explorer, which was linked to a setting in Themes.

    This is the relevant advice:

    "disabl[e] automatically pick an accent color from my background option from personalization setting."

    This is the thread: https://forums.windowscentral.com/windows-10/371637-how-solve-issue-auto-refresh-file-explorer-windows-10-a.html

    The re-selection issue is almost but not entirely gone. I believe there are some forced refreshes from the multiple cloud-share platforms I use that occasionally cause the problem to recur--but it's much less intrusive.

    Hope this helps

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-02-25T18:54:37+00:00

    I am truly disappointed MS hasn't fixed this issue that is so frustrating! I have found something that, so far, works. Instead of right clicking to add or rename a folder, I use the toolbar icon and then the New Folder appears on the right side of the screen instead of the left side when I right click. I am then able to add a new folder without any issues.

    Hope this helps others! So strange...

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