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.

0 comments

117 answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2023-02-13T18:28:54+00:00

    I have the same issue, and it is one of the most irritating daily work bugs. I'm using Windows 11 Enterprise edition, so whatever it is causing this it's fundamental to some internals of Windows.

    It goes like this. Select a file name, or a folder name, then use either F2 or a delayed mouse click to select the filename editing feature. What I've discovered is that Windows will automatically select the entire filename, and no matter what I do with the keyboard cursor keys (HOME, END, INS, DEL, up arrow, down arrow, left arrow, right arrow) after a short delay Windows will re-select the entire filename.

    This is quite surprising, and extraordinarily annoying. I curse it every day.

    I agree with other posts here. This extraordinarily annoying bug seems to be strongly correlated with cloud files. In my case, the files are on OneDrive. Doing the same actions on a file stored locally doesn't reveal the bug.

    Followup. Disabling File Sync using the OneDrive settings seems to cure the behavior. There is about a one minute delay between the disable and the inhibiting of the bug.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-02-13T21:09:11+00:00

    Did you try RicZaterra's fix posted above? It helped a lot.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-02-14T06:17:59+00:00

    Its a problem when you are on your work computer and disabling File Sync is only possible by an IT admin.... Try asking your IT department to disable File Sync...

    On my private PC and account this worked

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-02-16T16:55:59+00:00

    This reduced the frequency of the issue, but did not solve the problem entirely. For instance, I have turned off "Show sync provider notifications" on my work laptop. However, while attempting to rename a couple folders, the issue still occurred for both folders.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-02-28T00:44:32+00:00

    This worked for my OneDrive problem.
    Thank you so much!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments