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
    2025-01-27T05:40:00+00:00

    Wil this ever get fixed!!! Outrageous that this has been allowed for so long. Negligent event. :(

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-04-28T18:44:47+00:00

    Checking in from April 28, 2024... new Windows 11 workstation and this happens 100% of the time on a networked drive (mounted from a Synology NAS), while there are changes happening on that drive. Mind you, none of those changes are visible in the window where I'm working, but any external activity on the drive seems to drive Windows crazy and it constantly reselects the item you are trying to rename. When tried on an identical mounted drive that does not have any activity, everything works as expected.

    None of the workarounds here made any difference - the problem is 100% consistently present and immediate, so that you simply cannot rename anything from the GUI while there is other activity on the drive, which is of course insanely frustrating.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-02-21T19:37:46+00:00

    This just worked for me on Windows 11, build 22000.527. The only thing I did was uncheck the box; no uninstall or restart needed. Thanks for sharing!

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