Windows 11--most recently opened Explorer window keeps popping up into the foreground

Anonymous
2023-01-01T17:15:47+00:00

About a month ago Windows Explorer started the annoying habit of routinely moving its most recently opened window into the foreground. Is there a way to stop it from doing this?

For example, I'll open an Explorer window to open a file into another application, and a few minutes later, for no apparent reason, Windows Explorer will interrupt the application by popping its Explorer window into the foreground. The same thing will happen when watching a video: a minute or two into watching the video and the most recently opened Explorer window will move into the foreground interrupting the video.

The only way to stop this behavior is to close all Explorer windows while watching a video or working in another application. Annoying as heck. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Microsoft Windows 11 Home Version 10.0.22621 Build 22621

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-11-17T12:09:09+00:00

    Now... not wanting to get my hopes up BUT Microsoft next preview build, published November 16, 2023, say:

    Releasing Windows 11 Builds 22621.2787 and 22631.2787 to the Release Preview Channel
    https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/11/16/releasing-windows-11-builds-22621-2787-and-22631-2787-to-the-release-preview-channel/

    This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer windows. When you do not expect them, they appear in the foreground.

    We have been here before, more than once I think, but I'm choosing to be optimistic and hope that FINALLY Microsoft can actually get this issue solved.

    This sounds positive, looking forward to testing this when its released.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-11-17T11:57:35+00:00

    Now... not wanting to get my hopes up BUT Microsoft next preview build, published November 16, 2023, say:

    Releasing Windows 11 Builds 22621.2787 and 22631.2787 to the Release Preview Channel
    https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/11/16/releasing-windows-11-builds-22621-2787-and-22631-2787-to-the-release-preview-channel/

    This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer windows. When you do not expect them, they appear in the foreground.

    We have been here before, more than once I think, but I'm choosing to be optimistic and hope that FINALLY Microsoft can actually get this issue solved.

    I'm not familiar with the channels available to general members of the public. Is the Release Preview Channel available to everyone, or just insiders? What kind of timeframe might we expect for a fix on that channel reaching the wider masses?

    This sounds like pretty good news, though. Thanks @Sam Lonsdale!

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-11-16T23:10:31+00:00

    I am replying to the wrong post but earlier today was some comment that someone from Microsoft implied that customers close the Explorer Window as a normal protocol? Whomever said that should be fired.

    Obviously they are not power users.

    Maybe they never heard of people actually using the product for productive use of various files within the Explorer Window.

    Something appears to be very wrong in there. A sign of something maybe.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-11-16T18:57:02+00:00

    ...

    https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoft/comments/o22lfc/microsoft_official_support_thread/

    So Microsoft's "Official" Support Thread is hosted at Reddit, and not a domain hosted by microsoft.com... got it! (not you... them...)

    Any Reddit whose pinned post begins as follows, "Microsoft Listens (sic) This (sic) thread was created in order to facilitate easy-to-access support for our Reddit subscribers" is probably not worth anyone's time.

    Interesting. It wouldn't have occurred to me that a forum with as high a profile as r/microsoft wouldn't be officially sanctioned. If not officially sanctioned by Microsoft, then tacitly by virtue of its existence, but maybe I'm being naive.

    On the other hand, under r/microsoft Rules it reads: "1. Microsoft-related content (discussion pertaining to our products, news or events) only:"

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