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
    2023-05-19T20:24:04+00:00

    Been dealing with this for months. Frustrating!

    Edition Windows 11 Pro

    Version 22H2

    OS build 22621.1702

    Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22641.1000.0

    Processor 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1260P 2.10 GHz

    Installed RAM 32.0 GB (31.7 GB usable)

    System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

    Intel Iris Xe Graphics

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-05-13T01:12:02+00:00

    I've recently noticed that occasionally two Explorer windows will simultaneously pop into the fore, not just one. Does this mean the problem is getting worse, not better?

    Microsoft: Are you paying attention?

    Absolutely. I have had multiple of my background explorer windows pop up - they all just pop out in the one shot in quick succession. This can happen when I'm just scrolling through a powerpoint document with a mouse, or not touching the keyboard at all during a zoom meeting, or even just typing something on the keyboard. When I'm typing on the keyboard, what concerns me (aside from the problematic pop ups, which shouldn't be happening in the first place) is if the explorer window pops to the foreground and also happen to be pushing the 'wrong' key - such as the chance me losing data or something if I push the wrong key, or losing my concentration when I'm working on something.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-05-12T15:02:23+00:00

    I hear you. I've been using Windows since version 2 when it was just a layer atop MS-DOS. It's difficult to fathom Microsoft's apparent inability (unwillingness?) to address serious issues like this, but what I find just as irksome is the concurrent devolution of Windows into a platform for pushing 3rd-party products, i.e., advertising.

    Just yesterday I opened my longtime favorite PC weather app, MSN Weather, to suddenly see UI real estate devoted to an ad featuring doomsday preppers tripe. Really, Microsoft?

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-05-12T14:01:45+00:00

    Windows 11 installed an update last night. Did it fix the problem? Nope.

    I've lived through the XP to Vista debacle...

    I've lived through the removal of the start button in Window 8, and the subsequent reinstating of it in 8.1...

    I've lived through a seemingly endless succession of questionable decisions, although I've understood Microsoft's desire to compete in the tablet PC market, and therefore make their OS touch compatible.

    I'm learning to live with the removal of Windows 3.1 features, like the left-corner double-click to close, which was just flat-out omitted from the UWP.

    I'm actively frustrated by several issues with Microsoft applications, including:

    1. The annoying double-click system tray issue, whereby double-clicking the Outlook system tray icon doesn't open the application.
    2. The frustrating lack of support for options around task bar grouping. I have SO MUCH taskbar space, and yet all my open windows are invisible under a single icon.
    3. The broken start menu, whereby the bottom half of my start menu is just blank, yet I have to side-scroll the top panel because I have more than 18 items pinned. No, wait, they actually fixed this. OMG.
    4. The inability to drag and drop things into emails without using the keyboard.
    5. The irregular interruption from Explorer windows popping up.

    Through all these years, the interruption by Explorer is by far the most gear-grinding issue I have ever had with a Microsoft tool. Issues 1-4 are all restrictive frustrations; I wish to take an action and have to do that action in a certain way. Issue 5, the interruption, is a destructive frustration because it actively breaks my concentration.

    (I would argue that issue 1 was also destructive, but I have somehow trained myself to follow the steps: Double-click; look for the flashing icon, click the flashing icon, look for the tiny preview that looks like Outlook, click the tiny preview. So it no longer leaves me floundering wondering why my Outlook hasn't opened and repeatedly double-clicking the icon subconsciously expecting a better result.)

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-05-09T12:33:35+00:00

    I've recently noticed that occasionally two Explorer windows will simultaneously pop into the fore, not just one. Does this mean the problem is getting worse, not better?

    Microsoft: Are you paying attention?

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