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

Anonymous

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

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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Anonymous

2023-03-31T07:21:25+00:00

when it begins by stating that many users are having the same problem then goes on to suggest fixes like loose/faulty video leads etc. - can't believe so many users have loose/faulty leads :) I've been running Win 10 on this PC for 6 months without issue - upgraded to Win 11 and it starts with the explorer and black screen problems - install fresh win 11 on new SSD and the problem is still there - clearly this is a Windows 11 'feature' not my PC - I can live with it for now but hopefully MS fixes it ...
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Anonymous

2023-03-30T20:37:07+00:00

I've been getting this explorer annoyance on my home Win 11 PC and wonder if there might also be a link to another problem I have of the screen going black for a few seconds at a random time after booting - like its decided to reinstall the video driver. I was waiting for MS to hopefully fix this sometime soon but my work PC has just done the explorer thing too ...

On the black screen front check if your screen supports Radeon freesync. Turning it on fixed that for me.
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Anonymous

2023-03-30T20:28:35+00:00

Hi c-duncan,

I haven't experienced what you're describing and haven't noticed any mention here of the screen going black. That's not to say that there isn't a connection, but these could be distinct issues. Might not hurt to troubleshoot that issue.

I came across this: Display blanks out for 2 or 3 seconds

Hope you figure it out!
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Anonymous

2023-03-30T15:21:41+00:00

I've been getting this explorer annoyance on my home Win 11 PC and wonder if there might also be a link to another problem I have of the screen going black for a few seconds at a random time after booting - like its decided to reinstall the video driver. I was waiting for MS to hopefully fix this sometime soon but my work PC has just done the explorer thing too ...
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Anonymous

2023-03-28T07:26:52+00:00

As a person who is experiencing the same issue, here's a possible reason from what I have observed:

When my wallpaper changes, the latest file explorer window pops up.

In my case, I'm using the Steam Wallpaper Engine; but I'm not sure that it matters. I believe it's happening when the wallpaper changes (that switch).

Can anyone else validate that observation?

I have observed that the explorer window has popped up when i was watching YouTube videos, something on Netflix, Disney+ and programming some stuff. Even when playing games, actually got me killed a few times. But in my case, it happens once every few days, maybe it is because i never really shutdown my computer?
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