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
    2023-08-24T22:17:17+00:00

    Turning off the computer would work just as well. The problem is that both solutions are an enormous productivity impediments. I routinely work with multiple computers across a local network where opened File Explorer windows is not a luxury, but a necessity.

    That is exactly it. It is coming down to lots of people needing to do this extra hoop-jumping, plus lots of people need to have various explorer windows open when they work (even in the background) - and un-minimising explorer windows requires time and effort. Maybe ok for a once-off. But definitely not for every day or for every work day for weeks, months, year.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T12:45:59+00:00

    or just R-click explorer and 'close all windows'?

    Turning off the computer would work just as well. The problem is that both solutions are an enormous productivity impediments. I routinely work with multiple computers across a local network where opened File Explorer windows is not a luxury, but a necessity.

    I don't know whether it's because of hubris or ineptitude or both, but Microsoft has clearly gone around the bend on this. Could it be that this issue is the canary in the coal mine foretelling the collapse of Microsoft as a producer of reliable operating systems?

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T08:00:10+00:00

    There is a shortcut key combination for minimising windows, but I'm not sure it works for this issue. You can use WIN+D to minimise everything and return to the desktop.

    Nice one OW. That will be workable. Nice and easy. Much appreciated.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T07:48:55+00:00

    or just R-click explorer and 'close all windows'?

    Haha, desperate times call for sledgehammers.

    Also, the request was for a keyboard shortcut.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-08-24T07:47:44+00:00

    One could probably setup a key binding for this PowerShell script to kill all explorer windows:

    Get-Process | Where {$_.ProcessName -Like 'explorer'} | Stop-Process -Force

    😅

    Seems a bit overkill, but let me know how you get on?!

    it is an overkill solution... I like it. Going to try it out then, but it will also kill your desktop i am pretty sure.

    Yes, it kills the desktop, but the OS reinitiates that, so it seems fairly safe.

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