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

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.

0 comments

575 answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2023-06-27T00:03:30+00:00

    I also have this problem since about one month. Two colleagues of mine have it too.

    It really suprises me how old this thread is. This bug can mess up my stuff pretty bad. That is unacceptable...

    True. Whenever I need to use Zoom or online video conferencing applications, I need to remember to close all explorer windows - just to avoid them popping up during zoom etc meets. This is especially necessary if we're hosting running through a presentation.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-06-26T17:58:15+00:00

    I also have this problem since about one month. Two colleagues of mine have it too.

    It really suprises me how old this thread is. This bug can mess up my stuff pretty bad. That is unacceptable...

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-06-23T13:22:37+00:00

    It's super awesome when this happens during a company wide presentation and Explorer takes over PowerPoint.

    Does anyone at Microsoft care? It's called "Microsoft Windows" and the "Windows" part is literally broken... wow... smh...

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-06-23T08:36:08+00:00

    also happens if you leave control panel open - cp jumps to the fore :(

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-06-21T22:21:02+00:00

    I have this same issue, just happened 5 minutes ago.

    System Info:

    Processor AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D 8-Core Processor 3.60 GHz

    Installed RAM 32,0 GB

    Edition Windows 11 Pro

    Version 22H2

    Installed on ‎23/‎12/‎2022

    OS build 22621.1848

    Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22642.1000.0

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments