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: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. _AW_ 69,121 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-12-04T23:21:43+00:00

    This is fixed in the update KB5032288 currently available as a Cumulative Update Preview.

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

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/december-4-2023-kb5032288-os-builds-22621-2792-and-22631-2792-preview-538fbe4a-e9de-4312-85cd-d870444341d0

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-12-04T23:36:04+00:00

    This is fixed in the update KB5032288 currently available as a Cumulative Update Preview.

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

    https://www.neowin.net/news/kb5032288-for-windows-11-23h2-and-22h2-is-out-with-multiple-copilot-improvements-and-more/ 

    fool me once…

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-04T23:46:26+00:00

    I have seen that explorer pop-up thing come up during professional presentations, and professional meetings. It's not a minor issue. The surprising situation is that there still appears to be no official representative or official site that relays to the public or customers that a team is officially engaging to resolve the problem. It has been more than one year.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-12-05T00:25:13+00:00

    Just installed.🤞

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-12-05T09:36:08+00:00

    I can quite happily confirm, the latest Preview patch fixes the gpupdate issue bringing new Explorer windows to the front/taking focus.

    December 4, 2023—KB5032288 (OS Builds 22621.2792 and 22631.2792) Preview - Microsoft Support

    To grab the update you can get this via Windows Settings - Windows Update.

    Or directly from Windows Update Catalog:

    Microsoft Update Catalog

    The update with this fix should automatically apply to all users after Tuesday December 12th.

    This took 1 year and 1 month to fix... has to be a record no?

    Was this answer helpful?

    7 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments