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. 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?

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  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.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-05-17T14:33:49+00:00

    Every day for the past six months I've been dealing with this issue. Why has Microsoft gone AWOL? I've been using Windows for 30 years, but I'm sorry to say this is the first time I'm seriously looking into alternatives to Windows.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. 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

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-05-22T20:25:44+00:00

    Mine as well, probably started around the same time, very annoying. My system:

    Win11 Home

    10.0.22621 Build 22621

    Dell Inspiron 7700 AIO

    x64-based PC

    11th Gen Intel i7-1165G7 @2.8GHz, 2803 Mhz, 4 Cores 8 Logical Processors

    BIOS Dell 1.18.0, 03/09/23

    SMBIOS Version 3.3

    16 GB Physical RAM

    Total Virtual Memory 24.1 GB

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments