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
    2023-10-14T23:15:31+00:00

    Why am I not surprised that the issue wasn't fixed with the latest update?

    I'll tell you why

    Microsoft is more worried about buying up the competition than keeping its products in line and up to spec

    my reaction to the feature update video regarding the "modernized windows file explorer" app is as follows:

    Not once did they acknowledge the issues the present file explorer has brought to its users on both windows 10 and 11, across every available version of the OS.

    Not once did they address the community outrage and discourse their consumers have towards their products.

    I think it's pretty clear they don't care, if it ain't bringing them money or it's taking their focus off of what they consider their "top priorities", or if it isn't an immediate security concern, then it's not worth investigating.

    Will Microsoft prove my statement wrong...not likely

    Kinda sad really

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-10-17T13:42:23+00:00

    As I reported, my machine that had no issues for months had one last Saturday (today is Tuesday), Well ... it certainly has it today. I have to reprogram my head to remember to shut Windows Explorer whenever I launch Excel ---

    When I use Excel each morning I need to launch two Excel files from the Explorer window ... today the Explorer window popped to the front faster than my clicking on that Window to make it pop to the front.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-10-17T14:32:10+00:00

    I have also lived with this for months now, thought i was imagining things until searched for this very useful thread. Very frustrating getting my excel work interrupted every 10-15 mins.

    Plsss MS ......................fix this ASAP :(

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-10-17T14:45:14+00:00

    The bug originally surfaced around September 2022. It is scheduled to be "mostly mitigated" in the upcoming 23H2 release, where instead of a popping up a window permanently and stealing focus, it will pop up a window for 1 frame without stealing focus.

    But as a special treat to you, here's my Twitch video clip of the problem from September 2022, where I reported the issue as a Windows Insider. Watch the whole thing. Laugh, if you can. Enjoy :) https://clips.twitch.tv/DrabBoldPizzaVoHiYo-C3prGGlpvipemTHa

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