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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-01-30T18:39:59+00:00

    Hi Mitchell,

    I just reported the problem to Feedback Hub as well. In case this issue is being caused by another Windows app, here are some other Explorer-related apps I have installed:

    iCloud

    Google Drive

    pCloud

    OneDrive

    DropBox

    Thanks.

    Windows 11 Home Version 10.0.22621 Build 22621

    AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 16-core, 32-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor

    MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WIFI Motherboard

    Samsung 970 PRO SSD 1TB - M.2 NVMe Interface Internal Solid State Drive

    M.2 Internal Solid State Drive

    Samsung 980 PRO SSD 2TB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 Gaming

    G.Skill RipJaws V Series 64GB (2 x 32GB) 288-Pin SDRAM DDR4 3600 (PC4-28800)

    ZOTAC GeForce 8GB RTX 3060 Ti v528.02

    Monitor: BenQ PD3200U, 3840x2160

    Corsair RMX Series (2021), RM850x, 850 Watt Power Supply

    Seagate BarraCuda 8TB Internal Hard Drive HDD

    SAMSUNG T5 Portable SSD 1TB

    Logitech G910 USB Wired Gaming Keyboard

    Logitech G502 Wired Gaming Mouse

    Logitech G633 Artemis Spectrum Gaming Headset

    Razer Tartarus Gaming Keypad

    Contour ShuttlePRO v2

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-01-30T08:32:52+00:00

    Hi Mitchell and all,

    Just to reiterate - I added an item on the Feedback Hub last month when I first spotted this issue.

    See the following entry: https://aka.ms/AAj4p5k

    Cheers,

    Oli

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-01-23T13:27:48+00:00

    Same, observing the same on both my private and work laptop, one being a ThinkPad E495, the other being an XPS 15, both running 22H2. Didn't observe the issue before December last year, then it appeared on both after one of the Win updates.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-01-17T01:57:00+00:00

    Hi Pauliiine,

    Perhaps because I haven't described this step in enough detail, you think it's a complicated step. I found the following link with a video and illustrated tutorial to guide you through the process:

    How to: Perform a Repair Upgrade Using the Windows 11 or Windows 10 ISO file

    If you need telephone support, I can provide you with the following link where you can find the telephone contact information of support personnel in your country or region:

    Global Customer Service phone numbers

    Best regards,

    Mitchell - | Microsoft community support expert from MSFT

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-01-10T01:44:54+00:00

    Hi Diplocaulus,

    It looks like quite a few users are experiencing similar problems, but unfortunately I was unable to reproduce the problem on the test device.

    If it is convenient, could you please record a video of the current popover problem and provide it to me?

    Best regards,

    Mitchell - | Microsoft community support expert from MSFT

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