Windows 11--most recently opened Explorer window keeps popping up into the foreground

In conclusion, everyone is facing the same issue and no one has a solution. We have different version of Windows 11, different configurations, etc. My new question would be: Have you raised or voted for question in the Feedback Hub?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/send-feedback-to-microsoft-with-the-feedback-hub-app-f59187f8-8739-22d6-ba93-f66612949332

If the answer is No, then, please go ahead and do it. That's the right place where Microsoft people are going to prioritize this topic. If you don't think it's the case, they eventually listen: https://www.xda-developers.com/how-enable-taskbar-ungrouping-labels-windows-11/

We need to bring this topic to the right place, here is an open forum that might never be listened by them. Some "collaborators" come here, but they can barely do anything.

Exactly! The squeaky wheel gets the grease. I've posed the same a couple of times on this thread, but we need to keep posting so that more folk officially register their complaints.

So, go to Feedback Hub and search for "File Explorer will take foreground focus." And post post post....

or just R-click explorer and 'close all windows'?

This is a bug when it comes to Win11. The cause is group policy update. It is possible to disable group policy updates, but AFAIK, it is only possible on Win11Pro. If you are using an work computer, do not try to disable it since this feature is important for a work environment.

If you are going to disable group policy update on a work computer, please speak with your IT team first!

How to disable group policy update:

In the group policy editor set the policy Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\System\Group Policy\Turn off background refresh of Group Policy to disabled.

Alternatively, you can do the registry approach.Location: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

Key: DisableBkGndGroupPolicy

Setting: DWORD set to 1

As an fix you can either minimize or close the windows. After they have popped into the front once, they wont do it again. So if you manage to re-use only your current opens ones then they will not go into the front again.

I don't like the idea of them making me needing to hoop-jump. But if there happens to be a short-cut key combination that allows me to trigger a script that minimises all existing Explorer windows (background and/or foreground), then that could be fairly easy to execute.

Although, the network admin would need to probably approve such a script (if one could be created) - so that all machines could be set up with the same key-combination shortcut that runs the approved script (installed into all Win 11 operating systems).

Trying to execute complicated CGI, Photoshop or video editing procedures when a File Explorer window suddenly pulls focus can be disastrous; happens to me several times a day, every day. Maybe Microsoft engineered Windows 11 to be the Annoying Anti-Productivity OS, for reasons unknown.

Totally agree with you Diplo. Just yesterday, I was editing an MS Word document (and has happened before) -- where a string of background explorer windows came up, as I was typing and back-spacing etc. Even though there might be safeguards to prevent particular key combinations (eg. backspace, delete) from activating when those explorer DIRECTORY windows pop-up -- there is always the 'worry' that important directories or files or something could eventually be unknowingly impacted negatively under some unforeseen and unaccounted conditions. Also the fact that it is disruptive when you're working and those windows just pop-up at random. It's unsatisfactory.

As an fix you can either minimize or close the windows. After they have popped into the front once, they wont do it again. So if you manage to re-use only your current opens ones then they will not go into the front again.