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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
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.
Another work around to closing your Explorer Windows is to instead to Minimize that same Explorer Window by clicking the "-" icon.
I have just tried this method and it does not pop up the explorer window to front:
- Close all Explorer Windows
- Open an Explorer Window
- Minimize the Explorer Window by clicking the "-" top right
- Open CMD and type: gpupdate /force
- Explorer does not bring to front and stays minimized.
Back up the comments a ways, there is a post that will walk you through replicating the process. It is related to a Group Policy update that happens every so often. It is the most common cause amongst the people in here.
Thanks, James. I haven't sorted through to look for it yet, but is there a solution, or is it just that the reason has been identified and we are all waiting for the solution?
Diplocaulus
Like you, when i first tried the GP update File Exp. popped up; but thereafter, it stopped popping into foreground.
Also like you, i have desktop slideshow set to change every 10 min and have noticed that it, when switching background image, seems to force FE in to the foreground. But It also seems that FE pops up at other times as well (but not certain of this).
Back up the comments a ways, there is a post that will walk you through replicating the process. It is related to a Group Policy update that happens every so often. It is the most common cause amongst the people in here.
This started happening to me about a month ago too. I figured it was potentially an issue with my mouse, but then I started using the laptop with just the trackpad and the same issue happened. Seems to be unrelated to any specific app or activity. It does seem to happen when movement of the pointer is occuring though. I don't seem to recall any situation where it happens if the computer is just sitting there without any input.
