File Explorer stops registering clicks, W11 context menu issues

Within the last month or two I've been running into the following issues with file explorer...


1) File explorer windows eventually stop registering mouse clicks.

The windows aren't hanging or crashing at all, and it seems like tabbing and keyboard controls still work to interact with the window, but I can no longer left or right-click on files/folders unless I open a new file explorer window. It's very specifically the window itself that stops reacting to mouse clicks, the desktop or anything else still responds normally.


2) W11 new context menu intermittently works.

Seems to work fine on a fresh boot, for awhile, but like my first issue-- eventually the 'new' context menu starts to show up intermittently, on every other right-click, alternating with the 'old' context menu. This only seems to happen on files, clicking on folders still show the new context menu every time.


I don't see any obvious errors or warnings in event viewer. and I've now run into this same issue on 3 different machines all running the same W11 version.

djc5166 said:

3 different machines all running the same W11 vers

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My current Version is 24H2 and Build is Build 26100.4061 on 4 Notebooks and 2 Desktops. Is the problem with a mouse [what type connection] or just the touchpad on Notebooks or attached mouse on Desktops? If a mouse used is it the same on different ones? If it's USB are different ports tried?

Berton said:

My current Version is 24H2 and Build is Build 26100.4061 on 4 Notebooks and 2 Desktops. Is the problem with a mouse [what type connection] or just the touchpad on Notebooks or attached mouse on Desktops? If a mouse used is it the same on different ones? If it's USB are different ports tried?

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All of the above, one is a laptop with track pad, one is a logitech g600 mouse (usb), another is a work machine with some generic lenovo or maybe dell usb mouse (honestly I couldn't tell you what it is).

Same issue on all 3.

Welcome to the forum. I would approach it in this manner.

1. First and foremost, if you are using some 3rd party software that alters the GUI, uninstall it, restart, and see if the issue is fixed.
Also turn off any 3rd party anti-virus software if you use any.

2.. Use a clean boot to make sure some software is not conflicting with Windows. If it does not happen in a clean boot state, you will need to use process of elimination to find the offending software. Clean Install Windows 11

If it does happen in clean boot, then you know the problem is with the OS so try the following steps.

3. Make sure you have no corrupt system files that is causing this problem. Open a command prompt as administrator and type
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
After it completes restart, go back into command prompt as admin and type
sfc /scannow
Pay attention to the scan results to see if SFC found anything it could not repair. I
Restart computer

If none of that fixes the issue do a repair install. Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade

I forgot to include my Version is 24H2 Build 26100.4061 as of last Patch Tuesday 5/13/25.

glasskuter said:

If none of that fixes the issue do a repair install. Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade

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These are all already clean installs, I wiped everything once I started noticing these issues.

The only thing i really have is start11 so I guess I'll have to start there, although I have been using it for years at this point and never had any issues. Also haven't seen anyone else describe anything similar (yet).

Latest version of start11 is 2.5.1.3.

glasskuter said:

Latest version of start11 is 2.5.1.3.

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I'm on this version

You can export your start11 settings, Uninstall start 11 and restart. If that does not prove to be the problem you can always re-install it and inport your settings.
"Backup settings to a file" option within Start11 v2

Disabling start11 seems to have fixed #1 so far. It's hard to tell for sure since its very intermittent, I'll have to post on their forums if that is indeed the issue.

#2 is still happening though, so must be due to something else. Will keep investigating.

Still surprised I haven't seen any posts anywhere about this, #1 is especially aggravating.