Solved File Explorer windows pops up out of nowhere

cbreemer · Feb 29, 2024

Since a day or so, at seemingly random moments a File Explorer window pops up in front of everything. This started to happen shortly after I had installed ExplorerPatcher. I am 100% positive that it never happened before, I would have remembered.

This post You're Not Alone: Windows 11 Is Randomly Opening File Explorer says that this is a Windows 11 issue (which seems unlikely to me as I never saw it before installing EP), and that it does not create a new window but only brings an existing window to the foreground (which is pertinently untrue, it does create a new file explorer window). Some further investigation suggests that it happens when an application that was using full screen switches back to normal display (at least that is how I can reliably reproduce it).

It is not a big deal but it's annoying, and somewhat spoils my joy in having discovered ExplorerPatcher. Any ideas out there ?

antspants · Feb 29, 2024

Please type winver into search, press enter and give the results

cbreemer · Feb 29, 2024

antspants said:
Please type winver into search, press enter and give the results

Windows 11 Version 22H2 (OS Build 22621.3155)
I have updated my System Specs accordingly

antspants · Feb 29, 2024

I haven’t actually heard of the whole File Explorer opening up on it’s own. But there was an update from Windows that included a fix for File Explorer coming to the forground whilst doing other things. I’m just trying to find it. Not sure if it’s pre your version or post. Have you considered making a system image and then updating to 23H2?

antspants · Feb 29, 2024

Do you have this update do you know?

KB5032288 Windows 11 Cumulative Update Preview Build 22621.2792 (22H2) and 22631.2792 (23H2)

UPDATE 12/12: https://www.elevenforum.com/t/kb5033375-windows-11-cumulative-update-preview-build-22621-2861-22h2-and-22631-2861-23h2.20624/ Microsoft Support: December 4, 2023 - KB5032288 (OS Builds 22621.2792 and 22631.2792) Preview IMPORTANT Because of minimal operations during the Western...

www.elevenforum.com

cbreemer · Feb 29, 2024

Thanks for your help, much appreciated !

antspants said:
I haven’t actually heard of the whole File Explorer opening up on it’s own. But there was an update from Windows that included a fix for File Explorer coming to the forground whilst doing other things. I’m just trying to find it. Not sure if it’s pre your version or post. Have you considered making a system image and then updating to 23H2?

No. My Windows Update screen says I am up to date (having just Checked for Updates) so I thought there should be no need to do anything ?

antspants said:
Do you have this update do you know?

KB5032288 Windows 11 Cumulative Update Preview Build 22621.2792 (22H2) and 22631.2792 (23H2)

UPDATE 12/12: https://www.elevenforum.com/t/kb5033375-windows-11-cumulative-update-preview-build-22621-2861-22h2-and-22631-2861-23h2.20624/ Microsoft Support: December 4, 2023 - KB5032288 (OS Builds 22621.2792 and 22631.2792) Preview IMPORTANT Because of minimal operations during the Western...

www.elevenforum.com

I don't think so. I've scrolled through the lists in Update History and do not see that particular KB number.

Actually my build number is higher than the one shown in your link. So I should have that fix, or is that too simple thinking ?

Sir_George · Feb 29, 2024

cbreemer said:
Since a day or so, at seemingly random moments a File Explorer window pops up in front of everything. This started to happen shortly after I had installed ExplorerPatcher. I am 100% positive that it never happened before, I would have remembered.

This post You're Not Alone: Windows 11 Is Randomly Opening File Explorer says that this is a Windows 11 issue (which seems unlikely to me as I never saw it before installing EP), and that it does not create a new window but only brings an existing window to the foreground (which is pertinently untrue, it does create a new file explorer window). Some further investigation suggests that it happens when an application that was using full screen switches back to normal display (at least that is how I can reliably reproduce it).

It is not a big deal but it's annoying, and somewhat spoils my joy in having discovered ExplorerPatcher. Any ideas out there ?

If this issue only happened after installing "ExplorerPatcher" I suggest uninstalling the app and check the results.

antspants · Feb 29, 2024

Sir_George would be right. (I totally overlooked you mentioning Explorer Patcher)

As for that update, yes one could assume you have it.
The latest version of Windows is 23H2 (OS Build 22631.3155)
You haven’t yet been offered 23H2 but Microsoft is still (as far as I know) rolling stuff out. I don’t know why, it’s been a while. People (Myself included) almost jumped through hoops to be updated to 23H2 (again I don’t know why) and I’d probably encourage you to not care and wait til it pops into your Windows updates, whenever that may be. There are ways to force it, but like I said, you probably shouldn’t need have a care about it.

cbreemer · Feb 29, 2024

Thanks both ! Yes that would be the next step. And indeed now I've uninstalled EP I cannot reproduce the issue anymore so I can assume/hope things are back to normal. Oh well, back to Windows 11 appearance again

I regret it but it's less annoying than getting that file explorer thrown in my face all the time. Perhaps 23H2 will fix it, I'll try again when that's installed.

antspants · Feb 29, 2024

cbreemer said:
Thanks both ! Yes that would be the next step. And indeed now I've uninstalled EP I cannot reproduce the issue anymore so I can assume/hope things are back to normal. Oh well, back to Windows 11 appearance again I regret it but it's less annoying than getting that file explorer thrown in my face all the time. Perhaps 23H2 will fix it, I'll try again when that's installed.

What changes/enhancements were you making with Explorer Patcher?

hdmi · Feb 29, 2024

cbreemer said:
Thanks both ! Yes that would be the next step. And indeed now I've uninstalled EP I cannot reproduce the issue anymore so I can assume/hope things are back to normal. Oh well, back to Windows 11 appearance again I regret it but it's less annoying than getting that file explorer thrown in my face all the time. Perhaps 23H2 will fix it, I'll try again when that's installed.

Try re-installiong EP, and, in its settings, change Control Interface to Windows 10 Ribbon:

cbreemer · Feb 29, 2024

antspants said:
What changes/enhancements were you making with Explorer Patcher?

Oh nothing really essential. I thought I needed it to be able to drag or pin a shortcut to the taskbar, but turned out I was wrong about that

antspants · Feb 29, 2024

cbreemer said:
Oh nothing really essential. I thought I needed it to be able to drag or pin a shortcut to the taskbar, but turned out I was wrong about that

Yeah, lots of tutorials for stuff in the tutorial section. You could look for days.

cbreemer · Feb 29, 2024

hdmi said:
Try re-installiong EP, and, in its settings, change Control Interface to Windows 10 Ribbon:

Thanks for the suggestion ! Anything is worth a try, so I re-installed EP, and right out of the box (without changing the Control Interface) the problem doesn't seem to happen anymore

Or at least I cannot reproduce it like I could before. I know I changed some settings yesterday but can't remember which ones exactly now. So I'll need to make any changes individually and see if there is one that triggers the problem.

hdmi · Feb 29, 2024

cbreemer said:
Thanks for the suggestion ! Anything is worth a try, so I re-installed EP, and right out of the box (without changing the Control Interface) the problem doesn't seem to happen anymore Or at least I cannot reproduce it like I could before. I know I changed some settings yesterday but can't remember which ones exactly now. So I'll need to make any changes individually and see if there is one that triggers the problem.

EP has an option to export/import all of its settings to/from a file. Settings management