Windows File Explorer, navigating folders opens new windows and back button not working


howlpendragon

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Hello -

I did some searching through the forums and I did not find anything similar, but this is my first post so forgive me if I missed something.

I recently installed a new machine to Windows Version 24H2 (OS Build 26100.1742).

I am experiencing an issue where the back button does not work occasionally, so navigating folders is quite difficult. There is no lag or resource shortage on the machine.
When this issue appears, there is an additional symptom where clicking on the folders ex. 1:

1728566879458.png

If I click on the folder in this portion of the address bar, it simply opens a totally new window instead of just navigating to the desired folder.

I am not sure if this is some strange new functionality, but I am used to the current window just transitioning to the target folder.

This is the back button in question: 1728566954513.png

I also checked my keyboard, because I know that sometimes holding Shift or Control while clicking can do strange things, but I'm definitely not holding those keys when I click.

Thanks for any insight or help.
 
Windows Build/Version
24H2 (OS Build 26100.1742)

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
have a look here please.
open explorer in the top bar there are 3 dots ... click on them.
on the drop down menu .. at the bottom .. click options.

a new small window will open and on the first tab 'general' right at the top is ..
A) open each folder in the same window
B) open each folder in its own window

make sure the first option is marked then at the bottom click apply.
see if that works. best of luck, Steve ..
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP 24" AiO
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 5825u
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    64GB DDR4 3200
    Graphics Card(s)
    Ryzen 7 5825u
    Sound Card
    RealTek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP
    Hard Drives
    1TB WD Blue SN580 M2 SSD Partitioned.
    250GB C:/Windows .. 750GB D:/Home.
    2x 1TB USB HDD External Backup/Storage.
    Internet Speed
    900MB full fibre
    Browser
    Vivaldi .. Browser, Calendar, eMail.
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security
    Other Info
    Mainly Open Source Software
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP 24" AiO
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 5500u
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 3200
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon GPU
    Sound Card
    RealTek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP
    Hard Drives
    1TB WD blue SN580 M2 SSD Partitioned.
    250GB C:/Windows .. 750GB D:/Home.
    2x 1TB HDD External Backup/Storage.
    Internet Speed
    900MB Full Fibre
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security
    Other Info
    Mainly Windows Software
    'The Wife's Computer'
Hi Steve,

Thanks for the quick reply. I took a look, and this is what I saw.

1728567911239.png

Indeed the first option was selected, and just to make sure, I clicked in the address bar and again it opened a new folder.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
that looks all OK will have to have a think and see if something else can cause it or can repair explorer.

just to add.

best of luck, Steve ..
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP 24" AiO
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 5825u
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    64GB DDR4 3200
    Graphics Card(s)
    Ryzen 7 5825u
    Sound Card
    RealTek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP
    Hard Drives
    1TB WD Blue SN580 M2 SSD Partitioned.
    250GB C:/Windows .. 750GB D:/Home.
    2x 1TB USB HDD External Backup/Storage.
    Internet Speed
    900MB full fibre
    Browser
    Vivaldi .. Browser, Calendar, eMail.
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security
    Other Info
    Mainly Open Source Software
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP 24" AiO
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 5500u
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 3200
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon GPU
    Sound Card
    RealTek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP
    Hard Drives
    1TB WD blue SN580 M2 SSD Partitioned.
    250GB C:/Windows .. 750GB D:/Home.
    2x 1TB HDD External Backup/Storage.
    Internet Speed
    900MB Full Fibre
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security
    Other Info
    Mainly Windows Software
    'The Wife's Computer'
As for the Back button, if the folder opened in a new window there is nothing to go back to so the back and forward buttons become ineffective.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Hi Berton,

The new window only opens when I click on the folder in the address bar trying to go back to a previous folder. If I navigate forward several folders deep (by clicking in the large area where all the folders are listed) and then try to go back, it does not work.

It is really strange.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

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