Windows 11 bug opens Explorer randomly without prompt
Every time it scares the S*** out of me.
Share this article...
WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
Microsoft is pretty well known for fixing the things they break. After all, nobody would use the Windows OS if it was an utterly buggy mess. However, there has been one bug that remains untouched since last year’s Windows 11 22H2 update. This bug changes the window focus to file explorer for no reason. Or in simpler terms, this Windows 11 bug opens Explorer randomly.
Windows 11 bug opens Explorer randomly
The Windows 11 22H2 update was made available in September 2022, which incorporated various features and changes. An intriguing component added was the tabs feature in the File Explorer application, albeit it was delayed until October due to pre-release setbacks. However, it seems that despite the release bug, Microsoft has yet to rectify it. The bug still runs rampant today.
In January 2023, a Reddit user by the name of Lieuallen posted a thread on the Windows subreddit stating that “File Explorer steals focus seemingly at random unless it is closed after use. Other users also reported in the comments section that they too have seen similar issues with Windows 11.
This bug is not the end of the world, nor is it system-breaking, but it can be scary. If someone isn’t aware of this bug they could easily be convinced there is someone inside your system controlling your PC. But fear not, there probably isn’t.
Many of us in the office have experienced this bug firsthand, personally, it startles me every time, been though I’m aware of it. The bug can be rather annoying and disruptive, especially when playing games and trying to complete work and Explorer decides to pull focus from whatever you doing.
How to fix Windows 11 Explorer bug
There is an official fix, but you’ll have to enroll in the Dev and Canary builds of Windows 11, essentially these are builds that are currently in development and still contain bugs. These builds are released to the public to test when the public opt into them.
This does mean that Microsoft is aware of the issue and will likely be rolling out an update to fix the Explorer bug soon. But if you can’t wait, there are a couple of things you can try, with limited success.
A number of individuals have made efforts to address the issue. One ElevenForum post proposed various ideas, such as disabling autoplay, entering a command in PowerShell, and deactivating Focus Assist. While these remedies occasionally proved helpful to some, none of them are universally reliable.
You should note, that this bug does not open Explorer if it is closed, it only shifts focus to Explorer if it is already open, closing explorer mitigates the issue entirely.
