Solved – Windows 10/11 File Explorer Randomly Stealing Focus

File Explorer Randomly Stealing Focus Windows 10/11

File Explorer allows you to manage files effectively on Windows 10/11. At times, you might find Windows 10/11 File Explorer taking focus when you are working on another application. In most cases, this problem is triggered by buggy software or simple system glitches. In this post, we will delve into how to stop File Explorer randomly from stealing focus on Windows 10/11 for you.

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You may encounter the issue that File Explorer keeps opening. This post shows 4 solutions to fix the File Explorer keeps popping up.

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How to Fix File Explorer Randomly Stealing Focus on Windows 10/11?

Fix 1: Scan for Malware

Malware or virus infection can interfere with your system processes and lead to some unexpected behaviors like Explorer.exe stealing focus. To scan the threats in your computer, you can perform a comprehensive scan with Windows Defender. To do so:

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Step 1. Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.

Step 2. Go to Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.

Step 3. Click on Scan options > tick Full scan > hit Scan now to start the process.

Fix 2: Perform A Clean Boot

A clean boot can temporarily disable non-essential startup programs and third-party services, hence helping you to exclude their interference. Here’s how to perform a clean boot:

Step 1. Type msconfig and hit Enter to open System Configuration.

Step 2. Under the Services tab, tick Hide all Microsoft services and hit Disable all.

Step 3. Under the Startup tab, click on Open Task Manager.

Step 4. In Task Manager, right-click on each item and select Disable.

Step 5. Go back to System Configuration and hit Apply & OK to apply the changes.

Fix 3: Uninstall Conflicted Programs

If Windows Explorer stealing focus appears after downloading certain software, it is a good idea to uninstall it from your computer. To do so:

Step 1. Press Win + R to open the Run box.

Step 2. Type appwiz.cpl and hit Enter to launch Programs and Features.

Step 3. Right-click on the conflicted program and hit Uninstall.

Step 4. Follow the uninstallation wizard to complete the rest process.

Also see: Unable to Uninstall Programs in Windows? Look Here

Fix 4: Delete Scheduled Tasks

If File Explorer takes focus and launches at a specific time every day, a certain task might be the possible culprit. If this is the case, you can remove the scheduled task from Task Scheduler. To do so:

Step 1. Press Win + S to open the search bar.

Step 2. Type Task Scheduler and hit Enter.

Step 3. In the left pane, click on Task Scheduler Library.

Step 4. In the right pane, identify if any tasks are configured for the same time when File Explorer steals focus. If you find one, right-click on it and select Delete.

Step 5. Click on Yes to confirm this action.

Final Words

From this point forward, File Explorer stealing focus might disappear from your computer and Windows Explorer will not take extra focus. Also, don’t forget to back up your important files with reliable backup software like MiniTool ShadowMaker in case anything goes wrong during the troubleshooting process.