Navigation buttons in File Explorer doesn't work for some users in Windows 11 | Azure Virtual Desktop

Nikola Jankovic | Reset 45

Hey Everyone,

We have a customer that is using Azure Virtual Desktop. They use in total 3 VM's running Windows (Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session). Since recently they are complaining about not being able to navigate back and forth in the File Explorer. This option is not greyed out neither they get a error. Simply nothing happens... Sometimes the search bar is not even working, users cannot click on it. If you use 'Tab' on your keyboard then it works.

I've tested this with a brand new user account and for the first time I logged in e.g. vm1. On this account and on the vm it works fine with the navigation pane of the File Explorer. When, I log in to vm2 and test it. The navigation pane doesn't work anymore. When, I go back to vm1 then it works again...

They are using FSLogix profiles.

If there is more info needed, please let me know!

Prrudram-MSFT 22,976 Reputation points

2024-03-13T12:29:27.98+00:00

Hi @Nikola Jankovic | Reset

This is an unusual behavior. Do you allow concurrent logon with the FSLogix config (a user can log on to multiple VMs at the same time using the same profile)?

Can you please check if you use the latest FSLogix version and have the latest Windows cumulative updates installed on the VMs?
Dustin McPhillips 5 Reputation points

2024-03-19T15:32:08.8766667+00:00

I have also seen this in our environment. It has been an ongoing issue for months and we are on the latest version of FSLogix and do not allow multiple logons.
Josh Reaver 25 Reputation points

2024-04-24T10:04:23.4366667+00:00

I have made a further discovery. If you have explorer fullscreen the back button always doesn't work. If you have it in windowed mode but have it aligned on the left it also doesn't work.

It's like theres a deadzone on the top left of the screen within the session blocking mouse input, but only for explorer. So if the deadzone is there i can still interact with desktop items for instance.

I really need someone else to confirm if they are experiencing this same behaviour on their systems.
George Boyce 0 Reputation points

2024-06-12T18:55:47.4966667+00:00

I am seeing the same issue here. HP computer (G6) is joined to our domain. I log in as myself, Explorer is fine. I relocate the Task Bar to the left (left justified) and then Explorer breaks (same as above). Reboot does not help. Moving it back to Center justified does not fix it either. Help?
Ryan M 5 Reputation points

2024-06-18T19:04:41.61+00:00

I've seen this behavior on a local desktop, no virtualization, of the File Explorer forward and back buttons not reacting to left clicks. This occurs when File Explorer is maximized on my secondary laptop monitor. If I reduce the window size or move the window, the forward and back buttons work. It's really frustrating.
Josh Reaver 25 Reputation points

2024-06-19T07:27:32.27+00:00

@Ryan M @George Boyce try my solution below, this is currently the only fix I managed to figure out and no other forums have anything worthwhile from my 2 months of searching. It's not the most elegant but we have been using it this way for a month and its been rock solid.

22 answers

Michael B 0 Reputation points

2024-05-06T21:07:54.21+00:00

Last week we started getting ready for Win 11 Ent on Horizon 8 (on prem VDI).
Found this post because we're having same issues.

Menus / right-click anomalies in file explorer where eventually is just blank.
Some options also disappear when going over with the mouse pointer.

Besides restarting Windows Explorer in task manager, which does not last problem free, trough trial and error / multiple testing scenarios where this problem does not resurface we found that the only fix at this time may be replacing VMware SVGA 3D Driver with Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.

We have 3D software rendering, other vDesktops are fine, Win 11 is not until this driver change.

FYI, we're still in testing mode so not sure what the impact is for watching training videos or Teams meeting with cameras by going with Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.
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Travis Lamming 6 Reputation points

2024-05-06T22:01:38.71+00:00

The only thing so far that's helped us is to make sure the remote desktop app is fully up to date. I dont think its a FSlogix issue, I think it has something to do with the new explorer in windows 11
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O_Krage93 0 Reputation points

2024-05-13T08:54:07.62+00:00

Anyone else also seeing white cursor in the Office programs as well as the search bar in Windows 11? Its fine if you run dark mode theme but in light you can barely see anything. If you change the cursor to black as well it also becomes better atleast when the cursor is on the page in word but if i move it to the side its completely white again.
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O_Krage93 0 Reputation points

2024-05-22T11:26:28.5833333+00:00

Any news regarding a solution for this or is it just WU to fix it?
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Travis Lamming 6 Reputation points

2024-05-22T19:25:26.2833333+00:00

We are still waiting to hear back from MS on anything. They called us and want us to collect logs after a user notices this issue again. Its a ponderous process and I get the feeling they have no idea what we are talking about.

Dustin McPhillips 5 Reputation points

2024-05-24T11:28:38.2733333+00:00

You are spot on, Travis. They do not have a clue. I worked with Microsoft on this issue for over 3 months. They had me exclude FSLogix, upsize our AVD hosts, update drivers, collect logs, Clean Boot, etc... nothing mattered or worked. In the end, I rebuilt my Golden Image from scratch, reverted the upsizing of the hosts (that they suggested), and reduced the number of users per machine. Though File Explorer is still a bit slow at times, the navigation issue does not appear to have returned. I hope this comment can help others who are lost on this issue as we were.

Travis Lamming 6 Reputation points

2024-05-24T15:52:55.4433333+00:00

Dustin, thanks. We typically aim for 2 users per vCpu core max. I’ll monitor ours plus available memory
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O_Krage93 0 Reputation points

2024-06-05T10:48:48.1266667+00:00

Any news or confirmation from Microsoft regarding these issues?
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Navigation buttons in File Explorer doesn't work for some users in Windows 11 | Azure Virtual Desktop

22 answers