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Windows 11, File Explorer, the cursor selection jumps back to the previous folder while navigating to a new folder

John Gregory 80 Reputation points
2026-04-10T16:42:21.9633333+00:00

On Windows 11, when trying to save a file, File Explorer automatically opens.

The tree location shows the last directory that I was using. This is expected. 

However, when I try to scroll to a new directory location, the cursor selection keeps jumping back to the directory that was there when File Explorer opened.  This may happen several times if I have to go navigate to a deeper directory.

Extremely frustrating.  I am using Windows 11 Pro, Version 25H2, OS build 26200.8117

How do I stop this from happening?

Windows for business | Windows 365 Business
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Answer accepted by question author

Tan Vu 2,655 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-04-10T17:47:00.7633333+00:00

Hi Gregory,

This sounds like File Explorer’s navigation pane in the Open/Save dialog is auto-following the active folder and re-centering the tree. A Windows file-dialog report described the same kind of jumping, and the workaround that helped was changing the Navigation pane options, especially turning off Show all folders. Microsoft’s File Explorer help also points to those same File Explorer options under View > Options and the Navigation pane controls.

Try this first:

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Go to View -> Show -> Navigation pane.
  3. Turn off Show all folders. If you see other Navigation pane extras enabled, turn those off too.
  4. Open View -> Options and, under Privacy, clear Show recently used files and Show frequently used folders, then apply the change. Microsoft documents those settings as controlling what appears in Quick access / Home.

If you use ExplorerPatcher or another Explorer replacement, test with it disabled as well.

If this helps resolve your issue, feel free to mark the answer so others can benefit as well.

Have a nice day!

TV

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  1. John Gregory 80 Reputation points
    2026-04-11T13:31:17.97+00:00

    That seemed to have helped. After changing the settings, the problem does not occur in the last day of use.

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