Windows 11 File Explorer jumps to top when scrolling

RMT4160 76

When I am scrolling through a long list of project files, if I don't pick a folder or keep scrolling, the display will jump back up to the top and I have to start all over again. This has apparently been a bug since Windows 10 because I see solutions suggested in a Google search. The solution suggested for the 10 system does not work for 11. The suggested solution for 10 is uncheck the "Automatically pick an accent color from my background option" check box under Choose your accent color which I assume is equivalent to choosing "Manual" in the "Auto/Man" selection of Accent Color in Windows 11.

JOHN ROFF 0 Reputation points

2023-01-24T04:17:49.76+00:00

What is the cure for windows 11?
Jeff Classen 25 Reputation points

2023-02-27T19:58:10.4+00:00

None of these solutions work, nor have any other solutions I have found throughout my searches.

I am ready to buy a Mac at this point. I regularly search through hundreds of pictures and documents and it has gotten intolerable.
raju pattathil 40 Reputation points

2023-03-13T13:02:36.7766667+00:00
Open Settings.

Click on Personalization.

Click on Start.

Turn off the Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar and in File Explorer Quick Access toggle switch. Quick tip: If you want to reset the view, turn the toggle switch off and on again.
Harold Leggett 0 Reputation points

2023-03-27T21:11:14.75+00:00

Windows 11 Home. Up to date. Tried this. Sounded promising. But. No joy.
oscar eduardo suarez 5 Reputation points

2023-05-06T20:03:21.37+00:00

Same. finally, do you solve the problem?
Ernesto 0 Reputation points

2023-06-10T22:01:01.7+00:00

Anyone figure this out yet? Or is this a bug?
Patrick 5 Reputation points

2023-06-17T18:15:12.8566667+00:00

I have 3 Dell PC's on Win 10 and a Lenovo on Win 11 and all have this same problem. This only started maybe a year ago.

So my question to MS is WTF?? Why can't you fix this??
Richard Thomas 0 Reputation points

2023-08-15T14:54:29.01+00:00

My desktop, still on Win7 doesn't have this issue. My laptop on Win11 doesn't have this issue. My wife's desktop on Win10 does have this issue VERY frustrating for her. I tried the proposed solutions about background colors and quick access on the wife's computer with no success. I checked what was set differently on my laptop that does not have the problem and her desktop. The difference is I use a set background picture. Her desktop was set to Slideshow and to change the picture every minute. I reset her computer to Picture instead of Slideshow and so far so good. Turn off Slideshow and see if that helps.
Frodo 0 Reputation points

2023-09-26T09:40:47.8433333+00:00
Following seems to work for me:

Go to Explorer Options > View > Advanced settings > When typing into list view

Select "Automatically type into the Search Box"

Click "OK"

That's it. Enjoy!
Drew Smith 0 Reputation points

2023-10-05T05:47:17.72+00:00

How has this not been fixed yet!? I will send you my computer so you can see that it isn't a mouse issue.

That said... How many people here are having this issue with a DELL computer? Mine is an XPS 15. I would be curious if this issue is a Dell driver/firmware issue.
Mike Wooton 5 Reputation points

2023-10-05T15:17:50.4766667+00:00

It's not a hardware issue at all, but they want you to think its not a OS issue and getting anyone from Microsoft on the phone to get help takes an act of God! I tried opening folders in separate windows which sometimes works and I don't understand why, but usually it doesn't. I wish I never upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11, biggest case of buyers remorse I've ever had and the upgrade was free!
Anger 5 Reputation points

2023-10-10T02:32:42.44+00:00

Windows Explorer snaps back to the top of the list every time I open a file or copy/paste a file. Is it a "smart" feature no one asked for or a demostration of software programming incompetence? If I wanted to be at the top of the list I would scroll up all by my wittle self. [obscenities] If my folder has 336 files, it's a bunch of non-ergonomic additional mouse clicks and drags that I have to do each time to get back to the file I was looking at before "the snap". Is Microsoft's end goal to give all of their users carpal tunnel?
Patrick M 0 Reputation points

2024-06-04T07:14:47.9866667+00:00

Would love to find a solution.
Roy Varley 0 Reputation points

2024-07-05T08:16:34.09+00:00

Turn off slideshow background in personalise settings - it works! Thank you, forgotten tipster.
Garret Lindsey 0 Reputation points

2024-07-13T20:05:50.8866667+00:00

A way around this, its not a fix but if you press back (top left) it will go to the folder you were trying for. its what i do when trying save file or right clicking to open file in new window after the jump to home folder the back arrow will take you to the location you intended, most times.

Hope this helps till microsoft fixes
Ken Snyder 5 Reputation points

2024-07-16T04:20:42.58+00:00

Problem still exists. I am thinking about paying for Opus Directory just to solve this problem. Any recommendations on XPlorer2 vs Opus?
Robert House 0 Reputation points

2024-07-31T21:31:03.8633333+00:00

I modified the color settings from automatic to manual and adjusted the file explorer settings from "open in the same window" to "open in a new window." The change proved successful, resolving the persistent scrolling-up issue that had been plaguing me for some time. While I've come across comments from others declaring that nothing seems to work for them, I am pleased to report that this adjustment did indeed work for me. I wish you the best of luck in addressing your own concerns.
Hellcat69 0 Reputation points

2024-09-24T07:45:37.5766667+00:00

Has this been solved? I upgraded to Win 11 pro and it worked fine until 2 weeks ago. Now everytime I'm scrolling through picture files the slide bars on the left panel with all the listings and the smaller white scroll tab to the right off the files or if opened all the pictures will flash a brighter white then jump back to the top. This is beyond annoying and frustrating. It just did it again while typing this. It occurs every minute.

24 answers

Simonton, Mark 35 Reputation points

2023-01-25T18:42:51.1833333+00:00

Hay guys, this is not a mouse problem, it is a windows problem, it seems that the window is refreshing every 1 or 2 seconds so, as I scroll down the window scrolls to the top as it is redrawn. I have not seen this kind of problem since people tried to write programs with VB 3.

Really this is 3 steps backward in functionality; this interface is CRAP.
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7 people found this answer helpful.
Ken Snyder 5 Reputation points

2024-07-16T04:19:24.0733333+00:00

I agree. What does this have to do with my mouse. I use Logitech mouse and I am not going to switch mouse for a stupid microsoft issue.
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Limitless Technology 44,406 Reputation points

2022-11-23T15:50:00.933+00:00
Hi. Thank you for your question and reaching out.

Have you ever had a new mouse installed? See if the condition can be changed by switching the mouse. If not, give them a shot to see if they can help.

After beginning, go to "File Explorer Options."

Select "Launch folder windows in a different process" under the View tab.

then employ, good

Launch the computer again.

Has your copy of Windows been updated if the issue hasn't been fixed yet? If not, try updating to see if it resolves the problem.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/3c5ae7fc-9fb6-9af1-1984-b5e0412c556a

You can also try to disable your accent color.

Click "Settings" from your Start Menu after opening it.

Then select "Personalization."

Toggle "Colors" (on the left frame)

Uncheck the box next to "Automatically Pick An Accent Color From My Background" by scrolling down.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If the reply was helpful, please don’t forget to upvote or accept as answer, thank you.
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4 people found this answer helpful.
David Londeen 5 Reputation points

2023-12-07T03:05:21.4566667+00:00

This solution does not work.

D Gorcaldec 0 Reputation points

2024-02-19T23:43:59.09+00:00

Unchecking it is not the answer Mine was never checked

D Gorcaldec 0 Reputation points

2024-02-19T23:45:02.74+00:00

YOure right . it never works

Robert House 0 Reputation points

2024-07-31T21:32:35.4233333+00:00

Yes. I did both of your suggestions and it worked! So many people saying nothing works. Keep trying!
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RGJL 20 Reputation points

2023-03-18T15:16:26.3866667+00:00

Same here. It is truly annoying. The calling window seems to grab focus back causing the child window to reset to the top (but not the selection, so that still stays highlighted down the list). Solutions don't work (but thank you), I think this started at about Windows 10 H2 and I've been expecting that someone will correct an obvious piece of poor programming followed by worse QA for the past two years but it seems to be getting worse. Unloaded logitech mouse and keyboard drivers and went back to wired ms mouse and a keyboard - no change. Perhaps we should ask ChatGPT because MS obviously don't have the brains to solve it?
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4 people found this answer helpful.
حسن الشحات زكى المدخوم 0 Reputation points

2023-06-10T22:12:20.9033333+00:00

Great

BT ZT 0 Reputation points

2023-07-19T20:15:04.4333333+00:00

I'm have the same issue on my work PC and my home PC. Both are Windows 11. It is the most frustrating thing about my day! Click a folder in Explorer and before you can access it Explorer's focus jumps to something else...usually outside the window boundary...ugh!! Does Microsoft not monitor these forums to correct issues? I also use a Mac at work and the file management IS FAR SUPERIOR...and I don't like Apple. Get it together Microsoft! Is there a way to stop the focus from jumping around in Windows File Explorer?

lee 0 Reputation points

2023-09-02T09:03:31.4033333+00:00

I had this issue with win 11 just a few days ago - very annoying - I assumed it was my trackball mouse - so much believed this that I actually took it apart (partially) - guess what ? I only needed to reseat keyboard dongle and the problem went away - I’ve had keyboard for months so didn’t suspect it and no, scroll lock wasn’t switched on the keyboard.
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qhitz 30 Reputation points

2024-09-08T19:39:57.62+00:00

Solution: Unlink your OneDrive Account

Uninstall OneDrive Account.

Reason: OneDrive is continuously connecting in the internet (probably trying to index the folder) and that reason it keeps refreshing file explorer.

Microsoft probably did not find it annoying or no one really knows from the Microsoft
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4 people found this answer helpful.

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David 15 Reputation points

2023-02-13T18:46:55.09+00:00

I have the same issue. :(
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3 people found this answer helpful.
Mark Beasley 0 Reputation points

2023-02-27T19:02:23.07+00:00

None of the other comments helped. But I went into Explorer's setting a changed several settings that seemed to have been changed. Afterwards things were back to the way they were before and this problem disappeared. I'm not sure of which change fixed it, but I believe changing run in separate process was the one that fixed it. Please try and let us know if that helps.

Brian Schreech 0 Reputation points

2024-03-18T01:33:57.1933333+00:00

Same problem. I scroll through hundreds of files at a time all day and Explorer constantly jumps to the top/beginning. I have been looking everywhere for a solution for many months. All I find is the same regurgitated suggestions that don't work.
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Windows 11 File Explorer jumps to top when scrolling

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