Renaming files using F2, explorer repeatedly highlights the entire filename (Windows 11)

Question

When renaming files for organizational purposes, I use F2 to access the filename and make adjustments.

I exclusively use the keyboard for navigating explorer, meaning I use a combination L or R arrow keys, DEL, Backspace, etc.

Upon highlight a file and pressing F2, the entire file name highlights (which is normal), but as I move the text insertion point around, using the L / R arrow keys, the entire filename will spontaneously highlight between 2 & 3 ADDITIONAL times.

Often this results in the entire filename deleting, meaning I have to start the naming process over. This is MASSIVELY frustrating.

I just installed a clean copy of windows 11.

I've force closed all One-drive, and cloud based connections.

I am using a laptop, but the touchpad is disabled.

I've installed all the windows updates and I've restarted my computer.

I'm flabbergasted that one of the 150+ background processes I MUST run on my computer isn't correcting for this.

Answer 1

Hello Ben,

Thank you for your question and for reaching out with your question today.

Here are a few suggestions you might consider:

Update your keyboard driver

Check that you don’t have third party software that’s causing this behaviour

Try a different keyboard

Check Keyboard Accessibility Settings

Check your keyboard language/region layout.

Try it in Safe mode

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