(BUG) File Explorer resets rename text selection when a background OneDrive sync completes

Question

KB5095093 Windows 11 Explorer Update: Details Pane, Cloud Thumbnails & OneDrive Fix | Windows Forum doesn't solve following issue.

Description: When renaming a file in a OneDrive (both Personal OneDrive and OneDrive for Business) synced directory, the text selection state is unexpectedly reset (highlighting the entire filename again) if another file in the same directory finishes syncing in the background. This visual refresh interrupts the user's typing flow and can lead to accidental overwriting of the entire filename.

Steps to Reproduce:

__1. Open a OneDrive synced folder in Windows File Explorer.

__2. Ensure there is a file (File A) actively syncing in the background (e.g., uploading or downloading).

__3. While File A is syncing, initiate a "Rename" action on a different file (File B) by pressing F2 or via the context menu. By default, the entire filename will be highlighted.

__4. Deselect the text (cancel the "select all" state) by clicking inside the text box or pressing an arrow key, without typing any new characters.

__5. Wait for File A to complete its sync process (the status icon changes from "Syncing" to "Synced").

Expected Behaviour: The text cursor for File B should remain exactly where the user placed it. The background sync completion of File A should not interfere with the active renaming operation of File B.

Actual Behaviour: File Explorer appears to refresh the folder view upon File A's status icon update. This refresh forces File B's active rename text box to revert to its default state, highlighting (selecting all) the entire filename again.

Impact: If a user begins typing exactly when the background sync completes, they will accidentally overwrite the entire filename instead of inserting text at their intended cursor position.

Answer 1

KB5095093 Windows 11 Explorer Update: Details Pane, Cloud Thumbnails & OneDrive Fix | Windows Forum doesn't solve this issue.

Answer 2

Dear @Sonny Su,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing this detailed bug report regarding the file renaming behavior in Windows File Explorer. I completely understand how frustrating it is when a background process interrupts your typing flow and leads to accidental filename overwrites.

To help me investigate this behavior and escalate it effectively to our engineering team, could you please provide a bit more context to narrow down the issue? Specifically:

1. Which version of Windows is currently running on the system? (You can check this by pressing Win + R, typing winver, and hitting Enter).
2. What is the exact version of the OneDrive sync app being used? (Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray > Gear icon/Settings > About).
3. Is this behavior occurring in all OneDrive-synced directories (such as Personal OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, and synced SharePoint document libraries), or is it isolated to a specific synced folder?
4. Does the same text reset happen if you perform a rename inside a completely local, unsynced directory (such as a folder inside the local C:\ drive that is not backed up by OneDrive)?
5. Is the "Files On-Demand" feature enabled in the OneDrive settings (i.e., are files stored as cloud-only "locally available" stubs until opened, or are all files fully downloaded to the local hard drive)?

Once I have these details, I can look into whether this is tied to a specific build behavior or if there are specific system factors at play.

I look forward to your response so we can get this sorted out for you.