Windows 10: A solution for "Explorer erratically re-selects entire file name while I'm typing"

It's interesting that Microsoft doesn't have a good answer for this, you'll find versions of this on Dropbox and other platforms that use Window. The answer to the problem is: File Explorer is trying to resort based on your new file name. Change the FE window so it sorts by file Type instead of file Name.Here's a description from another question and their solution; they assume your user privileges are not restricted like in most companies.Explorer erratically re-selects entire file name while I'm typingWhile looking for a fix for the problem in the title I came across another user with the sa

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Explorer erratically re-selects entire file name while I'm typing

While looking for a fix for the problem in the title I came across another user with the same description of a problem. - Only that I'm using Win 10 Pro (upgraded from win 8.1).

See citation below for the detailed problem description.

I want to add that I first suspected my mouse or keyboard to cause the problem by doing random clicks/presses, but switching keyboard and mouse did not help.

Also, the problem persists when I'm not touching the mouse but navigate only via keyboard/drop-down-menue-key/arrows->"rename"/enter/...

Upon inspection of the bug I found that, sometimes the cursor is merely reset to a different location within the file/fold-name, instead of selecting the entire name. However, the location of the cursor-insert is not correlated to the mouse-cursor-location
on the screen!

Would love some technically insightful response as to where this might be coming from. Much rather then "plug-unplug"-types of suggestions on how to fix it.

Hope this helps in resolving the problem for Microsoft.

Friendly regards,

SB

"Hi All -

This problem has been bugging me since I switched over to Windows 8 a couple of years ago.

When renaming a file or folder in Windows 8.1 file explorer, I click on the filename (which selects entire name), then click on the part I want to rename (for example, putting the cursor between two words or a place where I want to add a letter or word),
and as I'm typing, Windows automatically re-selects the entire filename, which then deletes the original filename.

Example:

original filename: MyList

I click on filename, which selects entire name in blue: MyList

I click on name again to de-select and put cursor where I want it: My>cursor<List

I start typing "Grocery" to insert it between My & List, then Windows automatically selects the entire original name, then I'm left with "Grocery" which replaced the selection.

Strange - never had this problem with earlier versions of Windows. Seems to do it when I'm renaming quickly - can't seem to get it to do it when I'm slow & trying to see what Windows is up to.

Anybody else with this problem? Is there a fix?"

 

Explorer erratically re-selects entire file name while I'm typing

Hi Selmar,

In first place, I suggest you to do a system check with sfc /scannow:

1. Digit "cmd" in windows search bar

2. Right click on "Command Prompt"

3. Select "Execute as administrator"

4. Digit "sfc /scannow" without quote

5. Wait the process to end

Warning: if sfc /scannow gives out error resolved or similar, then redo the precious step, to be sure everything is ok.

Then you can do a clean install of your mouse and keyboard. To do so:

1. Right click on windows logo

2. Select "Device Manager"

3. Under keyboard, find your keyboard device and right click on that

4. Click on "Unistall device"

5. Confirm everything is displayed

6. Click on "Detects hardware changes", the screen icon on top

7. Now repeat the operation for your mouse (warning it may be difficult to navigate with the keyboard, if that's the case, instead of clicking on "Detects hardware changes", you should plug and unplug the mouse, once unistalled)

 

Selecting a file by starting to type its name... No longer an option?

I've been able to do this, usually I use it from my Pictures folder when selecting an image to post. I just tried in my Downloads folder and it worked. There is a setting for Searches, I'll try to post a screenshot here. Try setting your folder view to "List" or "Detail View" and it works better.