Bug: Explorer reselects entire filename when editing the name of a newly synced file
What's the Bug:
This bug causes File Explorer to select all the text of a filename you are editing while you editing it, which causes a single keystroke to erase the text of the filename if you are not paying attention.
When It Happens:
It happens when you immediately try to rename a file after performing a file operation but before the OneDrive client syncs it. For example, it happens if you copy a file and quickly rename it, or if you save a file and then quickly rename it. It appears as though Explorer incorrectly reselects the entire filename once it syncs the file.
Example Steps to Reproduce:
1. In Explorer, copy a file to a synced OneDrive folder. Let's say the filename is "book.txt".
2. Immediately after copying the file (before it is synced to OneDrive):
2a. Start to rename the file (e.g. press F2). (At first, the entire filename text is selected, such as "book".)
2b. Position the cursor at any single point in the file name (so the entire filename text is no longer selected). For example, place the cursor at the end of the filename so you can rename it to "book123456789".
3. Wait a second or two (presumably for the file to sync to OneDrive).
4. Explorer automatically reselects the entire filename. (If you were trying, for example, to append "123456789" to the original filename, you end up erasing the original file name after Explorer selects it and you press any key.)
Bob Triffles
shared this idea
81 comments
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Anonymous
commented
This Windows bug has been around for years. It must have wasted hours of my time, possibly days and not to mention fraying my nerves multiple times every work day. The only way I know to avoid it (without right click > rename...) is is to pause before clicking into the filename and get your other hand in position over the letter or delete/backspace key so you can press it immediately you click into the name. You've probably got at least a few milliseconds before the whole filename is selected. But it's annoying having to do that because the cursor doesn't always end up where I intended
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Doug Samuel
commented
Very annoying flaw. My work-around: press <end>, then <space>. If file name replaced, <Esc> and try again, otherwise stops unwanted selection and extra space removed without doing anything. Still annoying but much less so this way.
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Anonymous
commented
3 years since this got posted and still no fix. Great job Microsoft, making us all real proud there....
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Anonymous
commented
Can confirm that this is a Windows 10/Explorer bug that unfortunately affects other file sync platforms as well.
I think that's actually worse, that the Windows operating system has such a big flaw.
I got in contact with OneDrive support and provided a lot of information, logs and footage. They supposedly forwarded this to the Windows 10 team but don't hold your breath people.
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Morely
commented
Try closing Onedrive in the bottom right task bar. After it is closed try going back to rename a file or it should no longer automatically highlight everything after you click in it once. The if it is working properly again you can open up Onedrive again to run in the background in your taskbar. This is a work around I have to do from time to time and seems to work. Hope this helps.
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Dave Arrowsmith
commented
Very annoying bug. Probably cost me 10 minutes today alone.
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BroCastiel
commented
Typical of Microsoft. Leave a bug that's frustrating the **** out of the community consistently. Perhaps its worse then we fear. Maybe they have tried to fix it, and found it to be beyond their abilities...
Wouldn't surprise me.
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Damon Erickson
commented
A brief check on StackExchange and I find that this bug dates back more than 10 years. It appears that it is related to any file sync service. Why I never noticed it before I can't say, but it's really annoying now.
10 years!
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Vincent LeBlanc
commented
How can such a bug be present for more than a month baffles me.
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Anthony Wagner
commented
Agreed with the others. Long standing bug that's quite frustrating.
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johfc
commented
I've had this automatic reselection problem in Windows Explorer for years. As such, I don't think this is an OneDrive issue. However, I have noticed that OneDrive appears to make this problem worse by the slight freezing or glitching of the Explorer display presumably as a result of its apparent syncing issues being exposed to the UI.
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M.Weber
commented
Is it even OneDrive related? I think it might be a flaw in windows explorer. And it is ridiculously annoying!
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It's Nux
commented
Just chiming in to say how much I hate this bug that's been happening for years.
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punar
commented
Why is it a vote whether to fix this? It's not a suggestion for a new feature. It's a bug!
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DMV Jim
commented
Where is the three-thumbs up button? What an annoyance. The only workaround is...to.......work.........slower. :(
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Jane
commented
wow, cant believe it's not just me here....this bug is terrible. GET. IT. FIXED.
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Josh
commented
This bug is driving me crazy, and has for years. Even files that have not been touched for a year (so clearly not in the middle of syncing changes) do this.
I was just trying to re-name some folders that I made last year, so I clicked-paused-clicked to edit them. Then I clicked and highlighted the part I wanted to change, and it switched and highlighted the whole file name... so I used an arrow key to move the cursor to the end, and then it highlighted the whole thing... so I clicked and selected a word to change and without even releasing my mouse button (ie. still actively selecting) and it switched and highlighted the whole file name.
It is infuriating, especially if I think it has finally stopped (because I have selected 3 times in a single file name and it seems like it has stopped) so I type and it re-selects the whole title RIGHT THEN. Add in that I am one of those people who has to look at my keyboard while I type and it means I don't see that the file name is screwed up until after I hit Enter.
I thought that maybe there was FINALLY some technical thing I could find online to stop from getting so angry at Windows (I have searched in years past), but apparently not!
**As others have noted, it is not just OneDrive files. A file I created on my hard drive 5 years ago and not touched since will have this same bug if I try to rename it.
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John Fitzpatrick
commented
The same issue exists in just Windows 10 Explorer, not even with OneDrive attached. It's a Windows Explorer Bug that has not been fixed since Windows 7 or before. WTH? Went searching to see if there has been a solution and all the forums name the same issue. Obviously MS must be aware of this FATAL FLAW.
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Guy
commented
Have the same issue. Does somebody know when MS will fix this? Anybody has the case ID @ MS?
Super annoying. -
Anonymous
commented
This has been W Explorer bug for years and still no fix, fantastic !!!
