File Explorer - Right Clicking Unselected File Clears Selection

Not sure if this is an annoying bug that everyone knows about by now, but I'm hoping there's a setting or registry value I've overlooked.

Here is how to reproduce and some loverly pictures.

1. Open File Explorer to a folder with multiple files and select one with left click.


2. Right click on that same file and you'll get your normal context menu.

3. However, if you right click any other folder or file besides the already selected ones, you will clear the selection and not get the context menu for the file or folder that you right-clicked on.


In previous versions File Explorer behaved rationally and a selection event was presumed when right-clicking an unselected item.

Are we out of luck until MS fixes this or is there a remedy?

profess said:

Not sure if this is an annoying bug that everyone knows about by now, but I'm hoping there's a setting or registry value I've overlooked.

Here is how to reproduce...

Sorry @profess but I can't reproduce this behaviour, my File Explorer behaves...

...rationally and a selection event was presumed when right-clicking an unselected item.

Windows 10 Home x64 version 1607 build 14393.351 - what's yours?

Hmm, looking closer at the first screenshot I can see one possible reason - you're not actually right-clicking on the second file, rather slightly to the right of it. The left edge of the context menu is the giveaway - it always appears aligned with your mouse pointer. Try actually clicking over the text of the second file name (as you appear to have done in the second screenshot). Anywhere else and you get the context meny for the folder your files are in. The only exception is if you right-click anywhere on the highlighted line of a selected file when you do get the file's context.

BTW, my Win7 PC behaves exactly the same way.

Bree said:

Sorry @profess but I can't reproduce this behaviour, my File Explorer behaves...


Windows 10 Home x64 version 1607 build 14393.351 - what's yours?

Hmm, looking closer at the first screenshot I can see one possible reason - you're not actually right-clicking on the second file, rather slightly to the right of it. The left edge of the context menu is the giveaway - it always appears aligned with your mouse pointer. Try actually clicking over the text of the second file name (as you appear to have done in the second screenshot). Anywhere else and you get the context meny for the folder your files are in.

BTW, my Win7 PC behaves exactly the same way.

Aha! You're right with your update.

That is exactly what's happening.

I would prefer that it didn't happen, though. So any ideas there?

profess said:

Aha! You're right with your update.
That is exactly what's happening.
I would prefer that it didn't happen, though. So any ideas there?

I've just checked on my collection older PCs. This behaviour is the same in Win7 and XP. In .Win95 it's different, the highlight doesn't extend across the screen - just a rectangle highlighting the text of the filename. I guess the behaviour was changed to a full width highlight to make it easier to find somewhere to click (for those with poor motor skills or visually impaired?). I'm afraid you're going to have to learn to live with it.