Navigation buttons in File Explorer doesn't work for some users in Windows 11 | Azure Virtual Desktop

Nikola Jankovic | Reset 60

Hey Everyone,

We have a customer that is using Azure Virtual Desktop. They use in total 3 VM's running Windows (Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session). Since recently they are complaining about not being able to navigate back and forth in the File Explorer. This option is not greyed out neither they get a error. Simply nothing happens... Sometimes the search bar is not even working, users cannot click on it. If you use 'Tab' on your keyboard then it works.

I've tested this with a brand new user account and for the first time I logged in e.g. vm1. On this account and on the vm it works fine with the navigation pane of the File Explorer. When, I log in to vm2 and test it. The navigation pane doesn't work anymore. When, I go back to vm1 then it works again...

They are using FSLogix profiles.

If there is more info needed, please let me know!

Prrudram-MSFT 27,786 Reputation points

2024-03-13T12:29:27.98+00:00

Hi @Nikola Jankovic | Reset

This is an unusual behavior. Do you allow concurrent logon with the FSLogix config (a user can log on to multiple VMs at the same time using the same profile)?

Can you please check if you use the latest FSLogix version and have the latest Windows cumulative updates installed on the VMs?
Dustin McPhillips 5 Reputation points

2024-03-19T15:32:08.8766667+00:00

I have also seen this in our environment. It has been an ongoing issue for months and we are on the latest version of FSLogix and do not allow multiple logons.
Peter Sundelin 16 Reputation points

2024-04-10T12:17:12.76+00:00

Same issue here on several AVD / FSlogix / Windows 11 multi session hosts.

Sometimes the users are unable to use copy, or delete buttons in explorer. Also the Back button doesnt work. Really annoying, started with the new explorer version.
Max Pelle 0 Reputation points

2024-04-19T08:36:44.0466667+00:00

Has someone found a solution for this problem? We are expiecering the same issue. So far we only have this issue with one user. It is a multi session windows 11 install with FSlogix.
Simon 0 Reputation points

2024-04-22T12:48:16.8766667+00:00

Reporting the same issue here. Multi session windows 11 install with FSlogix. Happens to random users & random servers - no consistency. A user may report this issue on server 1, we sign in to the same server using our test user and test user doesn't have the issue.
Jelle Bos 0 Reputation points

2024-04-23T06:42:14.31+00:00

We have also the same problems. Only with Windows 11 in combination with Dell Latitude 3540.
Josh Reaver 25 Reputation points

2024-04-23T12:44:05.94+00:00

If you close OneDrive does it fix the problem?
Josh Reaver 25 Reputation points

2024-04-23T12:44:33.1533333+00:00

Does the problem fix itself if you close OneDrive?
Travis Lamming 6 Reputation points

2024-04-23T21:08:27.44+00:00

Our first client on 22H3 is having the same issue here. We will open a ticket with MS, but please update if you guys run into a fix.
Josh Reaver 25 Reputation points

2024-04-24T07:26:10.32+00:00

What happens if you close OneDrive? This seems connected as for me it fixes the issue. Then you reopen OneDrive and the issue returns.
Josh Reaver 25 Reputation points

2024-04-24T10:04:23.4366667+00:00

I have made a further discovery. If you have explorer fullscreen the back button always doesn't work. If you have it in windowed mode but have it aligned on the left it also doesn't work.

It's like theres a deadzone on the top left of the screen within the session blocking mouse input, but only for explorer. So if the deadzone is there i can still interact with desktop items for instance.

I really need someone else to confirm if they are experiencing this same behaviour on their systems.
Travis Lamming 6 Reputation points

2024-04-24T13:56:28.3866667+00:00

Josh, any context on this fix? Does the problem return? Does it have to be removed from every user profile? What does this file do? We don’t use one drive and the file is not there for folks having the issue.
Travis Lamming 6 Reputation points

2024-04-24T18:37:03.77+00:00

We dont run Onedrive on this particular client, so maybe Onedrive isnt the cause but triggers whatever is happening to all of us.
Albert He 0 Reputation points

2024-04-29T00:33:14.6+00:00

We are having the same issue. Happens with random users and random session host. Especially when users are using multiple screens.
Flühmann Michael 0 Reputation points

2024-05-02T19:06:13.6266667+00:00

Same issue here. Azure AVD with 3 Users (FSLogix) on a Windows 11 Multi Session Host.
O_Krage93 10 Reputation points

2024-05-06T12:21:44.1233333+00:00

Im seeing the same thing. Users is reporting the File Explorer on Win 11 23H2 Multi-session is behaving odd sometimes regarding going back, copying or choose folders to save documents to. Any news regarding this?

FSLogix Hotfix 3

Windows 11 23H2 Multi-session hosts
O_Krage93 10 Reputation points

2024-05-13T08:54:07.62+00:00

Anyone else also seeing white cursor in the Office programs as well as the search bar in Windows 11? Its fine if you run dark mode theme but in light you can barely see anything. If you change the cursor to black as well it also becomes better atleast when the cursor is on the page in word but if i move it to the side its completely white again.
O_Krage93 10 Reputation points

2024-05-22T11:26:28.5833333+00:00

Any news regarding a solution for this or is it just WU to fix it?
Travis Lamming 6 Reputation points

2024-05-22T19:25:26.2833333+00:00

We are still waiting to hear back from MS on anything. They called us and want us to collect logs after a user notices this issue again. Its a ponderous process and I get the feeling they have no idea what we are talking about.
Dustin McPhillips 5 Reputation points

2024-05-24T11:28:38.2733333+00:00

You are spot on, Travis. They do not have a clue. I worked with Microsoft on this issue for over 3 months. They had me exclude FSLogix, upsize our AVD hosts, update drivers, collect logs, Clean Boot, etc... nothing mattered or worked. In the end, I rebuilt my Golden Image from scratch, reverted the upsizing of the hosts (that they suggested), and reduced the number of users per machine. Though File Explorer is still a bit slow at times, the navigation issue does not appear to have returned. I hope this comment can help others who are lost on this issue as we were.
Travis Lamming 6 Reputation points

2024-05-24T15:52:55.4433333+00:00

Dustin, thanks. We typically aim for 2 users per vCpu core max. I’ll monitor ours plus available memory
O_Krage93 10 Reputation points

2024-06-05T10:48:48.1266667+00:00

Any news or confirmation from Microsoft regarding these issues?
Travis Lamming 6 Reputation points

2024-06-05T12:51:00.9033333+00:00

Nothing to report on our end. We had a user have explorer lock up once and so we took logs for Microsoft to look at this week.
George Boyce 0 Reputation points

2024-06-12T18:55:47.4966667+00:00

I am seeing the same issue here. HP computer (G6) is joined to our domain. I log in as myself, Explorer is fine. I relocate the Task Bar to the left (left justified) and then Explorer breaks (same as above). Reboot does not help. Moving it back to Center justified does not fix it either. Help?
Ryan M 5 Reputation points

2024-06-18T19:04:41.61+00:00

I've seen this behavior on a local desktop, no virtualization, of the File Explorer forward and back buttons not reacting to left clicks. This occurs when File Explorer is maximized on my secondary laptop monitor. If I reduce the window size or move the window, the forward and back buttons work. It's really frustrating.
Josh Reaver 25 Reputation points

2024-06-19T07:27:32.27+00:00

@Ryan M @George Boyce try my solution below, this is currently the only fix I managed to figure out and no other forums have anything worthwhile from my 2 months of searching. It's not the most elegant but we have been using it this way for a month and its been rock solid.
Alwin Dijkstra 0 Reputation points

2024-10-07T14:44:44.4866667+00:00

@Josh Reaver We can fix it when closing onedrive. Do you have an permanent solution for this?

13 answers

Josh Reaver 25 Reputation points

2024-05-24T12:08:20.9233333+00:00

Ok so I originally posted a fix which was down to OneDrive causing the issue, but then the issue came back and it was only when Outlook was open.

I made a GPO which turns off Win11 Explorer and changes it back to Win10 if anyone is interested just amend the following keys and restart Explorer:

Enable Win10 Explorer

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID{2aa9162e-c906-4dd9-ad0b-3d24a8eef5a0}]

@="CLSID_ItemsViewAdapter"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID{2aa9162e-c906-4dd9-ad0b-3d24a8eef5a0}\InProcServer32]

"ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

@="C:\Windows\System32\Windows.UI.FileExplorer.dll_"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID{6480100b-5a83-4d1e-9f69-8ae5a88e9a33}]

@="File Explorer Xaml Island View Adapter"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID{6480100b-5a83-4d1e-9f69-8ae5a88e9a33}\InProcServer32]

@="C:\Windows\System32\Windows.UI.FileExplorer.dll_"

"ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

Re-enable Win11 Explorer

DELETE HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID{2aa9162e-c906-4dd9-ad0b-3d24a8eef5a0}

DELETE HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID{6480100b-5a83-4d1e-9f69-8ae5a88e9a33}
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2 people found this answer helpful.
Travis Lamming 6 Reputation points

2024-05-24T18:46:21.6166667+00:00

Thank you Josh! I suspected its the new windows 11 code. I imagine this issue is going to eventually go away as the new file explorer matures. If we get desperate enough we will likely have to implement this.
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Stéphane Côté 15 Reputation points

2024-05-24T13:26:15.3933333+00:00

So I can confirm that it is not related to the Windows virtual desktop client, Windows365 app client, or FSLogix.

It just happened to me on regular RDP via VPN to a Windows 11 Multisession vdi host on a non fslogix admin profile.

thank you @Josh Reaver for this alternate older file explorer, Microsoft is still clueless about what happens here and we have to be able to have a functionnal file explorer for our clients.
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1 person found this answer helpful.
Josh Reaver 25 Reputation points

2024-05-24T13:40:05.36+00:00

No worries at all, and yep exact same issue here, just via RDP on a local profile still has the issue which is why I gave up on MS having a fix (they closed 5 of my tickets saying its the wrong team and i've been sent round the houses on this so it just wasn't worth it anymore)

Give the older explorer a go. I have two security groups for item level targeting, one for adding those keys and one for removing them as some users complained about the lack of tabs in the older explorer.
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Luuk van den Boer 5 Reputation points

2024-10-17T11:27:08.9433333+00:00

Windows 11 24H2 Multi-session is out now, this fixes the problems with file explorer
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Víktu Pons i Colomer 5 Reputation points

2024-10-30T18:34:35.29+00:00

Do you have a source where to check it? Thank you!

Daniel Kelleners 101 Reputation points

2025-01-27T13:20:47.4733333+00:00

I can't find in the update history of 24H2 that this issue is known and resolved. Do you have a source? Or was this your own experience?
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Stéphane Côté 15 Reputation points

2024-04-03T13:16:07.98+00:00

we have same problem and behavior here, cannot click file explorer menu but can navigate and use the menu with Tab, alt and enter
Windows 11 multi-session, up to date from yesterday and freshly re-deployed.
Windows App from Microsoft store, up to date as well,
fslogix hotfix 3 applied,

Same issue this morning again.
random user
random server.
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Prrudram-MSFT 27,786 Reputation points

2024-04-08T05:21:38.1466667+00:00

@Stéphane Côté Thanks for reporting this issue. I am reviewing this with internal experts, i will update you on this shortly. Please standby.

Alwin Dijkstra 0 Reputation points

2024-10-07T14:43:41.42+00:00

@Prrudram-MSFT Do you have an update regarding this issue?
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Joost Martijn van Engelen 5 Reputation points

2024-04-19T07:53:13.8866667+00:00

We have a customer with exactly the same problem.

FSlogix is up to date but I think this has nothing to do with it.

In March we were be able to fix it by updating the Remote Desktop App on the client computers but It seems like some users are experiencing this issue again.
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Navigation buttons in File Explorer doesn't work for some users in Windows 11 | Azure Virtual Desktop

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