Fixed: Windows 11 File Explorer Address Bar Dropdown Sticking

Symptom: File Explorer Address Bar Repeatedly Opening

File Explorer is a commonly used tool for viewing and managing disk drives and files. However, like any software, it may sometimes encounter bugs, one of which is the File Explorer address bar dropdown sticking issue.

Many users have reported experiencing the following symptoms:

• The address bar dropdown menu pops up even when they have not clicked on it.
• The dropdown refuses to close or collapse, even after clicking blank areas, refreshing the window, switching tabs, and so on.
• The dropdown menu appears every time they perform operations like copying and pasting files.
• The issue occurs more frequently when multiple File Explorer windows are open simultaneously.

Are you encountering any of the issues listed above? If so, follow the solutions below to deal with the Windows 11 File Explorer address bar bug quickly and easily.

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How to Fix File Explorer Address Bar Dropdown Sticking

Way 1. Delete the Path and Press Esc

According to user feedback, clicking the address bar, deleting the file path, and then pressing the Esc key can temporarily fix the bug. So, you can give it a try.

However, this is just a temporary workaround, and you may need to repeat it every time the issue occurs, which can be quite inconvenient.

To fix the problem completely, try the following methods and see if they work for you.

Way 2. Edit the Registry

Modifying the registries is also an effective way to solve the File Explorer address bar dropdown sticking issue. Follow the steps below.

Step 1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type regedit in the box, and press Enter to open Registry Editor.

Step 2. Navigate to the following location:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Step 3. Check if there is a key named AutoComplete. If it is not there, right-click on the Explorer key, choose New > Key, and name it AutoComplete.

Step 4. Right-click the new AutoComplete key, choose New > String Value, and name it AutoSuggest.

Step 5. Double-click AutoSuggest and set up its value data to No.

Step 6. Save the change, restart your computer, and check if the File Explorer bug is resolved.

Moreover, deleting the address bar history in File Explorer may also help resolve the issue.

Go to this location and delete all URL files on the right side:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths

Way 3. Uncheck Show Pop-up Description for Folder and Desktop Items

For some users, turning off the feature of “Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items” can solve the abnormal display. You can give it a try and verify if it works for you.

Step 1. Open File Explorer and go to the View tab. Click Options to open folder options.

Step 2. In the new window, go to the View section and untick the option of “Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items”.

Step 3. Click Apply > OK to save the change.

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Way 4. Update Windows

Installing the latest system patch may also fix the File Explorer address bar dropdown sticking issue or other UI bugs.

Back up all your important files with MiniTool ShadowMaker first of all. This ensures your data stays safe in case of system issues or data loss after a Windows update.

MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Next, open Settings and go to the Windows Update section to check for and install updates without worrying.

Way 5. Uninstall Windows Update

If the problem started after a Windows update, that update might be the cause. In this case, you can try to uninstall the update and check whether it helps.

Go to Settings > Windows Update. Under Related settings, select Update history > Uninstall updates.

Select the update you want to remove from the list, and then select Uninstall.

Windows Data Recovery Software Recommended

If some of your files are not showing up in File Explorer, they may have been permanently deleted. In this case, you can use MiniTool Power Data Recovery to recover them. This professional and green data recovery software can recover all kinds of files on local disks on Windows 11/10/8/8.1.

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Bottom Line

Wondering how to resolve the File Explorer address bar dropdown sticking issue? Follow the instructions above and then the problem may no longer occur.