Forum Discussion
File Explorer ignoring UNBLOCKED file status with 24H2
FILE EXPLORER IGNORING UNBLOCKED FILE STATUS AFTER DOWNLOAD AND UNBLOCK
I updated to Win 11 23H2 --> 24H2 some days ago.
Yesterday I used Mark Russinovich tool "Streams" to manually remove from CMD prompt the "file comes from another computer..." warning, e.g.:
Today I noticed I have a problem with Zone.Identifier ADS files: File Explorer is extremely slow to update file status "unblocked" after I unblock it, and still reports the file is coming from another PC. When I try to unblock it again, I get this error ("can't find file". I suppose it is correct since Zone.Identifier ADS files should have been removed:
The problem remains: File Explorer is ignoring the unblocked file status. Even after 5 mins the file is still "coming from another PC..." (???) when I choose Properties. Sometimes randomly, after a while, when I check again the unblocked status it is finally acknowledged by File Explorer.
dir /r on the previously unblocked files from File Explorer shows the SmartScreen:$DATA is still there... Zone.Identifier:$DATA is gone instead. Which is OK I guess.
Quick test: download a file from Edge with SmartScreen enabled, then with right-mouse-button select Properties and unblock the file. Now re-open Properties for that file...
Reproducible also from Safe Mode (!).
Is it a new File Explorer bug in 24H2?
C:\Windows\Explorer.exe 6.2.26100.2454
Edge Browser 131.0.2903.99
Windows 11 24H2 26100.2605
Can't see other reports about this bug on the net...
24 Replies
26100.4349 June 2024, still unfixed 😩
Still not fixed in build 26100.4349.
Still not fixed in build 26100.4202.
When you download files from the internet or network, Windows tags them with Zone.Identifier (ADS) streams to mark their origin. Unblocking files removes these tags, but sometimes Windows/File Explorer can get "stuck," still showing the file as coming from another PC or network zone, even after unblocking.
Windows 11 24H2 (26100.3915) - 08 May 2025 Bug still unfixed.
Make that build 26100.4061, still not fixed.
Still not fixed in build 26100.3624.
When you do an operation on the file, the cache gets updated. For example, if you select the file in Explorer and press Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V (creating a copy), the cache gets updated and the properties dialog displays the blocked status correctly.
Explorer.exe 6.2.26100.3323 (Win11 24H2, 26 Feb 2025). Bug still unfixed.
Known and annoying bug still unfixed (24H2 public build 26100.3194). I opened also a thread at https://www.elevenforum.com/t/file-explorer-ignoring-unblocked-file-status-with-24h2.31505/
File Explorer with 24H2 takes a lot of time (or you have to close and reopen the Explorer window) to acknowledge you already unblocked the file. If you re-open file Properties you'll see File Explorer still shows the file as blocked:
This has been introduced with 24H2 in December 2024 and never happened up to 23H2.
You can manually unblock a file by right-clicking it, going to Properties, and checking the "Unblock" box. This removes the Zone.Identifier ADS, telling Windows the user has made a conscious decision to trust the file.
You can manually unblock a file by right-clicking it, going to Properties, and checking the "Unblock" box. This removes the Zone.Identifier ADS, telling Windows the user has made a conscious decision to trust the file.
As said, if you do that and then check the properties again in Windows 11 24H2, the option to Unblock is still there and causes mentioned error if you try to unblock it again. This does not happen in Windows 10 for example.
Confirmed with Windows 11 24H2 26100.3194
- I download a file from internet
- Browse to the Download folder using Explorer
- Open properties of the downloaded file
- Unblock the file
If check the properties again, Explorer shows the Unblock option again, but unblocking it again results in an error.
The file gets unblocked, but the status in Explorer is not (directly?) updated until the Explorer process is restarted in task manager.
