# Explorer single-click opens files in a new editor group (split) instead of the focused group — Cursor 3.23.12

**URL:** <https://forum.cursor.com/t/explorer-single-click-opens-files-in-a-new-editor-group-split-instead-of-the-focused-group-cursor-3-23-12/173778>\
**Category:** Bug Reports\
**Tags:** layout\
**Created:** [October 5, 2026, 11:05am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/explorer-single-click-opens-files-in-a-new-editor-group-split-instead-of-the-focused-group-cursor-3-23-12/173778 "2026-10-05T11:05:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Aroot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce73a5/32.png) [@Aroot](https://forum.cursor.com/u/Aroot)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 11:05am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/explorer-single-click-opens-files-in-a-new-editor-group-split-instead-of-the-focused-group-cursor-3-23-12/173778/1 "2026-10-05T11:05:37Z")

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### Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

Cursor IDE

### Describe the Bug

## Summary

Opening a file from the Explorer with a normal single click (no Alt / Ctrl) creates a **new editor column (split / SIDE\_GROUP)** instead of opening a tab in the **currently focused editor group**.  
This is not caused by empty groups staying open, and it is not Alt+click “Open to the Side”. It reproduces from Explorer after explicitly focusing the target group. Standard workbench settings (`revealIfOpen`, `openPositioning`) do **not** fix it.

## Environment

| Item | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Cursor | **3.23.12** (system setup) |
| Build date | **2026-10-01T04:41:16.627Z** |
| Channel | Stable |

## Steps to Reproduce

1. Open a workspace with a normal Explorer sidebar (Chat/Agent in the **side panel** , not as an editor tab).
2. Run **View: Reset Editor Layout** so there is a **single** editor group (or join all groups).
3. Open any file (e.g. `package.json`) and **click inside the editor** so that group is focused.
4. In **Explorer** , single-click another file (no Alt, no Ctrl, no middle-click, no context menu).

## Expected

The file opens as a tab in the **focused editor group** (same column).

## Actual

A **second editor column** appears, and the file opens in the new split / wrong group — as if “Open to the Side” was used.

## What we already ruled out

- Not `workbench.editor.closeEmptyGroups` (empty groups remaining).
- Not Alt / Ctrl / middle-click “Open to the Side”.
- No custom keybinding remapping Explorer open (`keybindings.json` clean).
- No workspace setting forcing side open (`.vscode/settings.json` unrelated).
- User settings do **not** force `SIDE_GROUP` opens; only normal workbench prefs (e.g. `splitInGroupLayout`, tab wrapping).
- Happens on **latest Stable 3.23.12** — updating is not a fix path.

## Settings tried (no effect)

These settings were checked / tried and **do not fix** the issue on 3.23.12:

| Setting | Tried / notes | Result |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `workbench.editor.revealIfOpen` | set to `true` | Still opens a **new column / split** instead of using the focused group; does not reliably reveal an already-open tab in another group. |
| `workbench.editor.openPositioning` | tried `left` / `first` / default (`right`) | Still creates a **new editor group** on Explorer single-click; does not keep opens in the active group. |
| `workbench.editor.openSideBySideDirection` | only affects intentional side opens | Irrelevant — the bug fires on a normal open, not on explicit “Open to the Side”. |
| **Conclusion:** this is **not** a misconfigured `revealIfOpen` / `openPositioning` setup. Explorer file open appears to bypass normal active-group targeting (same family as the earlier editor-group regressions), and these settings do not restore correct behavior on **3.23.12**. | | |

## Related reports (same family)

- [Editors always opened in new editor groups](https://forum.cursor.com/t/editors-always-opened-in-new-editor-groups/131910)
- [When open new file, it always opens in the right column active editor group](https://forum.cursor.com/t/when-open-new-file-it-always-opens-in-the-right-column-active-editor-group/136188) — staff suggested `openPositioning` + `revealIfOpen`; **insufficient**
- [RevealIfOpen setting is still ignored](https ://forum.cursor.com/t/revealifopen-setting-is-still-ignored/163618)

### Steps to Reproduce

1. Open a workspace with a normal Explorer sidebar (Chat/Agent in the side panel, not as an editor tab).
2. Run View: Reset Editor Layout so there is a single editor group (or join all groups).
3. Open any file (e.g. package.json) and click inside the editor so that group is focused.
4. In Explorer, single-click another file (no Alt, no Ctrl, no middle-click, no context menu).

### Operating System

Windows 10/11

### Version Information

Cursor 3.23.12 (system setup)  
Build date 2026-10-01T04:41:16.627Z  
Channel Stable

### Does this stop you from using Cursor

No - Cursor works, but with this issue

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevinn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/kevinn/32/101206_2.png) [@kevinn](https://forum.cursor.com/u/kevinn)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/explorer-single-click-opens-files-in-a-new-editor-group-split-instead-of-the-focused-group-cursor-3-23-12/173778/6 "2026-10-05T18:40:01Z")

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Hey @Aroot, thanks for the detailed write-up and for listing everything you’ve already ruled out.

A normal click in the Explorer should open the file in the focused group. Cursor only creates a new column in a few specific situations, so a few quick checks should tell us which one you’re running into:

1. **Locked group.** Look at the right end of the tab bar for that editor group. If you see a lock icon, the group is locked, and Cursor will open new files beside it instead of in it. Groups can be locked automatically (for example, a group whose first tab is a terminal opened as an editor), and the lock can stay in place after other groups are closed or joined. Click the lock icon or run **View: Unlock Editor Group** from the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P), then try a single click again.
2. **Mouse vs. keyboard.** In the Explorer, select a file with the arrow keys and press **Enter**. Does it open in the same column? If Enter works but a mouse click splits, the click is probably arriving with Ctrl, Alt, or the Windows key reported as held (a keyboard utility or remote desktop tool can cause this), which Cursor treats as “Open to the Side”.
3. **Extensions.** Quit Cursor, start it from a terminal with `cursor --disable-extensions`, open the same folder, and repeat your steps.

Could you let us know what happened at each step? If it still opens a new column after all three, a screenshot of the editor area right before you click (so we can see the tab bar) and a short screen recording would help us get this to the team. thank you!