How to access file conflict dialogue box?

To access the file conflict dialog in Windows Explorer, you typically do not have direct API access to modify the default behavior of the dialog that appears when there is a conflict (such as when trying to overwrite a file). However, you can handle file operations in your application and provide custom conflict resolution logic by implementing the appropriate interfaces.

When a user attempts to overwrite a file, Windows Explorer automatically shows a conflict dialog that allows the user to choose whether to overwrite the existing file or skip the operation. If you want to customize this behavior or display additional details, you would need to create your own file management interface or use existing libraries that allow for such customizations.

The default behavior of the file conflict dialog can be overridden by handling the OnOverwrite event in your implementation of the file dialog interfaces, such as IFileDialog. This allows you to provide your own UI and logic for handling file conflicts, but it requires developing a custom solution rather than modifying the built-in Windows Explorer dialog directly.

For more detailed information on handling file dialogs and events, you can refer to the documentation on IFileDialog and related interfaces.

The automated answer did help, but what I finally found was on another forum. It was the ifileoperation.

Documentation:

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/shobjidl_core/nf-shobjidl_core-ifileoperation-advise
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/shobjidl_core/nn-shobjidl_core-ifiledialog
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/shobjidl_core/nf-shobjidl_core-ifiledialogevents-onoverwrite

It will take quite a while to make it, but at least there is a start.

Hi @Lonnie S. Jones ,

You’re correct that IFileOperation is the supported API to start with. By using IFileOperation::Advise together with progress or overwrite-related callbacks, an app can detect conflicts and decide how to proceed during a copy or move operation that it initiates itself.

However, these APIs apply only when your application owns and initiates the file operation. In that case, you can implement your own logic and user experience around conflicts, including presenting additional details or custom dialogs. This is effectively a replacement copy workflow, not an extension of Windows Explorer’s behavior.

Windows Explorer’s built-in file conflict dialog is implemented internally by Explorer and is not exposed through any public or supported API. There is currently no mechanism to access, intercept, or customize that dialog, nor to add additional details to it, even when using IFileOperation.

Hopefully this distinction helps set expectations for your works. If you find my answer's useful, please kindly mark it as final answer.

Thanks