From c3013489557ddf1afaf5c5ce1cfcc67c45e465e2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Nick von Kaenel <52364921+nickvonkaenel@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:32:13 -0800
Subject: [PATCH 1/2] fix(files): validate window ID before accessing in
 get_explorer_state

Adds vim.api.nvim_win_is_valid() check before accessing window buffers
to prevent errors when window IDs become invalid, such as with empty
folders.
---
 lua/mini/files.lua | 8 +++++---
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lua/mini/files.lua b/lua/mini/files.lua
index 331bead2..c1a9f206 100644
--- a/lua/mini/files.lua
+++ b/lua/mini/files.lua
@@ -1061,9 +1061,11 @@ MiniFiles.get_explorer_state = function()
   H.explorer_ensure_target_window(explorer)
   local windows = {}
   for _, win_id in ipairs(explorer.windows) do
-    local buf_id = vim.api.nvim_win_get_buf(win_id)
-    local path = (H.opened_buffers[buf_id] or {}).path
-    table.insert(windows, { win_id = win_id, path = path })
+    if vim.api.nvim_win_is_valid(win_id) then
+      local buf_id = vim.api.nvim_win_get_buf(win_id)
+      local path = (H.opened_buffers[buf_id] or {}).path
+      table.insert(windows, { win_id = win_id, path = path })
+    end
   end
 
   return {

From 595a0f94821548898c0e1fef1841b89b0af6b014 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Nick von Kaenel <52364921+nickvonkaenel@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2026 18:18:37 -0800
Subject: [PATCH 2/2] Remove unnecessary window validation and improve windows
 normalize_path function

Found that the root cause of the issue is related to how paths were being normalized for windows. Changed the normalize function to handle UNC and Extended-length paths, and also improve behavior around slashes following drive letters
---
 lua/mini/files.lua | 16 ++++++++++------
 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/lua/mini/files.lua b/lua/mini/files.lua
index c1a9f206..ab3a4a6f 100644
--- a/lua/mini/files.lua
+++ b/lua/mini/files.lua
@@ -1061,11 +1061,9 @@ MiniFiles.get_explorer_state = function()
   H.explorer_ensure_target_window(explorer)
   local windows = {}
   for _, win_id in ipairs(explorer.windows) do
-    if vim.api.nvim_win_is_valid(win_id) then
-      local buf_id = vim.api.nvim_win_get_buf(win_id)
-      local path = (H.opened_buffers[buf_id] or {}).path
-      table.insert(windows, { win_id = win_id, path = path })
-    end
+    local buf_id = vim.api.nvim_win_get_buf(win_id)
+    local path = (H.opened_buffers[buf_id] or {}).path
+    table.insert(windows, { win_id = win_id, path = path })
   end
 
   return {
@@ -2634,7 +2632,13 @@ end
 
 H.fs_normalize_path = function(path) return (path:gsub('/+', '/'):gsub('(.)/$', '%1')) end
 if H.is_windows then
-  H.fs_normalize_path = function(path) return (path:gsub('\\', '/'):gsub('([^/])/+', '%1/'):gsub('(.)[\\/]$', '%1')) end
+  H.fs_normalize_path = function(path)
+    path = path:gsub('\\', '/'):gsub('///+', '//')
+    local prefix = path:sub(1, 2)
+    local rest = path:sub(3):gsub('/+', '/'):gsub('/+$', '')
+    if prefix:match('%a:') then prefix = prefix .. '/' end
+    return prefix .. rest
+  end
 end
 
 H.fs_is_imaginary_path = function(path) return path:sub(-1) == '\000' end