dotnet/wpf · error · ElementNotEnabledException

ElementNotEnabledException

Error message

ElementNotEnabledException

What it means

WindowsListView's IScrollProvider.Scroll throws ElementNotEnabledException when the list-view HWND is disabled. Per the Scroll pattern contract, scrolling a disabled control is not allowed, so the provider checks IsWindowEnabled before delegating to WindowScroll.Scroll.

Solutions

1. Check element IsEnabled (or Scroll availability) before invoking Scroll.
2. Wait for the control to be re-enabled, then retry the scroll.
3. Catch ElementNotEnabledException and fall back to keyboard-based scrolling if applicable.
4. Fix the host app so the list view remains enabled when scrolling is expected.

Example fix

// before
((ScrollPattern)lv.GetCurrentPattern(ScrollPattern.Pattern)).Scroll(ScrollAmount.SmallIncrement, ScrollAmount.NoAmount);
// after
var sp = (ScrollPattern)lv.GetCurrentPattern(ScrollPattern.Pattern);
if (lv.Current.IsEnabled) sp.Scroll(ScrollAmount.SmallIncrement, ScrollAmount.NoAmount);

if (!element.Current.IsEnabled) { /* wait or skip */ } else { ((ScrollPattern)element.GetCurrentPattern(ScrollPattern.Pattern)).Scroll(h, v); }

try { scrollPattern.Scroll(h, v); } catch (ElementNotEnabledException) { /* control disabled */ }

When it happens

Trigger: Calling the Scroll pattern with any horizontal/vertical ScrollAmount on a list-view element whose window is disabled (WS_DISABLED) at call time.

Common situations: Automating a read-only/disabled list view; the dialog disables the list during long operations; race between app disabling the control and the automation scroll request.

Related errors

• ElementNotEnabledException
• ElementNotEnabledException
• ElementNotEnabledException
• ElementNotEnabledException
• ArgumentOutOfRangeException

AI-assisted analysis of dotnet/wpf@81131a70a4 (2026-09-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/1875fc548b05bff1. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/Microsoft.DotNet.Wpf/src/UIAutomation/UIAutomationClientSideProviders/MS/Internal/AutomationProxies/WindowsListView.cs:605

        bool ISelectionProvider.IsSelectionRequired
        {
            get
            {
                return false;
            }
        }


        #endregion SelectionPattern

        #region ScrollPattern

        void IScrollProvider.Scroll (ScrollAmount horizontalAmount, ScrollAmount verticalAmount)
        {
            // Make sure that the control is enabled
            if (!SafeNativeMethods.IsWindowEnabled(_hwnd))
            {
                throw new ElementNotEnabledException();
            }

            WindowScroll.Scroll (_hwnd, horizontalAmount, verticalAmount, true);
        }

        void IScrollProvider.SetScrollPercent (double horizontalPercent, double verticalPercent)
        {
            // Make sure that the control is enabled
            if (!SafeNativeMethods.IsWindowEnabled(_hwnd))
            {
                throw new ElementNotEnabledException();
            }

            // get the "full size" of the list-view
            int size = ApproximateViewRect (_hwnd);

            // ApproximateViewRect adds the window edge size, substract it
            int cx = NativeMethods.Util.LOWORD (size) /*- 2 * UnsafeNativeMethods.GetSystemMetrics (NativeMethods.SM_CXBORDER)*/;

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