-    public void startSyncFolderOperation(OCFile folder, boolean ignoreETag) {
-        long currentSyncTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
-
-        mSyncInProgress = true;
-
-        // perform folder synchronization
-        RemoteOperation synchFolderOp = new RefreshFolderOperation( folder,
-                currentSyncTime,
-                false,
-                getFileOperationsHelper().isSharedSupported(),
-                ignoreETag,
-                getStorageManager(),
-                getAccount(),
-                getApplicationContext()
+    /**
+     * Starts an operation to refresh the requested folder.
+     *
+     * The operation is run in a new background thread created on the fly.
+     *
+     * The refresh updates is a "light sync": properties of regular files in folder are updated (including
+     * associated shares), but not their contents. Only the contents of files marked to be kept-in-sync are
+     * synchronized too.
+     *
+     * @param folder        Folder to refresh.
+     * @param ignoreETag    If 'true', the data from the server will be fetched and sync'ed even if the eTag
+     *                      didn't change.
+     */
+    public void startSyncFolderOperation(final OCFile folder, final boolean ignoreETag) {
+
+        // the execution is slightly delayed to allow the activity get the window focus if it's being started
+        // or if the method is called from a dialog that is being dismissed
+        getHandler().postDelayed(
+                new Runnable() {
+                    @Override
+                    public void run() {
+                        if (hasWindowFocus()) {
+                            long currentSyncTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
+                            mSyncInProgress = true;
+
+                            // perform folder synchronization
+                            RemoteOperation synchFolderOp = new RefreshFolderOperation(folder,
+                                    currentSyncTime,
+                                    false,
+                                    getFileOperationsHelper().isSharedSupported(),
+                                    ignoreETag,
+                                    getStorageManager(),
+                                    getAccount(),
+                                    getApplicationContext()
+                            );
+                            synchFolderOp.execute(
+                                    getAccount(),
+                                    MainApp.getAppContext(),
+                                    FileDisplayActivity.this,
+                                    null,
+                                    null
+                            );
+
+                            mProgressBar.setIndeterminate(true);
+
+                            setBackgroundText();
+
+                        }   // else: NOTHING ; lets' not refresh when the user rotates the device but there is
+                        // another window floating over
+                    }
+                },
+                DELAY_TO_REQUEST_OPERATIONS_LATER