Solved A question about the navigation pane in File Explorer


BruceUK

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In the navigation pane in File Explorer, a folder with no subfolders is being shown with the ">" against the name, i.e. as if it did have subfolders. Is there some setting I can change to avoid this?
 
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Screenshot please
 

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Hi Antspants,

Thanks for your response. OK here are two screenshots of the File Explorer screen. On the first one, you'll see that the 'MS Access Files' folder is shown with the ">" character, indicating that it has subfolders. I then clicked that folder and, on the second screenshot, you'll see that the contents are entirely files and no subfolders. The ">" is still shown against the folder name.

File Explorer screen before clicking the MS Access Files folder.pngFile Explorer screen after clicking the MS Access Files folder.png
 

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Hi, Bruce. And if you click on the arrow, it doesn’t expand downwards to expose subfolders?

IMG_4912.jpeg

Is this evident on the other folders above and below the access folder as well?

As I can see under the status column there are green ticks, I am going to assume that this is OneDrive related, sadly something I am not familiar with but i am looking. I know nothing about OneDrive, but many here do.
 

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    Monitor: 14" 2.8K

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If I click on the arrow for a folder with no subfolders, it just disappears and the display remains the same. Yes,, all the folders behave in the same way..

The status column does relate to OneDrive - the green ticks indicate that the files are also stored locally to give me immediate access (my WiFi connection is not very good currently, which I'm trying to address).

Does anyone else have any suggestions - or is this just a strange Windows 11 quirk?
 

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Perhaps there are hidden folders in these that are related to OneDrive. If you uncheck show hidden items, do those expansion arrows still show?

View > Show > Hidden items. See if it is ticked.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8655
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    1x 1080P FHD IR/RGB Hybrid with Privacy Shutter and Dual Array Microphone
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    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
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  • Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8655 (Wifes)

    Yoga 7 2-in-1 14IML9 - Type 83DJ

    Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H Processor(Core™ Ultra 7 155H)

    Memory: 32GB LPD5X-7467

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    Camera: 1080P FHD IR Hybrid with Dual Microphone

    Graphics: Intel® Arc™ Graphics

    Monitor: 14" 2.8K

    ...Where's my horse?
Thanks for your latest reply, which virtually crossed with mine. The 'Show hidden items' option was unticked. I've tried ticking it but it doesn't change the display of the arrows.
 

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I see some folders without the > and know they do contain subfolders and files but when trying to access get this message so click OK and can see the contents in them:

1725201422983.png
Administrator rights are required.
 

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I see some folders without the > and know they do contain subfolders and files but when trying to access get this message so click OK and can see the contents in them:

View attachment 106806
Administrator rights are required.

Hi Berton,

That is the opposite problem to mine. My problem is that I see folders with the > and I know they don't contain subfolders!
 

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FWIW Windows 10 also did this. I.e. had an arrow next to the folder icon, then when you click it, the arrow disappears if no subfolders are present.

It's a bit annoying I guess, as it suggests there are subfolders when there aren't.
 

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FWIW Windows 10 also did this. I.e. had an arrow next to the folder icon, then when you click it, the arrow disappears if no subfolders are present.

It's a bit annoying I guess, as it suggests there are subfolders when there aren't.

Thanks for that. :-) So, as I thought, it appears to be simply an annoying Windows quirk. I wonder what the chances are that Microsoft will do something about it!
 

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Thanks for that. :-) So, as I thought, it appears to be simply an annoying Windows quirk. I wonder what the chances are that Microsoft will do something about it!
I would say zero to none. If it was happening in Windows 10 and still happening in Windows 11, I don't see it getting fixed. Might happen in the next version of Windows.
 

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Been like that in Windows since there was sliced bread!!! 🤷‍♂️

0007567.gif
 

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