can't make file explorer smaller

I have an issue. File explorer can't be smaller when pressing the second button on the upper right in Windows 11. No such issue in safe mode. What can I do?

Please help, thanks.

The only time I've seen that was when the user had dragged the edges to the the same size or larger than Maximized, cured by click drag of the Title bar to see the difference. If the window is Maximized it will show 2 squares overlapped on the middle icon signifying the window can be Restored to its previous view. A single square on that icon means it can be Maximized.

How to fix it to be like in the screenshot Here's a better look at new Windows 11 File Explorer, Settings app

I assume you're referring to the three icons on the top RH corner - Minmimise, Normalise, Close

It's the Normalise button that you're using ? If nothing happens (or appears nothing happens), it just means the window has been manually extended to the full dimensions of your screen

You should be able to put the mouse cursor over a corner and the cursor symbol will change to a small diagonal double arrow headed cursor. Click+hold+drag to resize the window.

You saw the link? What's normalize? The issue is not there in safe mode. No software conflict? Where do I click at?

If you carefully right-click the icon you should get this for choices:

:

I think the move and size are greyed out. Outside and will check later. Moving or sizing it will fix the issue?

Usually does and will help in understanding what can be done. But if not there may be other issues.

I am suspecting software conflict. I created a new user account but before doing so, I uninstalled some software. The issue not there when creating the account. I installed some software one by one with a gap in between. Updated to the latest Dev. Channel build. Updated few drivers and the issue came back.

Dev Channel is an important thing to have mentioned as the versions available in Insider Preview are at best considered to be BETA or Test versions and will have issues which should or must be reported to Microsoft using the method they provided. I used to be one of those users in Win10 and took their advice to heart to NOT put it on a Production machine or only computer, had it on an older computer that eventually couldn't run newer versions or builds.

This happened recently. I can try resizing it, if the option is not greyed out or uninstall third party software.

paulpchou said:

This happened recently. I can try resizing it, if the option is not greyed out or uninstall third party software.

Click to expand...

Someone already mentioned this, but I'll try also...

At the top right, click the square full screen icon, then try grabbing the title bar and dragging File Explorer a bit, so you can resize it.

If that doesn't work, try clicking the square full screen icon again, and then try again to grab the title bar and drag File Explorer.



Once you are able to grab the title bar and drag File Explorer a bit, then you will be able to resize it.
This happens to me sometimes with the AIDA64 Extreme window.

I will try that later tonight. Trying to figure out if software or driver conflict is in play.

paulpchou said:

I will try that later tonight. Trying to figure out if software or driver conflict is in play.

Click to expand...

It takes about 2 seconds to do. Once you can drag the File Explorer window, off to the right a bit... then you can grab the top or side of the window to resize it.





It's hard to explain, but the little square full screen icon that is supposed to resize the window, doesn't work if the File Explorer window has been "resized" to full screen by dragging the windows edges.
The little square full screen icon, instead... acts like a toggle, which will/will not allow you to drag the File Explorer window off to the right a bit.


There's no way to tell if the little square full screen icon has been toggled properly. You just have to try both ways.
It will look the same in step 1 or step 2, below.

1. Click the little square full screen icon and try to drag the File Explorer window a bit to the right.

2. If you can't drag the File Explorer window, click the little square full screen icon a second time, and try to drag the File Explorer window again.

3. If step 1 allows you to drag the File Explorer windows... then STOP. Now grab the edge of the window (shown in YELLOW box), and use the double arrow to resize the window.

4. If step 1 doesn't work... then do step 2... one of the two steps should work.

Once you use the double arrow to resize the window... then the little square full screen icon (top right corner), will start working again, like it should.





The 1st time this happened to me, it took me a couple days to figure it out. Like I said... it's not easy to explain.

ok, but I am outside. Can't do it now but will try it tonight. The interesting thing is that this issue occurs only in file explorer. No issue with Edge or other software, etc.

paulpchou said:

ok, but I am outside. Can't do it now but will try it tonight. The interesting thing is that this issue occurs only in file explorer. No issue with Edge or other software, etc.

Click to expand...

That's pretty much the normal way programs operate in Windows, file the screen as they wish or as the user adjusts to suit their needs, independent from other programs, has over several years and versions.

Ghot,
I believe that Windows has been dragged to full screen by dragging the windows edge.

paulpchou said:

Ghot,
I believe that Windows has been dragged to full screen by dragging the windows edge.

Click to expand...

I don't know what causes it. In my case I just figured out how to fix it.
I do know, I never run anything in full screen, except maybe a game or two that won't let me run in windowed mode.

What was in your case? Same issue as mine?