Solved Confused about File Explorer settings

Trying to learn · May 16, 2025

Hi everyone. I'm trying to get File Explorer to be more simple and uncluttered for us. But in my efforts to figure it out, I've wound up getting myself very confused. I tried reading a number of tutorials, but I can't seem to get clarity on it, as if my brain's frozen from 'windows overload' or something. Any chance you know which steps I should take or which of the tutorials would get me to an end result like this, like it used to be for us in Win 7 and 8.1? It's gotta be just a few simple and obvious steps, right? But somehow it's beyond me tonight.

dacrone · May 16, 2025

download Windhawk

either install, or run as portable (option during install; if you want portable, create a shortcut to "windhawk.exe" after it extracts, right click it > properties > in the Target line, add

Code:

 -tray-only

(there is a space between the end of the target and the addition), cut that shortcut and paste it in "Shell:Startup" folder (access via the run box)

launch windhawk and click "Explore" to search for mods.
install "Classic Explorer Navigation Bar" and enable it > go to Details > Settings and set the dropdown to "Classic ribbon UI (no tabs)" and Save Settings
install "Windows 7 Command Bar" and enable it
close and reopen Explorer

*if you do not want the Windows 7 Command Bar below the Navigation bar, you can disable "Windows 7 Command Bar" and when you open Explorer, simply click the ^ in the top right to hide the Windows 10 style ribbon.

antspants · May 16, 2025

I’m hoping you created a system image after you loaded Windows and upgraded to the Pro account and before you started tweaking Windows.

Trying to learn · May 16, 2025

@dacrone Ohhhh, is it only possible with a 3rd-party tool? I thought it must be possible in Windows, just that I was too tired and confused to figure it out...

dacrone · May 16, 2025

Trying to learn said:
@dacrone Ohhhh, is it only possible with a 3rd-party tool? I thought it must be possible in Windows, just that I was too tired and confused to figure it out...

that style of setup, yes. you can launch the win10 style explorer with the ribbon and just minimize the ribbon if you want.

to do so with NO third party tools, create a shortcut with:

Code:

explorer.exe shell:::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\5\::{cd0e17aa-b301-49b1-8867-96a3c403ecbe}

antspants · May 16, 2025

Trying to learn said:
@dacrone Ohhhh, is it only possible with a 3rd-party tool? I thought it must be possible in Windows, just that I was too tired and confused to figure it out...

It is, but removing the ribbon isn’t

antspants · May 16, 2025

Restore Classic File Explorer with Ribbon in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to restore the classic File Explorer with Ribbon for your account or all users in Windows 11. File Explorer in Windows 10 has a ribbon, tabs, and a title bar with color. The ribbon includes common tasks, such as copying and moving, creating new folders, emailing...

www.elevenforum.com

Add or Remove Home in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove Home in the navigation pane of File Explorer for your account or all users in Windows 11. Home in the navigation pane is the default homepage of File Explorer (Win+E) that allows you to quickly access and view your pinned/frequent locations...

www.elevenforum.com

Add or Remove Quick Access in File Explorer Home in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the Quick access section in File Explorer Home for all users in Windows 11. Starting with Windows 11 build 22593, Quick access in File Explorer (Win+E) is now called Home. The name Quick access has been repurposed for the pinned/frequent Folders...

www.elevenforum.com

Trying to learn · May 16, 2025

antspants said:
I’m hoping you created a system image after you loaded Windows and upgraded to the Pro account and before you started tweaking Windows.

I didn't yet. Because it was so smooth and easy with the install. And I thought if anything went wrong, I could just reinstall with the ISO and do the upgrade to Pro again, right? We haven't put any personal stuff on it yet. Only installed a few programs. And I've been keeping notes/links on each of the tweaks as I've been doing them. Only been tweaking through Settings and using some of Brink's tutorials. Haven't had time to do much yet. My plan was to do a system image after the basic tweaks were done.

antspants · May 16, 2025

Trying to learn said:
And I've been keeping notes/links on each of the tweaks as I've been doing them. Only been tweaking through Settings and using some of Brink's tutorials.

Good move on both counts.

dacrone · May 16, 2025

Trying to learn said:
I didn't yet. Because it was so smooth and easy with the install. And I thought if anything went wrong, I could just reinstall with the ISO and do the upgrade to Pro again, right? We haven't put any personal stuff on it yet. Only installed a few programs. And I've been keeping notes/links on each of the tweaks as I've been doing them. Only been tweaking through Settings and using some of Brink's tutorials. Haven't had time to do much yet. My plan was to do a system image after the basic tweaks were done.

also, a good member here, @LesFerch has

GitHub - LesFerch/SwitchExplorer: Switch Explorer between the Windows 11 version and the Windows 10 version

Switch Explorer between the Windows 11 version and the Windows 10 version - LesFerch/SwitchExplorer

github.com

which will make your explorer always open the ribbon version until you change it back. all it does is apply a reg mod. no installation necessary.

abactuon · May 16, 2025

Far Manager

Windows Terminal Dynamic Profiles

Learn about dynamic profiles in Windows Terminal.

learn.microsoft.com

antspants · May 16, 2025

With Brinks tutorials, I always download the registry tweak options. There is always a do and an undo registry tweak. Makes life easier.

antspants · May 16, 2025

The reason I always post Brink tutorials for you, is that it is good for you to read them and get a better understanding of the process & what your are doing, how it works and how to undo it.

abactuon · May 16, 2025

antspants said:
With Brinks tutorials

I couldn't simplify it any further.
The file manager in Linux is more adequate.

antspants · May 16, 2025

On the chance that OneDrive is showing in the left navigation pane

Add or Remove OneDrive in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove OneDrive in the navigation pane of File Explorer for your account or all users in Windows 11. OneDrive is built-in to Windows 11 by default. With OneDrive, you can sync files between your computer and the cloud, so you can get to your files from...

www.elevenforum.com

Trying to learn · May 16, 2025

antspants said:
With Brinks tutorials, I always download the registry tweak options. There is always a do and an undo registry tweak. Makes life easier.

That's what I was doing too. Well, I should say, I was downloading and keeping the 'do' ones (so I have them in case a reinstall is ever needed), and making wordpad files for each subject with my notes about what I had learned and done, including the links to the tutorial pages in case any extra info or 'undo' reg files are needed.

I've been taking screenshots of some stuff in the computer settings sometimes too, to help me remember things.
It might be overboard for some folks, I suppose. But I'm such a greenhorn. I don't want to forget these things in a month or so. And my husband will benefit from me keeping careful track of it all too.

Trying to learn · May 16, 2025

antspants said:
The reason I always post Brink tutorials for you, is that it is good for you to read them and get a better understanding of the process & what your are doing, how it works and how to undo it.

Yeah, they've been helping me a lot. I guess it's just exhaustion tonight making my brain kinda freeze up with this File Explorer stuff. Well, that and I've been maybe pressing myself to learn a bit too much too fast, because I soon have to step away from the stuff with this new computer in order to focus on getting the annual taxes done (ugh, lol).

Trying to learn · May 16, 2025

Sorry to be slow, everyone. Trying to get caught up on replies. Want to say a big ((thank you!)) to everyone for your comments. (The dinosaur in me wants to post a red heart beside that last sentence, to show the warmth and sincerity that comes with the thanks... but I recently read an article about how the use of smiley/emoji/emoticon stuff (whatever they're called nowadays) has greatly changed since I first stumbled on them over 20 years ago. I'm a bit nervous of offending anyone if I post a wink or a heart now. Wouldn't want it to be misunderstood. lol!)

antspants · May 16, 2025

Trying to learn said:
Well, that and I've been maybe pressing myself to learn a bit too much too fast

I have observed this. Sometimes it is easier to focus on the “Need To Know” stuff. There are Windows black holes you can fall into.

Not at all overboard.

Here’s mine

(But I also download the undo and place the tutorial bookmark and any quick notes I may need, into the folder)

glasskuter · May 16, 2025

You do not need any third party tools. Brink has provided most all info you need to change what can be changed in the tutorial section of this forum. When I set up a new device there are 30 of his fixes that I use in one master regedit file.

There's no way to permanently change the default look of the modern file explorer command bar.

I definitely suggest you get rid of the modern right click context menu.

Disable "Show more options" context menu in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable having to click on "Show more options" to see the full context menu for your account or all users in Windows 11. When you right click on an item in Windows 11, you will see a new modern condensed context menu with Show more options...

www.elevenforum.com

For file explorer you can start with these.

Change file explorer to open to this PC by default Option 2 here Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 11 Tutorial
Disable "show more options in context menu Disable "Show more options" context menu in Windows 11 Tutorial
Remove home from navigation pane Add or Remove Home in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial
Remove duplicate removable drives in navigation pane Add or Remove Duplicate Drives in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

I prefer to work in my personal folders using the left navigation pane so I removed the duplicated folders under this PC on the right. That tutorial is not included above. See the attached file for what I ended up with.

Solved Confused about File Explorer settings

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My Computer

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My Computer

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers

and glad to be here

My Computers

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