Customize root drop-down list?

atinfo · Jul 11, 2023

Is there a way to customize this list (the root drop-down menu list)? I want to remove some items there.

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glasskuter · Jul 11, 2023

The folders you see will always reflect whatever subfolders are in the parent folder you expand. Depending on the parent folder, some sub-folders can be renamed, some can not, and some it is not advisable to change due to app and folder dependancies.
Out of curiosity...why?

atinfo · Jul 12, 2023

glasskuter said:
The folders you see will always reflect whatever subfolders are in the parent folder you expand. Depending on the parent folder, some sub-folders can be renamed, some can not, and some it is not advisable to change due to app and folder dependancies.

Thanks. I knew that. But the root arrow (This PC arrow!) has a different behaviour. Besides the "Desktop", it shows extra folders like User, Music, Videos, Network, Control Panel... I never use them.

glasskuter said:
Out of curiosity...why?

I have Navigation Pane hidden and use the root drop-down list a lot (to move between folders). It would be great (of course, for me) to be customizable. That long list just confuses me!

Fabler2 · Jul 12, 2023

I don't know if this will help but if you select Home it will list only the pinned folders.

glasskuter · Jul 12, 2023

@Fabler2 He has navigation pane turned off. Using the navigation pane rather than the dropdown in the explorer address bar would solve this but that's not what he wants.. I've never encountered anyone who navigates that way. I think this tutorial would get rid of his personal folders in the list but not all the others. Do you agree? Add or Remove Folders under This PC in File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

@Brink do you have any suggestions?

Fabler2 · Jul 12, 2023

glasskuter said:
@Fabler2 He has navigation pane turned off. Using the navigation pane rather than the dropdown in the explorer address bar would solve this but that's not what he wants.. I've never encountered anyone who navigates that way. I think this tutorial would get rid of his personal folders in the list but not all the others. Do you agree? Add or Remove Folders under This PC in File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

@Brink do you have any suggestions?

Makes no difference if Nav pane off. You can get to any program or folder or drive this way. You can pin or unpin folders to Home.

atinfo · Jul 12, 2023

@Fabler2
Many thanks. That's what exactly I am doing! To switch between folders, I select "Home" to access my pinned folders. But I like to address from the address bar arrow (because I have Nav Pane hidden).

@glasskuter
I already have done with WT (WinaeroTweaker). It removes Explorer items, not the drop-down list items.

Mr Brink is watching his dreams (I think) -> :sleepy:

glasskuter · Jul 12, 2023

@Fabler2 I see what you're saying now. It lists only the drives there which, if one wants to click enough times, can get them to any file or folder. Are you saying that if I pin a folder to Home in navigation pane that it will also show up there.

glasskuter · Jul 12, 2023

atinfo said:
Mr Brink is watching his dreams

Yeah, on this side of the pond anyone with any sense is not on their computer at this time of the AM. I'm a die hard insomniac. I get so little sleep I run on fumes most of the time.

atinfo · Jul 12, 2023

Like Windows 11, Earth has rounded corners and isn't flat! :woozy:

Fabler2 · Jul 12, 2023

atinfo said:
@Fabler2
Many thanks. That's what exactly I am doing! To switch between folders, I select "Home" to access my pinned folders. But I like to address from the address bar arrow (because I have Nav Pane hidden).

@glasskuter
I already have done with WT (WinaeroTweaker). It removes Explorer items, not the drop-down list items.

View attachment 64559

Mr Brink is watching his dreams (I think) ->

I can configure the Home context list (from the address bar) to my liking without Nav Pane showing. So pinning and un-pinning to my liking. Is this not what you want? Just added UnCleaner and I can remove or add at will. Apologies if this is not what you want.

atinfo · Jul 12, 2023

Many thanks

. I want to customize the root/first arrow (Home's or This PC's root arrow, I don't know what exactly its name is). If you click on the second arrow (Home's arrow), it shows "Home" pinned items.

Fabler2 · Jul 12, 2023

atinfo said:
Many thanks . I want to customize the root/first arrow (Home's or This PC's root arrow, I don't know what exactly its name is). If you click on the second arrow (Home's arrow), it shows "Home" pinned items.

View attachment 64561

Don't think it's possible however what's wrong with changing the Home pinned list to your liking? It's an alternative.

atinfo · Jul 12, 2023

What if you are in a different directory?
First, you have to go to the "Home" directory, then the desired directory.
If you were in any directory, by clicking on the root arrow, you have access to the many directories (like Desktop, This PC, Desktop items and even Home...).

Fabler2 · Jul 12, 2023

atinfo said:
What if you are in a different directory?
First, you have to go to the "Home" directory, then the desired directory.
If you were in any directory, by clicking on the root arrow, you have access to the many directories (like Desktop, This PC, Desktop items and even Home...).

Here I've added 'Everything' from D: drive. I dual boot so I can pin and open a program/folder or file even from another partition.

Fabler2 · Jul 12, 2023

atinfo · Jul 12, 2023

Let me explain it visually:
I am in a specific directory (D:\Data\Video\PSVS4), and I want to go to the "Pic" folder (D:\BKP\Pic). As you can see (ss below), there is no "Pic" in the root drop-down list. I have to pin "Pic" in QA (Quick Acces), then go to "Home", and select the "Pic". I want to add "Pic" to the root drop-down list to access it directly (without going to "Home").
I think the root drop-down list is a great place to play the role of "Home". If we could make it customizable, we have access to our desired folders (in any directory).

glasskuter · Jul 12, 2023

We all can and do change a lot of things either with options MS gives us or changing things in the registry. But there are also some things we can't change. Parts of explorer are hardcoded to work a certain way. IMO what you want to do with that root drop arrow is not possible.

MS has given us so many methods of getting to and using folders. The left navigation pane and quick access are 2 which we are fully in control of. I know we all use our systems differently, but I believe you're cutting yourself short by not using the pane.

Using file explorer tabs were a godsend for when working in different folders and drives. So were snap layouts where one can open 2 instances of explorer and snap 2 folders side by side. Tabs and snap each have a purpose depending on what one is doing. Nothing MS has done has affected my workflow more. If you haven't experimented with both, I highly recommend you do.

Good luck in finding a genius that can help you with that root drop arrow.

Customize root drop-down list?

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