This has been a problem for me in Windows 10, and now Windows 11 21H2 or 22H2. It happens randomly, like I would be in a sub folder for example on my external SSD and suddenly "This PC" in the navigation pane expands and shows everything and so does the external USB drive that I'm on.
Yes the option to automatically expand in File Explorer options is off. I have recently tried this batch file as well:
It doesn't happen all the time but randomly and is very annoying.
Is there a way to completely disable this expansion of drives in the left pane forever? I just want the list of drives on the left and the quick access items that I've added never to auto expand.
I must note that I have always been using ExplorerPatcher and have now switched to Start11 if that matters since ExplorerPatcher is the buggiest piece of software I have ever used.
Yes the option to automatically expand in File Explorer options is off. I have recently tried this batch file as well:
Code:
@echo off
REG Add HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /V NavPaneExpandToCurrentFolder /T REG_DWORD /D 00000000 /F
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exeIt doesn't happen all the time but randomly and is very annoying.
Is there a way to completely disable this expansion of drives in the left pane forever? I just want the list of drives on the left and the quick access items that I've added never to auto expand.
I must note that I have always been using ExplorerPatcher and have now switched to Start11 if that matters since ExplorerPatcher is the buggiest piece of software I have ever used.
Last edited:
My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- Windows 11 Pro
- Computer type
- Laptop
- Manufacturer/Model
- Alienware m15 R7
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
- Memory
- Micron 64 GB 4800 MHz DDR5 RAM
- Graphics Card(s)
- GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 16 GB GDDR6
- Sound Card
- Realtek Audio
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 15.6" QHD 240Hz 2ms 400-Nit Screen + Alienware 38 Curved Gaming Monitor AW3821DW
- Screen Resolution
- WQHD (3440 x 1440)
- Hard Drives
- WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB SSD + Toshiba Kioxia KXG70PN84T094TB 4TB SSD
- PSU
- 240W AC Power Adapter (supports 100-240V)
- Cooling
- Noctua NT-H2 + Fujipoly Extreme Thermal Pads
- Keyboard
- Alienware Low-Profile RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard AW510K
- Mouse
- Logitech MX Anywhere 3
- Internet Speed
- 1 GBPS Down / 300 MBPS Up
- Browser
- Google Chrome
- Antivirus
- F‑Secure Anti-Virus
