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 Computers
System One System Two
-
- OS
- Windows 11 Pro
- Computer type
- Laptop
- Manufacturer/Model
- ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 G635LX
- CPU
- Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
- Motherboard
- ASUS
- Memory
- SK Hynix 64GB DDR5-5600MHz RAM
- Graphics Card(s)
- GeForce RTX 5090 24 GB GDDR7 VRAM
- Sound Card
- Dolby Atmos-powered speakers - 2 tweeters and 3 downward firing woofers
- Monitor(s) Displays
- ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQWMG QHD 280 Hz 27" Monitor
- Screen Resolution
- QHD (2560x1440)
- Hard Drives
- 2x WD_BLACK SN850X 8TB SSDs (RAID 0)
- PSU
- 380W AC Power Adapter
- Cooling
- Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut + IETS GT600 Cooling Pad
- Keyboard
- ROG Strix Scope II 96 RX Wireless
- Mouse
- ROG Chakram X Origin
- Internet Speed
- 1 GBPS Down / 882 MBPS Up
- Browser
- Google Chrome
- Antivirus
- Microsoft Defender
-
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Pro
- Computer type
- Laptop
- Manufacturer/Model
- Dell XPS 15 9500
- CPU
- Intel i7-10875H
- Memory
- Kingston FURY Impact 64 GB 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM
- Graphics card(s)
- nVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q w/ 4 GB GDDR6
- Sound Card
- Realtek
- Monitor(s) Displays
- 15.6 UHD+ Touch, InfinityEdge, 500-nits, Anti-Reflecitve
- Screen Resolution
- 3840 x 2400
- Hard Drives
- Samsung 990 PRO 2TB + 4TB SSDs
- PSU
- Dell 130W Laptop Charger USB C Type C AC Adapter
- Cooling
- Noctua NT-H2 Thermal Paste on CPU + GPU
- Mouse
- Logitech MX Anywhere 3
- Internet Speed
- 1 GBPS Down / 875 MBPS Up
- Browser
- Google Chrome
- Antivirus
- AVG Free Antivirus
