File Explorer has gone back to automatically expanding drive folders in the navigation pane . . .

archfoto · Sep 11, 2024

Hi All -

When I got my new computer a bit over a year ago, I ordered it with Windows 11 Pro. It worked pretty well, but I had one complaint: No matter what I did in folder options, every time I opened a folder in the main pane of File Explorer, the navigation pane on the left would automatically expand the drive folders to show the same thing that was going on in the right main pane. Then, to my amazement, I eventually got a Windows Update, and then it did not automatically expand. Now, in the last few days, it has gone back to automatically expanding again, and it is interrupting my workflow. Is there some way to keep the auto expansion from happening? I have the box checked in folder options to not automatically expand. I can, of course, click the arrow to go back to unexpanded, but it is a pain as I work in file explorer a lot.

Thanks.

antspants · Sep 11, 2024

Hi, most anyone I know or interact with in forums about Expand to folder, pull their hair out because it doesn’t work.

For you, all I can suggest is this tutorial, but maybe you’ve done all this already.

Regards.

Turn On or Off Expand Folder in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off automatically expand to current folder in the navigation pane of File Explorer for your account in Windows 11. The navigation pane is the far left pane in File Explorer used to find files, folders, and drives on your PC or network. When you...

www.elevenforum.com

dacrone · Sep 11, 2024

Had this happen many times. In fact I can reproduce it to this day. Enable expand to folder, restart explorer.exe. Disable expand to folder, restart explorer.exe and it won’t expand. Now open explorer and drag a file over the nav pane and it will expand. Then whatever drive that was will always expand as you browse the directories in it, until you restart explorer.exe again. Def annoying.

archfoto · Sep 12, 2024

Thanks, antspants and dacrone -
Sorry, but no joy with any of the methods outlined! Even went into regedit and changed value from 1 to 0. Still does the expansion. It is very frustrating. Maybe I'll get lucky and MS will come up with an update again that fixes it?

antspants · Sep 12, 2024

archfoto said:
Maybe I'll get lucky and MS will come up with an update again that fixes it?

How long do you have?

There must be something somewhere. You've posted on a bit of a down time. The forum will populate more in the morning (US Time)

dacrone · Sep 12, 2024

Do you have open shell installed?

hdmi · Sep 12, 2024

The behavior of the nav pane can be affected by Classic Explorer, which is a separate component of Open-Shell. If it has been installed in its default location, then the Settings for Classic Explorer can be found here:
C:\Program Files\Open-Shell\ClassicExplorerSettings.exe

archfoto · Sep 12, 2024

dacrone said:
Do you have open shell installed?

Hi Dacrone and HDMI -
No, no Classic Shell. I had it in Windows 10, and tried to install it when I got Win 11, but it crashed the computer, and since, I have learned to live with the standard setup! It is actually not so bad. At least I didn't have to deal with tiles!

dacrone · Sep 12, 2024

hdmi said:
The behavior of the nav pane can be affected by Classic Explorer, which is a separate component of Open-Shell. If it has been installed in its default location, then the Settings for Classic Explorer can be found here:
C:\Program Files\Open-Shell\ClassicExplorerSettings.exe

View attachment 108317

Yep. The XP simple can cause the auto expanding behavior. Vista won’t.

archfoto · Sep 12, 2024

I actually have a folder in my program files called Open-Shell, but it contains no executable file: ClassicExplorerSettings.exe. It does not seem to be installed as an app. The folder is dated from around when I bought this computer, and is probably left over from the installation, and subsequent removal, as it crashed this computer. This computer seems to run well now, other than the navigation pane, so I am loathe to make changes.

hdmi · Sep 12, 2024

archfoto said:
Hi Dacrone and HDMI -
No, no Classic Shell. I had it in Windows 10, and tried to install it when I got Win 11, but it crashed the computer, and since, I have learned to live with the standard setup! It is actually not so bad. At least I didn't have to deal with tiles!

Classic Shell is no longer being maintained. It has since been replaced with Open-Shell. Many don't seem to be aware that, even though it is true that Open-Shell is first and foremost a Start menu replacement, its Classic Explorer component has got nothing to do with the Start menu, and can still prove to be very useful regardless of whether you don't want to replace your Start menu.

I moved from Windows 10 to Windows 11 during the 1st weekend after Windows 11 was officially released, and, I installed Open-Shell on it only a few days after that. It's been working flawlessly for me alongside ExplorerPatcher ever since. ExplorerPatcher also lets me restore the classic File Explorer from Windows 10. The combination of both Classic Explorer and it is what I use. The new File Explorer with tabs has so many glitches and quirks, it just gives me the cramps. Some people on here keep saying they don't like the idea of making Windows 11 look and feel like older versions of Windows. I don't like it either, but also I don't like cramps...

glasskuter · Sep 12, 2024

I do not see what you are describing in my file explorer. For what it's worth, I use no GUI altering app and am running same Windows version as you. My left explorer navigation pane does not expand if I click on a drive/folder from the right main pane of Explorer. It only expands on the right. The only way the left navigation pane expands for me is if I expand it using the arrows within the navigation pane itself.
Maybe it's a combination of the file explorer tweaks I applied when I first went to 11. Maybe one of them will help you tame file explorer. They are:

1 Unchecked "expand to open folder" in folder options>navigation pane

2. I detest a cluttered file explorer. I like mine with as clean and simple of an interface as possible.Instead of having personal folders taking up all that space in right pane, I pinned them to the left navigation pane and applied this. I use quick access instead. You can also remove just some of the folders if you wish.

Add or Remove Folders under This PC in File Explorer in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the 3D Objects, Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and/or Videos folder(s) in File Explorer > This PC for all users in Windows 11. Starting with Windows 11 build 25136 and build 22621.160, Microsoft is introducing a refreshed layout...

www.elevenforum.com

Note Alternate: Your choice. If you want to navigate to your personal folders from the right pane rather than the left, you can turn off quick access in navigation pane

Add and Remove Quick Access Folders on Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add and remove Quick access folders on the navigation pane of File Explorer for all users in Windows 11. Quick access is part of Home in File Explorer (Win+E). Quick access allows you to quickly access and view your pinned folders and frequent folders from...

www.elevenforum.com

3. remove duplicate drives from navigation pane Add or Remove Duplicate Drives in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

4. open file explorer to This PC Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 11 Tutorial

5. remove gallery from navigation pane Add or Remove Gallery in File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 11 Tutorial

6. Move home to bottom panel of navigation pane Move Home to Top or Bottom of Navigation Pane in Windows 11 Tutorial
OR you can remove Home from navigation pane entirely Add or Remove Home in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

7. show drive letters before name in explorer Show Drive Letters Before or After Drive Name in Windows 11 Tutorial

8. I hated recent items cluttering my file explorer. I removed it. Enable or Disable Recent Items in Start, Jump Lists, File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

9. Remove devices and printers from explorer Add Devices and Printers to This PC in File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

10. Remove Onedrive from top of navigation pane. I don't use it and was constantly clicking it by mistake but at the same time did not want to uninstall it. It's still under this PC but I don't tend to click it erroneously there. Add or Remove OneDrive in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

10. And the most important tweak of all, bring back full context menu. Disable "Show more options" context menu in Windows 11 Tutorial

Here's my result. I don't think I could make it much more uncluttered than this.

LesFerch · Sep 12, 2024

archfoto said:
I actually have a folder in my program files called Open-Shell, but it contains no executable file: ClassicExplorerSettings.exe.

Maybe try: Reinstall Open-Shell, check the Explorer related settings, and then uninstall Open Shell.

If that doesn't help, try a Windows repair install (it will keep your apps and data, so there's nothing to lose):

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

If none of the above makes any difference, it would be helpful to know if the issue is system-wide or profile-specific by testing with a different local account:

Add Local User Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to create and add a local account as a user on the PC in Windows 11. Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access to their own files, browser favorites, and...

www.elevenforum.com

archfoto · Sep 12, 2024

Thanks all who have commented. I have noticed something strange about this. First off, remember the auto expansion started when I got my new computer, and despite numerous attempts to make it stop, with adjustments to the different ways to make it stop outlined on this forum, it finally stopped after an MS update. I recently had an MS update, and it changed back.

The strange thing I mentioned is that the navigation left pane doesn't auto-expand when I open a folder in the right pane in the C: Drive SSD. It only does it in the 3 external high-capacity external USB hard drives connected to the computer. Not sure if that is helpful. I don't want to add another app to control something that should be user-controllable (and was) up until a short while ago. There also was a time where I had a second set of drive letters below the first set, as well, which I disregarded. They seem to be gone now, too! I do have a network icon with an arrow in the navigation pane. When clicking on the arrow, it disappears and I get a message at the top of the folder: See attached image. I don't know if allowing the network to be visible would fix the problem, or if I could change it back.
BTW, I don't seem to get the expansion when I am in apps, but only when I am in Windows File Explorer itself.

dacrone · Sep 12, 2024

You can remove external drives from the nav pane via registry mods. Then they will only show under This PC nav entry (won’t show twice)

archfoto · Sep 12, 2024

dacrone said:
You can remove external drives from the nav pane via registry mods. Then they will only show under This PC nav entry (won’t show twice)

Thanks Dacrone -
It seems I already have that. See Screenshots!

hdmi · Sep 13, 2024

glasskuter said:
I do not see what you are describing in my file explorer. For what it's worth, I use no GUI altering app and am running same Windows version as you. My left explorer navigation pane does not expand if I click on a drive/folder from the right main pane of Explorer. It only expands on the right. The only way the left navigation pane expands for me is if I expand it using the arrows within the navigation pane itself.
Maybe it's a combination of the file explorer tweaks I applied when I first went to 11. Maybe one of them will help you tame file explorer. They are:

1 Unchecked "expand to open folder" in folder options>navigation pane

2. I detest a cluttered file explorer. I like mine with as clean and simple of an interface as possible.Instead of having personal folders taking up all that space in right pane, I pinned them to the left navigation pane and applied this. I use quick access instead. You can also remove just some of the folders if you wish.

Add or Remove Folders under This PC in File Explorer in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the 3D Objects, Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and/or Videos folder(s) in File Explorer > This PC for all users in Windows 11. Starting with Windows 11 build 25136 and build 22621.160, Microsoft is introducing a refreshed layout...

www.elevenforum.com

Note Alternate: Your choice. If you want to navigate to your personal folders from the right pane rather than the left, you can turn off quick access in navigation pane

Add and Remove Quick Access Folders on Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add and remove Quick access folders on the navigation pane of File Explorer for all users in Windows 11. Quick access is part of Home in File Explorer (Win+E). Quick access allows you to quickly access and view your pinned folders and frequent folders from...

www.elevenforum.com

3. remove duplicate drives from navigation pane Add or Remove Duplicate Drives in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

4. open file explorer to This PC Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 11 Tutorial

5. remove gallery from navigation pane Add or Remove Gallery in File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 11 Tutorial

6. Move home to bottom panel of navigation pane Move Home to Top or Bottom of Navigation Pane in Windows 11 Tutorial
OR you can remove Home from navigation pane entirely Add or Remove Home in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

7. show drive letters before name in explorer Show Drive Letters Before or After Drive Name in Windows 11 Tutorial

8. I hated recent items cluttering my file explorer. I removed it. Enable or Disable Recent Items in Start, Jump Lists, File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

9. Remove devices and printers from explorer Add Devices and Printers to This PC in File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

10. Remove Onedrive from top of navigation pane. I don't use it and was constantly clicking it by mistake but at the same time did not want to uninstall it. It's still under this PC but I don't tend to click it erroneously there. Add or Remove OneDrive in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11 Tutorial

10. And the most important tweak of all, bring back full context menu. Disable "Show more options" context menu in Windows 11 Tutorial

Here's my result. I don't think I could make it much more uncluttered than this.

2b. Export/import Quick Access Pinned Folders in Windows 10/11 to/from a textfile lol

File Explorer has gone back to automatically expanding drive folders in the navigation pane . . .

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