Solved Ungroup Downloads folder

Rboppy · May 9, 2025

I was really used to like the way the downloads were kept, I don't like the groups can that be removed?

pseymour · May 9, 2025

You want this from member @LesFerch

GitHub - LesFerch/WinSetView: Globally Set Explorer Folder Views

Globally Set Explorer Folder Views. Contribute to LesFerch/WinSetView development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

idgat · May 9, 2025

downloads folder ungroup at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

antspants · May 9, 2025

You should be able to disable the "Group by" feature. By simply right-clicking within the Downloads folder, select "Group by," and then choose "(None)" to remove the grouping.

Here’s the thing though, every time I do a clean install, this happens and keeps reverting back to Grouping (specifically for the Downloads Folder) no matter what I do.
The fix, believe it or not, is to be persistent and one day it will simply stop happening.
I’d not have mentioned this less the fact it happens on every clean install, sometimes for a while. It’s weird and annoying. But eventually File Explorer just clicks and remembers the sort view.

The other alternative is to use WinSetView that P-Man posted above. Les may be able to direct you.

WinSetView (Tool to Globally Set Explorer Folder Views)

WinSetView is a tool that will let you easily set File Explorer default folder views (including turning off grouping everywhere if so desired). It works by setting registry values that File Explorer already supports. It does not modify Explorer or add any tasks or services. Please follow the...

www.elevenforum.com

Rboppy · May 9, 2025

Kinda hard to find, (Sort), Thanks for the hint.

Feuer · Nov 2, 2025

Open regedit.exe

Go here

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{885a186e-a440-4ada-812b-db871b942259}\TopViews\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}"

You should delete this values

"GroupBy"
"PrimaryProperty"
"SortByList"

Simply you cannot erase them because of permissions

I have a BAT file to erase that values from registry.
But you need NSUDO for delete that values.

Old version that i use - https://github.com/M2TeamArchived/NSudo/releases/download/6.1/NSudo_6.1.1811.18_All_Binary.zip
Latest version - https://github.com/M2TeamArchived/NSudo/releases/download/8.2/NSudo_8.2_All_Components.zip

If you use old version rename that file "NSudo 6.1.1811.18\x64\NSudoC.exe" to NSUDO64.exe
If you use latest version, rename that file "NSudo Launcher\x64\NSudoLC.exe" to NSUDO64.exe - I didnt try with that

Copy the CODE below and paste it to a BAT file.
Replace NSUDO64.exe to next to your BAT file.
Run the BAT file
That's it.

WARNING
THAT SCRIPTS WILL SET YOUR ALL FOLDER VIEWS TO WINDOWS DEFAULTS (INC. DESKTOP VIEW)
SET ALL FOLDERS TYPE TO "GENERAL ITEMS"

Code:

:: Run As Administrator
(Net session >nul 2>&1)&&(cd /d "%~dp0")||(PowerShell start """%~0""" -verb RunAs & Exit /B)

:: Set Downloads Folder View
NSUDO64 -ShowWindowMode:Hide -U:T REG DELETE "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{885a186e-a440-4ada-812b-db871b942259}\TopViews\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}" /v "GroupBy" /f
NSUDO64 -ShowWindowMode:Hide -U:T REG DELETE "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{885a186e-a440-4ada-812b-db871b942259}\TopViews\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}" /v "PrimaryProperty" /f
NSUDO64 -ShowWindowMode:Hide -U:T REG DELETE "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{885a186e-a440-4ada-812b-db871b942259}\TopViews\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}" /v "SortByList" /f

:: Folder view settings of all folders [RESET]
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F

:: Folder Type [NOT SPECIFIED]
REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell" /v "FolderType" /t REG_SZ /d "NotSpecified" /f

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

TIMEOUT /T 5 /NOBREAK

start explorer.exe

PAUSE

EXIT

If you want to Downloads folder view to default back

Copy the CODE below and paste it to a BAT file.
Replace NSUDO64.exe to next to your BAT file.
Run the BAT file

WARNING
THAT SCRIPTS WILL SET YOUR ALL FOLDER VIEWS TO WINDOWS DEFAULTS (INC. DESKTOP VIEW)
SET ALL FOLDERS TYPE TO "GENERAL ITEMS"
SET DOWNLOAD FOLDERS VIEW TO ITS DEFAULT VIEW

Code:

:: Run As Administrator
(Net session >nul 2>&1)&&(cd /d "%~dp0")||(PowerShell start """%~0""" -verb RunAs & Exit /B)

:: Set Downloads Folder View to Default
NSUDO64 -ShowWindowMode:Hide -U:T REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{885a186e-a440-4ada-812b-db871b942259}\TopViews\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}" /v "GroupBy" /t REG_SZ /d "System.DateModified" /f
NSUDO64 -ShowWindowMode:Hide -U:T REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{885a186e-a440-4ada-812b-db871b942259}\TopViews\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}" /v "PrimaryProperty" /t REG_SZ /d "System.DateModified" /f
NSUDO64 -ShowWindowMode:Hide -U:T REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{885a186e-a440-4ada-812b-db871b942259}\TopViews\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}" /v "SortByList" /t REG_SZ /d "prop:System.DateModified" /f

:: Folder view settings of all folders [RESET]
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F
REG DELETE "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F

:: Folder Type [NOT SPECIFIED]
REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell" /v "FolderType" /t REG_SZ /d "NotSpecified" /f

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

TIMEOUT /T 5 /NOBREAK

start explorer.exe

PAUSE

EXIT

LesFerch · Nov 2, 2025

Using only what the Explorer GUI provides, you would go to the Sort menu and set Group by to (None) and then go to Options and click "Apply to Folders" to make that the new default. But already cached file open/save dialog views will not get updated. They will require setting Group by to (None) via right-click in the white space for each folder that's still grouped.

To clear all grouping everywhere in one go, I recommend using WinSetView, but there are other options. See the answer I posted here:

Completely disable file grouping, always, everywhere, in all windows, dialogs, everything! - Microsoft Q&A

Hello, File grouping is degrading my productivity. It is constantly getting between me and my work. I am aware of the methods to disable file grouping within individual folders. Please do not tell me how to do this, I already know. I am also aware of the…

learn.microsoft.com

Feuer · Nov 2, 2025

As you mention in Option 3

This part of the code gives you TrustedInstaller access to run REG DELETE and REG ADD commands.

Code:

NSUDO64 -ShowWindowMode:Hide -U:T

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