Windows 11 - Explorer - Navigation Pane not expanding

Hi,

I have lost so many hours in trying to fix this, I am so behind now. Anyhow...

There must have been a recent update and it destroyed my navigation pane in explorer. I managed to get rid of Home and Gallery by editing the registry so the display is now perfect with showing only the quick access and This PC.

However, even though "Expand to current folder" is ticked the nave pane never expands to current folder.

For example, I click on "Documents" and then a sub folder and the navigation pane does not change. I press Ctrl+Shift+E and an extra "Documents" is added to the nave pane expanded to the directory but if I move to a different directory the nave pane stays on the old one and does not show the current one.

All I would like is for the nave pane to show the directory tree, whether the root be This PC or Documents or Music or Whatever.

How can I fix this? Thanks.

Hi!
have you tried to Right click in an empty space in the nav pane and choose these (screen shot below)

Thank you for your reply.
"Expand to current folder" is ticked but it does not change the behaviour.
Also, when "Show all folders" is ticked everything else disappears.

Please find attached images of both views.

Hi penny!
I get the same thing as you when I uncheck Show all folders BUT,
Desktop is left there as in yours. Expand desktop and all should come back.

Another way to change behavior of files in explorer would be to go to Control Panel (expand upper right corner to view Large Icons)
Click on File Explorer Options and choose View. Scroll down to Navigation Pane and choose the options you want.

I'm experiencing this too. Started with new File explorer in Insider builds, and now is happening in regular builds since the last update.

@Penny666 , did you move your Documents on other location (from default under C:\Users...)? It happens to me only on moved locations (Documents, Pictures.. etc.), as I have them on different partition than System. Other folders shows fine in expanded folders under Navigation menu.

Picture shows a folder that is not a part of User's folders. If I open a folder in Documents (moved to different partition) navigation pane doesn't expand

Flashorn said:

Hi penny!
I get the same thing as you when I uncheck Show all folders BUT,
Desktop is left there as in yours. Expand desktop and all should come back.

Click to expand...

You are right but where is my Quick Assess? I cannot see them.

AndreTen said:

I'm experiencing this too. Started with new File explorer in Insider builds, and now is happening in regular builds since the last update.

@Penny666 , did you move your Documents on other location (from default under C:\Users...)? It happens to me only on moved locations (Documents, Pictures.. etc.), as I have them on different partition than System. Other folders shows fine in expanded folders under Navigation menu.

Picture shows a folder that is not a part of User's folders. If I open a folder in Documents (moved to different partition) navigation pane doesn't expand


View attachment 72500

Click to expand...

It is in the standard location, if being in the user directory is standard.

I checked "Show All Folders" and see attachment, all the Quick Access have disappeared.

Penny666 said:

It is in the standard location, if being in the user directory is standard.

I checked "Show All Folders" and see attachment, all the Quick Access have disappeared.

Click to expand...

Can confirm that. Now any folder accessed under User folders is not expanded in Navigation pane. Until recently this was only true for moved User folders .

Show all folders is not acceptable to me, as it create a mess in Navigation pane

What is strange, Navigation pane will expand if I browse to tested folder gradually from C:\

I believe "Show All Folders" is the view that I am used to. What seems to have happened is when in this view, Quick Access and "This PC" have disappeared.
Do you know how I can make them visible when "Show All Folders" is enabled?
Thanks :)

Have you thought about using a third party file manager. There are a few free ones you may like. There is one file manager app in the Microsoft store that I use on occasion. it's called Files App. I don't remember if it's free to try or free but with limited features. Back when MS was still teasing us about releasing a tabbed File Explorer I installed it and liked it enough that I bought it. I forget what I paid but I do know it wasn't much.

Penny666 said:

I believe "Show All Folders" is the view that I am used to. What seems to have happened is when in this view, Quick Access and "This PC" have disappeared.
Do you know how I can make them visible when "Show All Folders" is enabled?
Thanks :)

Click to expand...

This PC should be checked (the same way you've enabled Show All folders (right click on empty space in Navigation pane, or View tab in Options)
Quick access is under Home (You have to expand Home in Navigation pane)
And everything is under Desktop. this is what I'm calling "a mess"

All options to show or hide This PC (and other folders in Navigation plane are in Brink's Tutorials

Thanks for your comments.
I have found everything I need when Show all folders is selected. In this mode none of the other check boxes make any difference.
I am not sure what happened or why the update changed anything but I am back at a workable level.
I have absolutely no control or options on how to tailor my experience. I am stuck with how Microsoft force me to use their software. Hey ho. Who needs freedom.

Penny666 said:

I have absolutely no control or options on how to tailor my experience. I am stuck with how Microsoft force me to use their software.

Click to expand...

You have to remember that Mamma Microsoft knows what's best for us. I'm glad to hear that File Explorer is workable for you again. With the new File Explorer I have a problem with it continuing to search for files even though all of them are loaded. The circle keeps spinning until I click on the X. I went back to using Files and I'm trying out FreeCommander XE. I like FreeCommander XE except for the fact that I haven't found a way to switch to a dark mode or even if it's possible.