Windows 11 File Explorer opens with user folder expanded in navigation pane. How to collapse by default?

I'm helping someone set up their computer, and when I open File Explorer, the navigation pane opens with the user folder expanded. It's within the This PC item. This adds a lot of clutter and is unhelpful.

I've attached two screenshots.

How can I get it to open with everything collapsed in the navigation menu? I've already toggled the folder options to "Expand to open folder" and "Show all folders" on and back off. And I've restored defaults for the folder view options.

I can't figure out why it won't stay collapsed.

Thanks for the help!

I setup a scheduled task to run when I log on, and every two minutes thereafter, to delete the registry value where this expansion data is stored.

program/script: C:\Windows\System32\conhost.exe
arguments: --headless reg.exe delete HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\NavPane /v ExpandedState /f

pseymour said:

I setup a scheduled task to run when I log on, and every two minutes thereafter, to delete the registry value where this expansion data is stored.

program/script: C:\Windows\System32\conhost.exe
arguments: --headless reg.exe delete HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\NavPane /v ExpandedState /f

Click to expand...

So this script deletes the ExpandedState binary item? Do you know why it would repopulate with the same expansion data? What caused the user folder to be expanded in the first place?

I just want to double-check before deleting the ExpandedState item manually, to see what happens from there.

Thanks!

Explorer's been doing this for a while, keeping track of which folders you have expanded in the navigation pane. I have Server 2019 machines that do this also. I don't know of a way to turn it off completely, other than hacky permission shenanigans on that NavPane key, which I'm not willing to do.

Whatever state File Explorer is closed in last, it will reopen in the same way the next time it is opened, usually.

So, if all directories are not expanded when you close File Explorer, the next time you open it, it should look the same.

Do you have File Explorer set to open at 'Home'?