Windows 10: File Explorer navigation pane suddenly very big

My file explorer's navigation pane suddenly got very spread out and I can't figure out how to get it back to normalI'm using windows 11 on a hp envy x360 laptop

:)

 

Not able to open sub-folders from navigation pane in File explorer.

Hi,



Thank you for posting on Microsoft Community. We will assist you in resolving the issue.



Before assisting further, I would like to ask you few questions:

• Under which drive are you not able to view the sub folders?
• Are you not able to expand the options from navigation pane of the File explorer?

This seems to be a temporary issue. Sometimes disabling and enabling some of the options will fix the issue.



Follow the steps below and check if the issue is resolved.

• Open File explorer by pressing Windows key + E keys on the keyboard.
• Click on View tab located at the top of the window.
• Click on Navigation pane and uncheck Navigation pane option.
• Close the window, follow the above steps from a to
  c, only this time check the option Navigation pane and check if the changes are effective.

Write back to us for further assistance, we will be happy to assist.



Thank you.

 

Navigation pane in File Explorer always opens to the bottom

How are your Navigation Pane options set?





You don't have Expand to currrent folder sleected, do you?

If you:

1. Open Explorer with WInKey+E
2. Collapse the Navigation Pane
3. close & re-open Explorer

Does it open with the Navigation Pane collapsed? If so, close Explorer & open regedt. Navigate to:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\NavPane

RIght-click the NavPane "folder", select Permissions... > Advanced and add a Deny Set Value entry for your Username:




If the Navigation Pane opened expanded even after collapsing, try deleting the ExpandedState value under the NavPane key. Repeat the test. If suceesful, perform the above permissions mod.

 

File Explorer Missing Various Locations/Shortcuts in Navigation Pane

Solved through pain and agony, installing Windows 10 on a second hard drive, and ruthlessly comparing their registries between each other, sorting each entry by alphabetical order.

Step one: Navigate to HKCR\WOW6432Node\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}

Step two: Make sure the dword System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree is set to 1

Step three: Delete the key HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AllowedEnumeration

Step four: Be happy the pain is over

Step five (optional): cry