Windows 10: Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10

How to: Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10

How to Hide or Show Ribbon in Windows 10 File Explorer


You can use the ribbon in File Explorer for common tasks, such as copying and moving, creating new folders, emailing and zipping items, and changing the view. The tabs change to show extra tasks that apply to the selected item.

Users can select to show (expand) the Ribbon so that it is always expanded even after you click a command on the Ribbon, or select to hide (minimize) the Ribbon to show only the tab names on the Ribbon.

Administrators can specify how the ribbon appears the first time users open File Explorer and whenever they open new File Explorer windows.

This tutorial will show you different ways to hide or show the Ribbon in File Explorer for your account or all users in Windows 10.

*note If you have Tabs in apps for Sets turned on, then the ribbon in File Explorer will always be minimized by default. You can manually open the ribbon, but it will minimize when you close the tab or File Explorer.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account using Keyboard Shortcut
• Option Two: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account from Ribbon Tab Bar
• Option Three: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account from Ribbon Arrow
• Option Four: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account from QAT
• Option Five: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account using REG file
• Option Six: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Seven: To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for All Users using REG file

EXAMPLE: Ribbon in File Explorer







OPTION ONE [/i] To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account using Keyboard Shortcut

*note Option Six and Option Seven will override this option.
1. While in File Explorer, press the CTRL+F1 keys to toggle to expand (show - default) or minimize (hide) the Ribbon.





OPTION TWO [/i] To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account from Ribbon Tab Bar


*note Option Six and Option Seven will override this option.
1. While in File Explorer, do step 2 (hide) or step 3 (show) for what you would like to do.


2. To Always Show Ribbon in File Explorer
*note This is the default setting.
A) Right click or press and hold on an empty area of the Ribbon tab bar, and click/tap on Minimize the Ribbon to uncheck it. (see screenshot below)





3. To Always Hide Ribbon in File Explorer
A) Right click or press and hold on an empty area of the Ribbon tab bar, and click/tap on Minimize the Ribbon to check it. (see screenshot below)









OPTION THREE [/i] To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account from Ribbon Arrow

*note Option Six and Option Seven will override this option.
1. While in File Explorer, do step 2 (hide) or step 3 (show) for what you would like to do.


2. To Always Show Ribbon in File Explorer
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the down arrow in the toolbar. (see screenshot below)

[



3. To Always Hide Ribbon in File Explorer
A) Click/tap on the up arrow in the toolbar. (see screenshot below)









OPTION FOUR [/i] To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account from QAT

*noteOption Six and Option Seven will override this option.
1. While in File Explorer, do step 2 (hide) or step 3 (show) for what you would like to do.


2. To Always Show Ribbon in File Explorer
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Customize Quick Access Toolbar menu arrow, and click/tap on Minimize the Ribbon to uncheck it. (see screenshot below)





3. To Always Hide Ribbon in File Explorer
A) Click/tap on the Customize Quick Access Toolbar menu arrow, and click/tap on Minimize the Ribbon to check it. (see screenshot below)









OPTION FIVE [/i] To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for Your Account using REG file

*note Option Six and Option Seven will override this option.

The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORDs in the registry keys below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Ribbon

(When Table Mode off)
MinimizedStateTabletModeOff DWORD

0 = Always show (expand)
1 = Always hide (minimize)

(When Table Mode on)
MinimizedStateTabletModeOn DWORD

0 = Always show (expand)
1 = Always hide (minimize)


1. Do step 2 (show) or step 3 (hide) below for what you would like to do.

2. To Always Show Ribbon in File Explorer
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below you want to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

(When Table Mode off)
Expand_Ribbon_in_File_Explorer.reg

Download

AND/OR

(When Table Mode on)
Expand_Ribbon_in_File_Explorer_in_Tablet_Mode.reg

Download
3. To Always Hide Ribbon in File Explorer
A) Click/tap on the Download button below you want to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

(When Table Mode off)
Minimize_Ribbon_in_File_Explorer.reg

Download

AND/OR

(When Table Mode on)
Minimize_Ribbon_in_File_Explorer_in_Tablet_Mode.reg

Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. If File Explorer is currently open, close and open it to apply.

8. If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.





OPTION SIX [/i] To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor

*note You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education Option Seven below.

This option will affect all users on the PC, and will override options 1 to 5 above.
1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. Navigate to the location below in the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\File Explorer




3. In the right pane of the File Explorer folder, double click/tap on Start File Explorer with Ribbon minimized to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (specify policy) or step 6 (default) below for what you would like to do.


5. To Specify Policy to Show or Hide Ribbon in File Explorer for All Users
A) Select (dot) Enabled, select the setting you want under Options, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below step 6)

6. To Restore Default Settings to Let Users Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)

*note Not configured is the default setting.




7. You can now close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.





OPTION SEVEN [/i] To Hide or Show Ribbon in File Explorer for All Users using REG file

*note You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

This option does the same thing as Option Six above. It will affect all users on the PC, and will override options 1 to 5 above.

The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized DWORD

0 or delete = Not configured (default)
1 = Always open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized
2 = Never open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized
3 = Minimize the ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time
4 = Display the full ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time


1. Do step 2 (not configured), step 3 (always hide), step 4 (always show), step 5 (always hide 1st time), or step 6 (always show 1st time) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Specify Not Configured to Allow Users to Hide or Show Ribbon
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Allow_Users_to_Start_File_Explorer_with_Ribbon_minimized_or_expanded.reg

Download

3. To Always open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Always_Open_new_File_Explorer_windows_with_Ribbon_minimzed.reg

Download

4. To Never open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Never_Open_new_File_Explorer_windows_with_Ribbon_minimzed.reg

Download

5. To Minimize the ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Minimize_Ribbon_when_File_Explorer_opened_first_time.reg

Download

6. To Display the full ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.

Display_full_Ribbon_when_File_Explorer_opened_first_time.reg

Download
7. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

8. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

9. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

10. If File Explorer is currently open, close and open it to apply.

11. If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn

:)

 

How can I remove the ribbon in file explorer

Read here:

Hide or Show File Explorer Ribbon in Windows 10

 

Why there are tick boxes ahead of all file names in windows explorer in Windows 10?

Open Windows File Explorer, on the View Ribbon, in the 'Show Hide' section uncheck 'Show Check Boxes' . . .

That's It!

 

You're most welcome pzbrawl. I'm glad it could help in your thread below. *Smile

LOSE the infuriating ribbon in win10

 

Is there a way to get back to the good old file explorer? I hate the ribbon with a very rare passion. It represents everything that is wrong with user testing today. In fact I also hate windows 10 with all its interference and bugs. I want an OS that sits in the background and just does its job and does not spy on me.

 

"Old/New Explorer" Google it.

 

Thank you.. I will try to find it.

I managed to at least kill Cortana with a registry hack. Windows 10 is being tamed and brought back to earth (and productivity).

 

Thank goodness. *Party

 

For me Sets has affected the way File Explorer ribbon behaves. I used to have to open it once after an upgrade but now I am having to open it ever time I open File Explorer.

 

Well that is disappointing. Turning Sets off and restarting does not help either.

 

Hopefully, MS will get it fixed in the next build. Be sure to send feedback.

 

Hey Shawn,

I upvoted the issue.

Jim D had this workaround and it works when Sets is OFF. I am not sure about with Sets ON. I had to read the four choices several times. They were not very intuitive.

Found a workaround for this: there is a group policy that overrides the naughty behavior and shows the ribbon every time you open Explorer: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\File Explorer- Start File Explorer with ribbon minimized, set to Enabled, choose "Display the ribbon..."

Again I say read the choices very carefully. I went with the second choice and File Explore ribbon is always shown now.

 

Ok, good. This is option 6 and 7 in the tutorial. *Party

 

Hey Shawn,

They fixed it in the build 17650 and sent me notices that it had been fixed and it is listed:

General changes, improvements, and fixes for PC

• We fixed an issue where File Explorer would always open with the ribbon minimized, rather than remembering how you’d left it.
• We fixed an issue where elements on