Windows 10: How to stop windows 11 file explorer from collapsing all documents folders after opening a file

Frequently, but not always, when I use Windows 11 File Explorer to drill down into my Documents folders and open a file Word, Excel, PDF, an image file - it doesn't seem to matter, the entire Documents folder will be collapsed so that no folders show any longer. All of my Quick Access folder also disappear. I then have to find the Documents folder again often by going down via either Desktop, This PC, or Libraries to search for and open the folder I was just using. This gets especially frustrating when trying to find the right file or document among many: I open one, "nope, that's not i

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Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.

 

File open or insert window shows collapsed folders only

I right clicked and then left clicked on 'expand' in File Explorer and then restarted and brought up an open file window but there was no change. The list is still collapsed.

 

Open / Save as dialog boxes - choose whether to expand or collapse as default

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



I understand that you would like to have a collapsed view of the items on the navigation pane of the File Explorer while saving a file. To do this, I would suggest you to try the steps listed below and see if it works.

• Open File Explorer
  and click on the View tab.
  
• Click on the drop down next to
  Navigation Pane and uncheck Show all folders.
  
• Exit File Explorer
  and try saving a file now.
  

Regards,