Windows 10: Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer

How to: Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer

How to Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer


You can use the navigation pane in File Explorer to browse locations such as Quick access, OneDrive, Libraries, This PC, Network, and Homegroup. You can also move or copy items directly to a destination in the navigation pane.

As you open folders in the right pane of File Explorer, the navigation pane will not automatically expand to the current open folder by default.

When you expand open a folder in the navigation pane of File Explorer, this expanded state setting is saved to the registry. The next time you open File Explore, you will automatically see the last navigation pane expanded state.

While you can manually set the navigation pane expanded state to how you want, you could also reset it back to default as wanted or needed.

This tutorial will show you how to reset the navigation pane expanded state in File Explorer to default for your account in Windows 10.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in File Explorer using REG file
• Option Two: Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in File Explorer using Command

EXAMPLE: Default navigation pane expanded state
















OPTION ONE [/i] Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in File Explorer using REG file
1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
*Arrow Reset_File_Explorer_navigation_pane_expanded_state.reg

Download

(Contents of .reg file for reference)
Code:

2. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

3. Close all instances of any opened File Explorer window.

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

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

6. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

7. The next time you open File Explorer (Win+E), the navigation pane expanded state will be reset to default view.





OPTION TWO [/i] Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in File Explorer using Command
1. Close all instances of any opened File Explorer window.

2. Open a PowerShell console window.

3. Copy and paste the command below into the console window, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow REG DELETE HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\NavPane /V ExpandedState /F




4. You can now close the command prompt or PowerShell console window.

5. The next time you open File Explorer (Win+E), the navigation pane expanded state will be reset to default view.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Reset Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 10
• How to Show or Hide Navigation Pane in File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Reset Navigation Pane Width Size to Default in Windows
• How to Turn On or Off Navigation Pane 'Show all folders' in Windows 10
• Turn On or Off Automatically Expand to Current Folder in Navigation Pane in Windows 10
• How to Add Navigation pane to Context Menu in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off OneDrive Cloud States for Navigation Pane in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Drives in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Favorites in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Homegroup in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Libraries in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Network in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove OneDrive in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Quick access in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Recycle Bin in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove This PC in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove User Folder in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10

:)

 

Expand File Explorer Navigation Pane

Now and then I want to view the full folder tree in Navigation Pane of File Explorer. There are some options to keep the folder tree open, but most of the time they are a pain in the butt. When I do want the tree visible, I have to go to the root disk
and open each parent folder independently (generally at least half a dozen). Is there a quick way to ask window to open the tree, only when I want it shown?

I know there is an option to show all folders, but this makes the navigation pane un-navigable and useless

Folder Options / View Tab / Navigation pane/ Show all folders

Another option is better, but becomes a nuisance when used all the time.

Folder Options / View Tab / Navigation pane/ Expand to open folder

The handiest would be a right-click option to "Expand Folder Tree".

 

Auto expand explorer LEFT pane window

There is a check box in the File Explorer options under Navigation Pane, Always Expand to Open Folder *Nerd

*Arrow Turn On or Off Navigation Pane Expand to Open Folder in Windows 10 | Tutorials

 

File Explorer navigation pane sometimes expands to show all folders and sometimes consolidates shows only the selected folder

Both the folders that expand fully and those that partially expand have exactly the same settings, which are as you suggested, so this didn't solve the problem. Any other ideas?

 

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 always opens scrolled at bottom

Here's how to reset the Navigation Pane state:

1. Close all Explorer windows
2. Open Regedit & navigate to Code:
3. In the right-hand pane, delete the value named ExpandedState.
4. Log off & log back on.

Keith