Windows 10: Turn On or Off Navigation Pane Expand to Open Folder in Windows 10

How to: Turn On or Off Navigation Pane Expand to Open Folder in Windows 10

How to Turn On or Off Automatically Expand to Current Folder in Navigation Pane in Windows 10


You can use the navigation pane 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.

This tutorial will show you different ways on how to turn on or off having the navigation pane automatically expand to current folder for your account in Windows 10.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Turn On or Off Automatically "Expand to current folder" from Navigation Pane
• Option Two: To Turn On or Off Automatically "Expand to open folder" from File Explorer Ribbon
• Option Three: To Turn On or Off Automatically "Expand to open folder" from File Explorer Options
• Option Four: To "Expand to current folder" using Keyboard Shortcut
• Option Five: To Turn On or Off Automatically "Expand to current folder" using a VBS file

OPTION ONE [/i] To Turn On or Off Automatically "Expand to current folder" from Navigation Pane
1. Open File Explorer.

2. Right click or press and hold on an empty area in the navigation pane, and click/tap on Expand to current folder to check (on) or uncheck (off -default) it for what you want. (see screenshot below)









OPTION TWO [/i] To Turn On or Off Automatically "Expand to open folder" from File Explorer Options
1. Open File Explorer.

2. Click/tap on the View tab, click/tap on the Navigation pane button in the ribbon, and click/tap on Expand to open folder to check (on) or uncheck (off - default) it for what you want. (see screenshot below)









OPTION THREE [/i] To Turn On or Off Automatically "Expand to open folder" from File Explorer Options
1. Open File Explorer Options.

2. In the View tab under the Navigation pane section, check (on) or uncheck (off - default) Expand to open folder for what you want set, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)









OPTION FOUR [/i] To "Expand to current folder" using Keyboard Shortcut
1. While you have a folder open in File Explorer, press the Ctrl+Shift+E keys. (see screenshots below)












OPTION FIVE [/i] To Turn On or Off Automatically "Expand to current folder" using a VBS file
*note The downloadable .vbs files below modify the DWORD value in the registry key below, then send a refresh (F5) command to apply.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

NavPaneExpandToCurrentFolder DWORD

0 = Off
1 = On


1. Do step 2 (off) or step 3 (on) below for what you want.


2. To Turn Off Automatically "Expand to current folder"
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_Off_Expand_to_Current_Folder_in_Navigation_Pane.vbs

Download

3. To Turn On Automatically "Expand to current folder"
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_On_Expand_to_Current_Folder_in_Navigation_Pane.vbs

Download

4. Save the .vbs file to your desktop.

5. Unblock the .vbs file.

6. Run the .vbs file to apply.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Show or Hide Navigation Pane in File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Navigation Pane 'Show all folders' in Windows 10
• How to Add Navigation pane to Context Menu in Windows 10
• How to Reset Navigation Pane Width Size to Default in Windows
• How to Turn On or Off OneDrive Cloud States for Navigation Pane in Windows 10
• How to Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer

:)

 

Navigation Pane - Will Not Expand to Open Folder

Hello cDreamDancer, *Smile

If you haven't already, you might see if you may be able to use an option in the tutorial below to toggle and turn on "Expand to current folder".

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

 

Navigation Pane always opens scrolled at bottom

Hello Gene, *Smile

Do you mean for when it will automatically expand to the current folder in the navigation pane?

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

 

How to stop left pane folder from expanding?


Hello Phoenix,

It sounds like you're wanting to turn off "Expand to current folder" in the navigation pane.

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

 

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

 

How to stop left pane folder from expanding?

Hi Brian,

I tried all the options, none of the settings mentioned are set to auto expand folders for me, so I think this is a bug in qBittorrent because the moment I open a file/folder from within qBittorrent, it takes me to the location of that folder but in an expanded view on the left pane. I've posted this on their forums now.