Windows 10: Why are large thumbnails in Win 10 file explorer so small and sparsely arranged on 4K...

Hi,


Why are large thumbnails in Win 10 file explorer so small and sparsely arranged on 4K screens with double resolution? Such a waste of space, and an obvious bug. Microsoft, please fix. Thank you.


File Explorer screenshot:




Configuration:



:)

 

windows 10 file explorer not showing large thumbnails

windows 10 file explorer not showing large thumbnails

 

4k screen, icons and thumbnails appear too separated in file explorer

Items inside folders are shown too separate in my windows 10. It happens with images, other folders, ... all items, when displayed as EXTRA/LARGE/MEDIUM/SMALL ICONS.I was used to view my computer folders as "medium icons" but now it's painful. It's frustrating
because you cannot see many files in the screen at the same time with such big spacing.

I tried to adjust "Window Metrics" in the registry (Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics\IconSpacing). Now the Desktop icon separation is fine. Still, inside the folders, icons and thumbnails are not adjusted.

My system settings are:

• Scale and Layout 250% (recommended)
• Display Resolution: 3840x2160 (recommended)
• Windows 10 home 1709

When I set 100% scaling icons and thumbnails appear ok, but then menus and texts are too small. Icons and thumbnails are also fine when I set to lower resolutions, but I want to make use of the 4k screen, so it's not a good solution. So, in my understanding
there could be two possible solutions:

1.Is there a solution for adjusting icon and thumbnail spacing inside folders? Then I can use the "extra large icons" view. Now, they appear too separate to be of any use (see image below).

2. It's possible to scale icons and thumbnails over 100% (255px)? It looks like while the rest of the system settings scale to 250%, icons and thumbnails remain 100%. (see below: large selected blue area that the thumbnail doesn't cover,
when should).

Thanks in advance.

 

File Arrangement

Hi,Sunshine_952! I'm Leonardo! An Independent Advisor and also a Microsoft user for several years. I'll be more than happy to assist you today!

That feature is no longer native on Windows 10. In order to freely arrange the itens within a folder, you're gonna have to disable Auto Arrange.

If you want to disable auto arrange inside a folder you need to do the following:

1. Open Registry Editor by pressing Windows Key + R and typing regedit in the input field.

2. Navigate to the following key on the left panel:

3. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

4. Now delete the Bags subkey.

5. Navigate to this key:

6. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

7. Delete the Bags subkey here again.

8. Navigate to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\NoRoam

9. Delete the Bags subkey here as well. After that close Registry Editor.

10. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Locate Windows Explorer from the list of processes, and click the Restart button.

11. Download disable-auto-arrange.zip (Downloads / Other / Disable auto arrange in File Explorer in Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7)

12. Extract the files from the archive you just downloaded.

13. Run disableautoarrange.reg to add it to your registry.

14. Open This PC and close it.

15. Now repeat Step 6 to restart Windows Explorer.

Auto arrange should be disabled now and you can freely arrange files inside folders. We have to mention that this method works only for large icons, medium icons, small icons, and extra-large icons icon views.

===================================

To disable auto arrange in File Explorer, do the following:

1. Open any folder using File Explorer and right-click the empty space.

2. Go to View and make sure that the Auto arrange option is unchecked.

3. If the option is turned off you can easily arrange items in any way you want.

4. Navigate to this key:

o HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\NoRoam

5. Delete the Bags subkey here as well. After that close Registry Editor.

6. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Locate Windows Explorer from the list of processes, and click the Restart button

7. Download disable-auto-arrange.zip.

8. Extract the files from the archive you just downloaded.

9. Run disableautoarrange.reg to add it to your registry.

10. Open This PC and close it.

11. Now repeat Step 6 to restart Windows Explorer.

Auto arranges should be disabled. Try to freely arrange files inside folders to check if this method worked. Again, keep in mind that this method works only for the large icons, medium icons, small icons, and extra-large icons icon views.

I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further concerns.

Leonardo Mesquita

Independent Advisor