Windows 10: Windows Explorer List view columns are too wide - can they be adjusted

I have Windows Explorer set to a “List” view. In one particular folder all of the filenames are the same length, i.e. 7 characters. The File name extension box is not checked. After a recent Windows 10 upgrade the list view columns are very wide. There is lots of unused space between the columns and not all files are listed unless the horizontal scroll bar at the bottom is used. Previously all files could be displayed in a window of a given size. Can the width of the list view columns be adjusted?

:)

 

File Explorer in list view shows wide columns when using filter "name:"

Yes that works in the detail view but I am using the "list" view

 

File Explorer in list view shows wide columns when using filter "name:"

Hi Jim,

There may be design changes whenever there is a new update. We suggest that you give feedback to Microsoft regarding your concern. Click
here.

Regards.

 

Welcome to TenForums @dexhiker,

Yes, hover your mouse over the light grey vertical line between the names of the columns and you can click-and-drag them to any desired width.

Another way is to right-click anywhere on the column titles and select 'Size All Columns to Fit'.

 

Yes, all day long. Just have to specify or do it manually. Otherwise you can just auto adjust all columns. Size All Columns to Fit for Folder in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

 

In a file LIST view there are no column headings. Therefore there is nothing to adjust.

I can reproduce the problem with a folder containing 16 files each with file names 5 characters long. If I make the folder window thinner to force multiple columns, the LIST view leaves a wide space between columns. This is under Windows 10 version 1709. It doesn't happen under version 1703, i.e. the LIST view columns are much closer together. I have two computers on different builds of Windows 10 and can see the difference.

 

See the tutorial. Your answer is in there.

 

Not for the List view it isn't. That tutorial says it's only for the Details view...

 

Hello TenForums members! I have the issue as Bree. Since last update (1709), my columns are fatter with useless space between them. I have made a screenshot to explain:



Before, the space in red wasn't there and all columns fitted very well! If someone has an information on how to change this (maybe with a registry modification), I'd be glad to know. Thanks!

 

If you're an advanced Windows user, look up Windows Metrics online. I am not sure if there's an option in there that can fix that (maybe someone else knows), but do some research on that, and see if you can find anything that states an option in there that could possibly adjust that spacing.

 

I think the way it works is that the columns are set to fully accommodate the folder with the longest name, so that name is shown in its entirety.

I've examined a couple of folders containing files and folders with long names, and in both cases whilst some file names are not fully displayed, the longest folder name is.

@Homme Crabe - is that what you observe?

But now I've tried this a few times, I realise that actually it's more complex. Whether you see the list view spaced like that depends on your route to viewing the same folder in list view. Thus I can see two different spacings for the same folder in list view depending on what view preceded it:

 

Funny how people see list view and somehow read details view. There is a difference...

 

Thanks everyone for you replies. Indeed, the width of EACH column depends on the file/folder in THIS column with the longest name. All columns have different widths (contrary to Windows 7 and prior). It was the case before 1709 and still is now. But now I always have a blank at the end no matter what. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything helpful about Windows Metrics.

 

Hello, I apologize, I should've linked you to the main source of the Window Metrics. But if you've already seen this page, then hopefully some other people have other suggestions.
Here's the link: WindowMetrics

If you haven't seen this page yet, then look at each one listed there, maybe there is something that could be it. Keep in mind: Every time you adjust a Registry entry, restart the computer for it to apply. And if after the restart you don't see it applies, then re-edit that Registry entry back to its default value.

 

I've been having this exact same problem and have been trying to scour for an answer. I just registered for this forum simply to acknowledge this fact. I tend to do a lot of file moving and renaming, and of all the changes with this build I loathe this the most. If anyone has hunted down a way to put this back the way it was before 1709 I'd dearly love to know.