How to Show or Hide Navigation Pane in File Explorer in Windows 10


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.

This tutorial will show you how to show or hide the navigation pane in File Explorer for your user account in Windows 10.

Setting the navigation pane to show or hide in File Explorer is a global setting that is applied to all folders, and not just in the current folder.

You can drag the right border of the navigation pane left and right to increase or decrease its width in File Explorer.



Contents

  • Option One: To Show or Hide Navigation Pane from File Explorer Ribbon
  • Option Two: To Show or Hide Navigation Pane using a REG file



EXAMPLE: Navigation pane in File Explorer
Show or Hide Navigation Pane in File Explorer in Windows 10-navigation_pane.png





OPTION ONE

To Show or Hide Navigation Pane from File Explorer Ribbon


1 While in File Explorer (Win+E), click/tap on the View (Alt+V) tab, click/tap on the Navigation pane button in the ribbon, and click/tap on Navigation pane in the menu to toggle to show (checked) and hide (unchecked) the navigation pane. (see screenshot below)

Show or Hide Navigation Pane in File Explorer in Windows 10-hide-show_navigation_pane_ribbon.png






OPTION TWO

To Show or Hide Navigation Pane using a REG file


1 Do step 2 (show) or step 3 (hide) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Show Navigation Pane in File Explorer

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Show_Navigation_pane_in_File_Explorer.reg

Download


3 To Hide Navigation Pane in File Explorer

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Hide_Navigation_pane_in_File_Explorer.reg

Download


4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

7 If you currently have File Explorer open, then close and reopen or navigate to another folder to apply.

8 If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn