How to Open Each Folder in the Same or New Window in Windows 10
While you browse in File Explorer, you can open each drive, folder, and library in the same window or in its own new window.
This tutorial will show you different ways on how to open each drive, folder, or library in the same or new window for your account in Windows 10.
Contents
- Option One: Open Folder, Library, or Drive in New Window using Context Menu
- Option Two: Open Folder, Library, or Drive in New Window using Keyboard Shortcut
- Option Three: Open Folder, Library, or Drive in New Windows from File Menu in File Explorer
- Option Four: Open Folder, Library, or Drive in Same or New Windows from File Explorer Ribbon
- Option Five: Set to Open Folders, Libraries, and Drives in Same or New Window by Default in Folder Options
- Option Six: Set to Open Folders, Libraries, and Drives in Same or New Window by Default in Registry Editor
1 Open File Explorer (Win+X).
2 Right click or press and hold on one or more selected folders, libraries, or drives in File Explorer, and click/tap on Open in new window. (see screenshot below)
1 Press the Ctrl + N keys to open the currently opened folder, drive, or library in a new window.
1 While in File Explorer (Win+E), select one or more folders, libraries, and/or drives. (see screenshot below)
2 Click/tap on the File tab on the menu bar, and:
A) Click/tap on Open new window.
OR
B) Click/tap on the arrow to the right of Open new window, and click/tap on either Open new window or Open new window in new process.
1 While in File Explorer (Win+E), select one or more folders, libraries, and/or drives.
2 Click/tap on the Home tab (folder/library) or Computer tab (This PC), and do one of the following actions:
- Press and hold the Shift key, click/tap on Open in the ribbon, and release the Shift key.
- Press and hold the Ctrl key, click/tap on Open in the ribbon, and release the Ctrl key. In Windows 10 build 17639, this will open the folder in a new tab instead if Tabs in apps (Sets) is turned on.
If you select more than one folder, library, and/or drive, then this will open each item in its own new window.
If you select only one folder, library, or drive, then:
Shift will open the item how you have it set to do so in Option Four or Option Five below.
Ctrl will open the item the opposite of how you have it set to do so in Option Five or Option Six below. In Windows 10 build 17639, this will open the folder in a new tab instead if Tabs in apps (Sets) is turned on.
1 Open Folder Options (aka: File Explorer Options).
2 In the General tab, select (dot) Open each folder in the same window (default) or Open each folder in its own folder for what you want under Browse folders, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.
2 Navigate to the registry key location below in Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState
3 In the right pane of the CabinetState key, double click/tap on the Settings binary value to modify it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (same) or step 6 (new) below for what you want.
This is the default setting.
A) In the 5th column of line 0000, change 2A to 0A, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
A) In the 5th column of line 0000, change 0A to 2A, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
7 You can now close Registry Editor if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Add or Remove Open in New Window context menu in Windows 10
- How to Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in Windows 10
- How to Open Folder in New Tab in Windows 10 File Explorer
- How to Change how Apps and Websites Automatically Open for Sets in Windows 10
- How to Enable or Disable Launch Folder Windows in a Separate Process in Windows