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

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  1. dexhiker
    Posts : 2
    Windows 10 Professional
       New #1

    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?
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  3. Bree
    Posts : 31,660
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       New #2

    dexhiker said:
    Can the width of the list view columns be adjusted?
    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'.
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  4. bro67
    Posts : 9,790
    Mac OS Catalina
       New #3

    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
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  6. dexhiker
    Posts : 2
    Windows 10 Professional
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    LIST file view does not have column headings.


    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.
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  7. bro67
    Posts : 9,790
    Mac OS Catalina
       New #5

    See the tutorial. Your answer is in there.
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  8. Bree
    Posts : 31,660
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       New #6

    bro67 said:
    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...

    When you are using a details layout view for items in a folder to be displayed in columns, you can change the width of all columns to fit their contents....
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  9. Homme Crabe
    Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       New #7

    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:
    Windows Explorer List view columns are too wide - can they be adjusted-capture.png
    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!
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  10. pepanee
    Posts : 2,915
    Windows 10 Pro for the Bro
       New #8

    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.
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  12. dalchina
    Posts : 42,986
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #9

    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:
    Windows Explorer List view columns are too wide - can they be adjusted-1.jpgWindows Explorer List view columns are too wide - can they be adjusted-2.jpg
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  13. hiphopper
    Posts : 92
    Windows 10
       New #10

    bro67 said:
    See the tutorial. Your answer is in there.
    Funny how people see list view and somehow read details view. There is a difference...
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