Has file explorer changed?

Hazel123 · 29 Jun 2022

I've only recently reinstalled files on my computer (after leaving them on a back up drive for a while - long story). Not sure if I'm imagining it, but is there less white space on the right? When I open, say, documents (large icons) the folder go right to the edge of the screen on the right - fits 9 folders going across. I'm sure it used to display less folders and have some white space on the right. Somehow I don't like looking at the ones on the far right! They seem to close to the edge of the screen to view properly.

Just wondered if a Windows update in the last few months has changed file explorer. I tried making the icons extra large (then less of them going across the page) - but then they are far too big (needs something in between large and extra large ...).

Windows 10 Pro 21H2
19044.1766

Try3 · 30 Jun 2022

Hazel123 said:

I'm sure it used to display less folders and have some white space on the right.

Hazel,

Perhaps you had Preview pane or Details pane enabled before.
- File explorer, View menu
- At the left-hand end, you can select Preview pane, Details pane or neither.

All the best,
Denis

NMI · 30 Jun 2022

Hazel123 said:

I'm sure it used to display less folders and have some white space on the right.

A lot depends on window and screen size. Is it maximized on the same monitor?

Also, see whether Compact Mode may have been enabled at View, Options:

How to Turn On or Off Use Compact Mode in File Explorer in Windows 10

Try3 · 30 Jun 2022

Hazel,

I don't think Compact mode fits your problem description anyway but, to avoid confusion, please note that Compact mode does not yet exist. It's a possibility for future builds.

Denis

NMI · 30 Jun 2022

Try3 said:

please note that Compact mode does not yet exist. It's a possibility for future builds.

Thanks for the correction.

rooscoota · 30 Jun 2022

you can grab and drag the preview pane border as well to make the preview pane smaller and main window bigger or vice versa.

pepanee · 30 Jun 2022

You don't mind pasting a screenshot of that window so we can see exactly what it looks like? That would be very helpful for me to identify what's going on. You can use Microsoft Paint to cross out file/folder names that you don't want us to see, etc.

LesFerch · 30 Jun 2022

Any chance you changed the screen scaling from 100% to something else like 125%?

Hazel123 · 30 Jun 2022

Thanks all. Tried all the options in preview pane and details pane. Grabbed the left column and made that bigger. Checked screen scaling - no change. Nothing seemed to look quite as it was. Maybe I'm imagining it! But I haven't had files in explorer since January until now.

Screenshot below. It seems to go right to the edge of the screen at the right and more folders on each row. It's not that bad but I'm sure it didn't look like that before! Second screenshot is to show the right hand side.

Has file explorer changed?-explorer-2.jpg

pepanee · 30 Jun 2022

I see.

1) You can resize the window from the right side by click-dragging the vertical edge of that window to the left, a tiny bit. Then the folders on the right side will go to the next line. So each line will show 8 items, instead of 9, going across.

Also
2) While in any folder, hold down the Control button on your keyboard, and scroll up/down notch by notch, of the mouse's wheel, to resize the items to make them bigger and bigger (scroll up), or smaller and smaller (scroll down). This will also place items over to the next line (if you make them bigger), and place items up a line (if you make them smaller).
Also, keep in mind, if you use the scroll down method, you can make them slightly smaller and smaller to where you can add a bunch of white space on the right side, until there is enough space to make an item in the next line jump right up.
Play around a little bit with this. You can find some optimal view settings that you might like. =)