Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer  

    Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer

    Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer

    How to Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer
    Published by Category: General Tips
    19 Aug 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer


    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.

    As you open folders in the right pane of File Explorer, the navigation pane will not automatically expand to the current open folder by default.

    When you expand open a folder in the navigation pane of File Explorer, this expanded state setting is saved to the registry. The next time you open File Explore, you will automatically see the last navigation pane expanded state.

    While you can manually set the navigation pane expanded state to how you want, you could also reset it back to default as wanted or needed.

    This tutorial will show you how to reset the navigation pane expanded state in File Explorer to default for your account in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in File Explorer using REG file
    • Option Two: Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in File Explorer using Command



    EXAMPLE: Default navigation pane expanded state
    Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer-file_explorer_default_navigation_pane_expanded_state-1.jpg Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer-file_explorer_default_navigation_pane_expanded_state-4.jpg
    Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer-file_explorer_default_navigation_pane_expanded_state-2.jpg Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer-file_explorer_default_navigation_pane_expanded_state-3.jpg






    OPTION ONE

    Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in File Explorer using REG file


    1 Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.

    Reset_File_Explorer_navigation_pane_expanded_state.reg

    Download

    (Contents of .reg file for reference)
    Code:
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\NavPane]
    "ExpandedState"=-

    2 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    3 Close all instances of any opened File Explorer window.

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

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

    6 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

    7 The next time you open File Explorer (Win+E), the navigation pane expanded state will be reset to default view.






    OPTION TWO

    Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in File Explorer using Command


    1 Close all instances of any opened File Explorer window.

    2 Open a command prompt or PowerShell console window.

    3 Copy and paste the command below into the console window, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    REG DELETE HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\NavPane /V ExpandedState /F

    Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer-reset_file_explorer_navigation_pane_expanded_state-command.jpg

    4 You can now close the command prompt or PowerShell console window.

    5 The next time you open File Explorer (Win+E), the navigation pane expanded state will be reset to default view.


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 841
    Windows 10 Pro 21H2
       #1

    The problem that I am having is with Network folder not expanding; tried the suggestion here, but it did not help.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    rdwray said:
    The problem that I am having is with Network folder not expanding; tried the suggestion here, but it did not help.
    Hello mate,

    Did you already turn on this below?

    Turn On or Off Navigation Pane Expand to Open Folder in Windows 10
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 841
    Windows 10 Pro 21H2
       #3

    Brink said:
    Hello mate,

    Did you already turn on this below?

    Turn On or Off Navigation Pane Expand to Open Folder in Windows 10
    Hi Brink, that was fast, but I already have that.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    rdwray said:
    Hi Brink, that was fast, but I already have that.
    Does double clicking on the Network folder in the navigation pane expand it open for you?
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 841
    Windows 10 Pro 21H2
       #5

    Brink said:
    Does double clicking on the Network folder in the navigation pane expand it open for you?
    Nope, no luck... It was working earlier and quit.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    rdwray said:
    Nope, no luck... It was working earlier and quit.
    Hopefully, it's just temporary lag from checking the network causing this.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 841
    Windows 10 Pro 21H2
       #7

    Brink said:
    Hopefully, it's just temporary lag from checking the network causing this.
    This is what I did, and it worked previously:
    PC > Map Network Drive > My PC Name > Network. I have 4 PCs and this is the only one that shows "Network" when mapping a drive.

    Found the problem with "Network", it was a bogus folder.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    rdwray said:
    This is what I did, and it worked previously:
    PC > Map Network Drive > My PC Name > Network. I have 4 PCs and this is the only one that shows "Network" when mapping a drive.

    Found the problem with "Network", it was a bogus folder.
      My Computers


 

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