How to Turn On or Off Expand to Current Folder in Navigation Pane in Windows 7
Information
This will show you how to have automatically expand to current folder turned on or off in the Windows 7 Navigation Pane folder tree while you are navigating in the main Windows Explorer pane.
Note
If you open a user folder directly to it's C:\Users\(user-name) location from say a shortcut or from the Start Menu, and did not manually navigate to it in Windows Explorer, then a separate (user-name) folder group will display in the navigation pane of Windows Explorer whenever you have the Expand to current folder option checked.
Tip
You can also quickly expand the navigation pane to the current location you are navigated to by pressing Ctrl+Shift+E keys.
EXAMPLE: "Automatically expand to current folder" Turned Off
NOTE: This is the default setting in Windows 7.
EXAMPLE: "Automatically expand to current folder" Turned On
OPTION ONE
Through Navigation Pane
1. Right click on an empty space in the Navigation Pane.
2. To Turn On Automatically Expand to Current Folder
A) Click on Expand to current folder to check it. (see screenshot below)
3. To Turn Off Automatically Expand to Current Folder
A) Click on Expand to current folder to uncheck it. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: This is the default setting.
OPTION TWO
Through Folder Options
1. Open Folder Options, and click on the General tab. (See screenshot below)
2. To Turn On Automatically Expand to Current Folder
A) Check the Automatically expand to current folder box. (see screenshot above)
B) Go to step 4.
3. To Turn Off Automatically Expand to Current Folder
A) Uncheck the Automatically expand to current folder box. (see screenshot below step 2)
NOTE: This is the default setting.
4. Click on OK. (see screenshot below step 2)
OPTION THREE
Through a REG file Download
1. To Turn On Automatically Expand to Current Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Expand_to_Current_Folder_Navigation_Pane.reg
Download
B) Go to step 3.
2. To Turn Off Automatically Expand to Current Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
NOTE: This is the default setting.
Not_Expand_to_Current_Folder_Navigation_Pane.reg
Download
3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.
4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.
5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.
6. If open, close and reopen Windows Explorer to see the changes.
NOTE: If you do not see a change, then log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.
7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION FOUR
Manually Through Registry Editor
1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.
2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.
3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
Code:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
4. In the right pane of Advanced, right click on NavPaneExpandToCurrentFolder and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)
5. To Turn Off Automatically Expand to Current Folder
A) Type 0 (number zero), and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This is the default setting.
B) Go to step 7.
6. To Turn On Automatically Expand to Current Folder
A) Type 1, and click on OK. (see screenshot above)
7. Close regedit.
8. If open, close and reopen Windows Explorer to see the changes.
NOTE: If you do not see a change, then log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.
That's it,
Shawn
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