Windows 7 - Navigation Pane - Show All Folders

**Brink**

How to Show or Not Show All Folders in the Windows 7 Navigation Pane

Information

This will show you how to set the Windows 7 Navigation pane to Show or Not Show all folders in the Folder Tree automatically. You can still manually expand the folders not shown to see them though.

Tip

If you check the Show All Folders option, it will also add the Control Panel and Recycle Bin in the Windows Explorer Navigation Pane.

EXAMPLE: Not Show All Folders in the Navigation Pane
NOTE: This is the default setting in Windows 7.

EXAMPLE: Show All Folders in the Navigation Pane

METHOD ONE

Through Navigation Pane

1. Right click on a empty space in the Navigation Pane.

2. To Not Show All Folders -
A) Click on Show all folders to uncheck it. (See screenshot below)

3. To Show All Folders -
A) Click on Show all folders to check it. (See screenshot above)

METHOD TWO

Through Folder Options

1. Open Folder Options, and click on the General tab. (See screenshot below)

2. To Not Show All Folders -
A) Uncheck the Show all folders box. (See screenshot above)

B) Go to step 4.

3. To Show All Folders -
A) Check the Show all folders box. (See screenshot below step 1)

4. Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 1)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

QuocHungVNUIT · 12-09-2008

So, if you uncheck in Show all folders box, you can click on arrow, and all folder will appear, see screenshot below:

**Brink** · 12-09-2008

Hello Quốc Hùng UIT-VN,

Yes, you can still open and expand the folders. This tutorial just shows you how to just have them show or not show automatically.

**Mark** · 12-09-2008

Thanks Shawn, that's how I like it!

**Brink** · 12-09-2008

You're welcome Mr. GRiM.

Glad MS added this option.

Shawn

QuocHungVNUIT · 12-09-2008

Hello Brink, I know your tutorial just show everybody how to just have them show or not show automatically. so I just add a secondary way

Thanks for good tutorial. You are professional computer specialist.

**Brink** · 12-09-2008

Thank you for your contribution. They are always welcome here.

**wwsmile** · 12-09-2009

Shawn

Outstanding. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge about customizing the start menu. I had many of these tweaks set up in XP. I just got a new laptop with Win 7 and I could not customize as in XP until I discovered this forum. I have registered with this forum and I intend to visit often. This forum allows those of us who wish to dig a little deeper into the operating system a good resource. I am currently having difficulty getting my XP and Win 7 seven computers to see each other on a wireless network. They can both use the network to access the net but cannot access each other. The XP box sees the Win 7 but cannot access files because of a permissions issue. The Win 7 box only sees the wireless router connected to the XP box but not the files on the XP box or the printer. I have explored the networking section of this forum and have tried some of the suggested solutions but to no avail. I will continue with my Win 7 education and hopefully my networking issues will be resolve. You efforts have already significantly improved my Win 7 experience.

Thanks again.
Wade Williams

**Brink** · 12-09-2009

You're most welcome Wade, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might post your wireless network issue in the Network & Sharing forum to see if someone may be able to help you out with that though.