Navigation Pane - Turn On or Off

How to Turn the Navigation Pane On or Off in Windows 7​

   Information

You can use the navigation pane (the left pane) to find files and folders. It displays favorites, libraries, and an expandable list of drives and folders. You can also move or copy items directly to a destination in the navigation pane.

This will show you how to turn the navigation pane on or off in all Windows Explorer windows in Windows 7.

   Tip

When the Navigation pane is turned on, you can drag it's right border line left and right to increase or decrease the size of the Navigation pane.

EXAMPLE: Windows Explorer Layout
NOTE: The navigation pane is the far left pane in Windows Explorer.

OPTION ONE

To Turn Navigation Pane On or Off in Windows Explorer

1. Open Windows Explorer (explorer.exe).

2. On the toolbar, click on Organize and Layout. (see screenshots below)



3. To Turn On the Navigation Pane in Windows Explorer
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Select (click) Navigation pane to have it checked. (see screenshots above)
4. To Turn Off the Navigation Pane in Windows Explorer
A) Select (click) Navigation pane to have it unchecked with the icon now showing. (see screenshots above)
5. All Windows Explorer windows will now open as you set this.

OPTION TWO

To Turn Navigation Pane On or Off using a REG File Download

1. To Turn On the Navigation Pane in Windows Explorer
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Turn_Navigation_Pane_On.reg

Download


B) Go to step 3.
2. To Turn Off the Navigation Pane in Windows Explorer
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Turn_Navigation_Pane_Off.reg

Download


3. 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. Close and reopen any open Windows Explorer window to apply.
NOTE: Sometimes you may need to log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply instead.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Turn On or Off Expand to Current Folder in Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Show or Not Show All Folders in the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Change the Active Navigation Folder Icon in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove Favorites from the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Add or Remove the "Libraries" Folder from the Navigation Pane
• How to Hide or Show a Library in the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Add or Remove "Computer" from the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Add or Remove "Homegroup" from the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Add or Remove "Network" from the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Add or Remove "Control Panel" from the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Add or Remove your "User Folder" from the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Add or Remove the "Recycle Bin" from the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Turn the Menu Bar On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Turn the Windows Explorer Status Bar On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Turn the Details Pane On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Turn the Preview Pane On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Turn the Library Pane On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Customize Default Places Bar in Windows Common File Dialog Box

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Thanks For the Tutorial Shawn ..

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Shyam.

 

[curtj]

Thanks for this.

Sometimes I just need to remove it temporarily from one window (if I'm short of screen space) while I work with files, esp if I'm using extra-large icons for example, then have it back.

I know I can use the border-slider, or the menu, but is there an icon or shortcut key for this, or a way to create an icon or shortcut key to do this?

As a second prize, would there be if there is a way to set the navigation pane to be hidden in just one window until I close it?

 

[Brink]

Hello Curtj,

Unfortunately, the navigation pane is universally on or off in all windows. It cannot be on in some and off in others.

I suppose that you could place the REG downloads above in a folder and pin the folder to the taskbar, or placing the REG files in Quick Launch on the taskbar to make using them easier to turn the navigation pane on or off at will.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[curtj]

Thanks for your reply.

I could make a shortcut to the REG files and assign a shortcut key, but I'll probably just get used to doing it via the menu.

It's just a pity that there's an icon for the preview pane, but not the nav.

Ah well - I'll live.

 

[Brink]

Yeah, I"m surprised that they didn't include one for each on the toolbar either.

 

[nonpasaran]

hi shawn
is there any way move navigation pane to the right side?

 

[Brink]

Hello Nonpasaran,

Sorry, but not unless you had some 3rd party skinning program like WindowsBlind that has that option to do so.

 

[nonpasaran]

Hello Nonpasaran,

Sorry, but not unless you had some 3rd party skinning program like WindowsBlind that has that option to do so.

Thanks shawn

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.

 

[gogreen]

Thanks, Shawn. Very practical tutorial.

Not sure if this applies to everyone, but I had to restart to get the change to work with the register file.

 

[Brink]

Hello Arthur,

Thank you for posting back with your results.

I'm sure you did, but did you close and reopen Windows Explorer to see if it changed afterwards?

 

[gogreen]

I'm sure you did, but did you close and reopen Windows Explorer to see if it changed afterwards?

Yes, I did. I worked in Word, though--opened it and closed it between tries, but the navigation pane was still there. Restarted the computer, and poof! The nav pane was gone!

It may be helpful to others to note that I noticed this problem after the latest round of Windows updates. I wonder if others experienced similar results.

 

[Brink]

I'll add a note that a restart may be required to be safe.

 

[gogreen]

I'll add a note that a restart may be required to be safe.

I wonder--Why would I need a restart and others wouldn't?

 

[Brink]

I'm not sure unless something was in use. I tested it again on my system to see is something may have changed after the last round of Windows Updates, but all I needed to do was merge the REG file and close and reopen Windows Explorer.

 

[gogreen]

Hmmmm. Must be me then.

 

[GuyInDogSuit]

Sorry to revive a dead thread, but this only works in Explorer to some extent. If I open the Downloads folder through Chrome, the Nav panel is back again. Thankfully it only seems to affect Chrome and not other apps like Word.

 

[Brink]

Hello GuyInDogSuit, and welcome to Seven Forum.

Yeah, it doesn't always work with 3rd party programs. It's only meant for Windows Explorer.