Navigation Pane - Show All Folders

    Navigation Pane - Show All Folders

    Navigation Pane - Show All Folders

    How to Show or Not "Show All Folders" in the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    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 your user profile folder, Control Panel, and Recycle Bin in the Windows Explorer Navigation Pane.

       Warning
    If you have "Show all folders" checked, then the Show in Navigation Pane option for libraries will be grayed out.

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




    OPTION ONE

    To Turn "Show all folders" On or Off from Navigation Pane

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

    2. To Not Show All Folders in Navigation Pane
    A) Click on Show all folders to uncheck it. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE: This is the default setting.

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



    OPTION TWO

    To Turn "Show all folders" On or Off from Folder Options

    1. Open Folder Options, and click on the General tab. (See screenshot below)
    Navigation Pane - Show All Folders-folder_options.jpg
    2. To Not Show All Folders in Navigation Pane
    A) Uncheck the Show all folders box. (See screenshot above)
    NOTE: This is the default setting.

    B) Go to step 4.
    3. To Show All Folders in Navigation Pane
    A) Check the Show all folders box. (See screenshot below step 1)
    4. Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 1)



    OPTION THREE

    To Turn "Show all folders" On or Off using a REG File Download

    1. To Show All Folders in Navigation Pane
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
    Show_All_Folders_Navigation_Pane.reg
    B) Go to step 3.
    2. To Not Show All Folders in Navigation Pane
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
    NOTE: This is the default setting.
    Not_Show_All_Folders_Navigation_Pane.reg
    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. 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

    To Turn "Show all folders" On or Off Manually in 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
    Navigation Pane - Show All Folders-reg-1.jpg
    4. In the right pane of Advanced, right click on NavPaneShowAllFolders and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)

    5. To Not Show All Folders in Navigation Pane
    A) Type 0 (number zero), and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: This is the default setting.
    Navigation Pane - Show All Folders-reg-2.jpg
    B) Go to step 7.
    6. To Show All Folders in Navigation Pane
    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






    Related Tutorials





  2. QuocHungVNUIT
    Posts : 16
    Windows 7
       New #1

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



      My Computer
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  4. Brink
    Posts : 72,036
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #2

    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.
      My Computer
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  5. Mark
    Posts : 4,282
    Windows 7 Ultimate Vista Ultimate x64
       New #3

    Thanks Shawn, that's how I like it!
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. Brink
    Posts : 72,036
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    You're welcome Mr. GRiM.

    Glad MS added this option.

    Shawn
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. QuocHungVNUIT
    Posts : 16
    Windows 7
       New #5

    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.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. Brink
    Posts : 72,036
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Thank you for your contribution. They are always welcome here.
      My Computer
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  10. wwsmile
    Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
       New #7

    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
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  11. Brink
    Posts : 72,036
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    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.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

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