Solved Opening File Explorer

I have a petty little question.

Is there any way to make File Explorer open in the same position and the same size as when it was last closed.

Currently, it always opens in the same position and size and I almost always want to resize it.

Hello dsscottage,

Not sure I follow that.

By default, File Explorer already does open in the same size and position as when it was last closed.

If you want to resize it, then you should be able to.

Maybe I've missed something. I've looked for an option to change this behaviour but can't find one. (BTW, I'm using Win 8 Pro)

I've attached screen shots of what I'm seeing.

The first short is the size and position of File Explorer when it first opens.

The second shot is how I might re-size the window (by dragging the handles or by snapping it to the left).

After I close File Explorer from the second window and open it again, it opens in the same position and size as the first screen shot.

What am I missing?

It looks like you may have snapped the window to the left side instead of actually resizing it. If so, then that would be why it wouldn't remember it. Snapping in Windows 8 is the same as in Windows 7.

Snap a Window to a Side - Windows 7 Help Forums

Brink said:

It looks like you may have snapped the window to the left side instead of actually resizing it. If so, then that would be why it wouldn't remember it. Snapping in Windows 8 is the same as in Windows 7.

Snap a Window to a Side - Windows 7 Help Forums

Click to expand...

Actually, I didn't snap the window. I resized it manually. It doesn't matter if it is resized manually or snapped. The next time it opens, it opens in the default size and position.

Are you opening the explorer folder window from the same location since it's folder and location specific?

For example, from the taskbar icon versus a shortcut from any other location.


Even when manually dragged, you could snap it if you drag the top or bottom border all the way to the top or bottom and release.

As a test, resize and position the window somewhere in the middle of the screen to rule out snapping, close the window, then reopen it to see if it opens to that same size and position.

Brink said:

Are you opening the explorer folder window from the same location since it's folder and location specific?

For example, from the taskbar icon versus a shortcut from any other location.


Even when manually dragged, you could snap it if you drag the top or bottom border all the way to the top or bottom and release.

As a test, resize and position the window somewhere in the middle of the screen to rule out snapping, close the window, then reopen it to see if it opens to that same size and position.

Click to expand...

OK. That's what I was missing.

I was dragging the window to the top and bottom of the screen and that snapped it. I didn't realize that happened. I though that snapping only worked to the left or right of the screen.

I guess that I have a lot to learn about Win 8.

Thank-you for the education and being patient with what now appears to be a stupid question.

You're most welcome.

It's the same in Windows 7, but if you never used that feature often, it's easy to not know.

See my signature about questions.