File Explorer Columns - Change Width in Windows 8

Brink · Oct 1, 2012

How to Change the Width of Columns in Windows 8 File Explorer

Information

Columns display a wide variety of details about files in a folder or library in File explorer. For example, name, date modified, type, size, etc..... Columns are only available when using Details view in File Explorer.

This tutorial will show you how to change the width of columns and "size columns to fit" in File Explorer to what you like in Windows 8.

Note

In Libraries, column width changes are applied to all included folders in the library.
In File Explorer, column changes are only applied to that specific folder and the specific location it was opened from (ex: shortcut vs File Explorer), and will not be applied to any other folder unless Apply to Folders is used, or it is used to set a default view for all folders.

OPTION ONE

To "Size Column to Fit" or "Size All Columns to Fit" in File Explorer

1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. To "Size Column to Fit" in File Explorer

NOTE: This option allows you to have the displayed file details to be automatically sized to fit within a single selected column in the opened folder or library.

A) Right click on the column name (ex: Size) that you want to size, and click/tap on Size Column to Fit. (see screenshot below)

3. To "Size All Columns to Fit" in File Explorer

NOTE: This option allows you to have the displayed file details to be automatically sized to fit within all columns in the opened folder or library.

A) Click/tap on the View tab, and click/tap on Size all columns to fit in the Ribbon. (see screenshot below)

OR

B) Right click anywhere on the column bar, and click/tap on Size All Columns to Fit. (see screenshot below)

4. When finished, you might also would like to change the order of any added columns to what you want as well.

OPTION TWO

To Set Pixel Width of Columns in File Explorer

1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. Click/tap on the View tab, click/tap on Add columns and Choose columns in the Ribbon, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)

3. Right click anywhere on the column bar, click/tap on More, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)

4. Under Details, select (highlight) a column (ex: Type or #) that you want to change the width of, then enter how many pixels wide you want the selected column to be. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: Only the checked details display for the items within columns in this folder or library in File Explorer.

[*=1]# column - Can be set between 40-999 pixels wide.
[*=1]All other columns - Can be set between 80-999 pixels wide.

5. Repeat step 4 for any other columns that you want to change the width of. When finished, click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)

6. When finished, you might also would like to change the order of any added columns to what you want as well.

OPTION THREE

To Manually Drag Column Borders to Set Width in File Explorer

1. Move and hover the pointer over the border line to the right of the column name (ex: Date modified) on the column bar that you want to change the width of until it turns into a cross with double horizontal arrows. (see screeshot below step 2)

2. Left click and hold, then drag the border of the column to the left and right to adjust it's width to what you would like it to be. Release left click when finished adjusting width. (see screenshot below)

3. When finished, you might also would like to change the order of any added columns to what you want as well.

That's it,
Shawn

File Explorer Columns - Change Width in Windows 8

Brink

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Werner Karl

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Brink

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