Navigation Pane Show all folders - Turn On or Off

How to Turn Navigation Pane "Show all folders" On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1

information   Information
This tutorial will show you how to turn Show all folders on or off in the navigation pane of Windows Explorer in your user account in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

If you turn on Show All Folders, it will also add your user profile folder, Control Panel, and Recycle Bin items in the navigation pane of Windows Explorer.

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


EXAMPLE: "Show all folders" Turned On and Off
Default.jpgShow_all_folders.jpg





OPTION ONE

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


1. Open File Explorer, and do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do​
2. Right click or press and hold on an empty area in the navigation pane, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​
Default.jpg
3. Click/tap on the View tab, click/tap on the Navigation Pane button in the ribbon, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​
ribbon.jpg
4. Do step 5 or 6 below for what you would like to do.​
5. To Turn On "Show all folders" in Navigation Pane
A) Click/tap on Show all folders to check it. (See screenshot above)​
6. To Turn Off "Show all folders" in Navigation Pane
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) Click/tap on Show all folders to uncheck it. (See screenshot above)​





OPTION TWO

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


1. Open Folder Options, click/tap on the General tab, and do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)​
Folder_Options.jpg
2. To Turn On "Show all folders" in Navigation Pane
A) Check the Show all folders box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)​
3. To Turn Off "Show all folders" in Navigation Pane
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
A) Uncheck the Show all folders box, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)​





OPTION THREE

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



Note   Note
The .bat files below are for the registry key and value below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

NavPaneShowAllFolders DWORD

0 = off
1 = on


1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​
2. To Turn On "Show all folders" in Navigation Pane
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​
Turn_On_Show-all-folders_in_Navigation_Pane.bat
download
3. To Turn Off "Show all folders" in Navigation Pane
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​
NOTE: This is the default setting.​
Turn_Off_Show-all-folders_in_Navigation_Pane.bat
download
4. Save the .bat file to the desktop.​
5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .bat file to run it.​
6. If prompted, click/tap on Run and Yes (UAC).​
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.​
7. You will now notice a command prompt open and your screen flash as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.​

That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Turn_On_Show-all-folders_in_Navigation_Pane.bat
    361 bytes · Views: 1,162
  • Turn_Off_Show-all-folders_in_Navigation_Pane.bat
    361 bytes · Views: 1,042
  • Navigation_Pane-256.png
    Navigation_Pane-256.png
    3.8 KB · Views: 284
Last edited:
I have W8.1 64bit pro installed. In the Navigation pane I have "show all folders" unchecked. However all the folders under SkyDrive are shown.

I have tried selecting Show all folders and then unchecked it, in the hope that this would collapse the folders under SkyDrive, but it did not.


Can you suggest what I may try next?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    i5-3470
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M R2.0
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics
    Browser
    IE 11
    Antivirus
    Windows defender
Hello dsim, and welcome to Eight Forums.

The "Show all folders" setting doesn't apply to the separate "SkyDrive" group in the navigation pane.

You should be able to click on the arrow to the left of the SkyDrive folder or double click on the SkyDrive folder in the navigation pane to collapse it.

SkyDrive.jpg

Hope this helps, :)
Shawn
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thanks Shawn. I had previously collapsed the SkyDrive folder list by clicking on its arrow, but when next opening File Explorer all these folders were again displayed.

However since reading your advice I right clicked SkyDrive and selected Collapse from there. Now File Explorer opens with SkyDrive collapsed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    i5-3470
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M R2.0
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics
    Browser
    IE 11
    Antivirus
    Windows defender
Great news. By default, it should open the same way as it was last closed. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
I am sorry to report that using the Collapse feature no longer works.

Is there some way to make sure that file explorer opens the same way that it last closed?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    i5-3470
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M R2.0
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics
    Browser
    IE 11
    Antivirus
    Windows defender

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Yes, that fixed it, thankyou Shawn
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    i5-3470
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M R2.0
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics
    Browser
    IE 11
    Antivirus
    Windows defender
You're most welcome. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Back
Top