How to Expand or Minimize the File Explorer "Ribbon" in Windows 8
Information
The new ribbon in File Explorer in Windows 8 contains the most commonly used items for file and folder management.
This will show you how to have the new ribbon expanded or minimized when File Explorer is opened in Windows 8.
This will show you how to have the new ribbon expanded or minimized when File Explorer is opened in Windows 8.
OPTION ONE
To Expand or Minimize Ribbon from within File Explorer
Note
This option can be used by a user to expand (show) or minimize (hide) the ribbon in File Explorer. When a user opens File Explorer next, it will open with the ribbon set the same way as File Explorer was last closed. OPTION TWO and OPTION THREE below will override the setting in this option.
1. When you have File Explorer open. (see screenshot below)
2. Do steps 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 below for how you would like to have the File Explorer "Ribbon" set as.
3. By Using a Keyboard Shortcut in File Explorer
A) In File Explorer, press the CTRL+F1 keys to toggle the ribbon bar to be minimized or expanded.
4. By Right Clicking on the Toolbar in File Explorer
A) Right click on the toolbar in File Explorer, and click/tap on Minimize the Ribbon to uncheck (expand) or check (minimize) the ribbon. (see screenshot below)
5. By Clicking on the Toolbar Arrow in File Explorer
A) Click/tap on the arrow at the far right on the toolbar in File Explorer to toggle the ribbon to be minimized or expanded. (see screenshot below)
6. By Using the Quick Access Toolbar Menu in File Explorer
A) Click/tap on the "Quick Access" drop down menu arrow, and click on Minimize the Ribbon to uncheck (expand) or check (minimize) the ribbon. (see screenshot below)
7. By Clicking on Ribbon Tabs in File Explorer
A) While the ribbon is minimized, you can still click/tap on the ribbon tabs to use the options in that ribbon tab. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: When you click on a option in the opened ribbon tab, or click on anything else in Windows 8, the ribbon will automatically minimize again.
B) If you like, you can click/tap on the small pin icon to have the ribbon stay expanded. (see screenshot below)
C) Double click/tap on any ribbon tab (ex: Home, Share, View, Manage, etc.) to toggle the ribbon to always be minimized or expanded. (see screenshot below)
OPTION TWO
To Use a REG File Download to Always have File Explorer open with Ribbon Minimized
Note
You must be logged in as an administrator to use this option. This will affect all users on the computer, and will override whatever any user has set in OPTION ONE above. This does the same thing as in OPTION THREE below, but using a REG file instead of group policy to do it.
If enabled, users will still be able to unminimize the ribbon while in File Explorer to use the ribbon, but the ribbon will still always be minimized when File Explorer is opened next.
If enabled, users will still be able to unminimize the ribbon while in File Explorer to use the ribbon, but the ribbon will still always be minimized when File Explorer is opened next.
1. Do step 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 below for what you would like to do.
2. To Let Users Set to "Start File Explorer with Ribbon minimized"
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Allow_Users_to_Set_Open_File_Explorer_with_Ribbon.reg
3. To Specify "Always open new File Explorer with ribbon minimized" for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Specify_Always_Open_File_Explorer_with_Ribbon_Minimzed.reg
4. To Specify "Never open new File Explorer with ribbon minimized" for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Specify_Never_Open_File_Explorer_with_Ribbon_Minimzed.reg
5. To Specify "Minimize the ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time" for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Specify_Minimize_Ribbon_when_File_Explorer_Opened_First_Time.reg
6. To Specify "Display the full ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time" for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Specify_Display_Full_Ribbon_when_File_Explorer_Opened_First_Time.reg
7. Save the .reg file to the desktop.
8. Double click/tap on the extracted .reg file to merge it.
9. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.
10. Sign out and sign in to apply.
11. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION THREE
Use Local Group Policy Editor to Always have File Explorer open with Ribbon Minimized
Note
You must be logged in as an administrator to use this option. This will affect all users on the computer, and will override whatever any user has set in OPTION ONE above. This does the same thing as in OPTION TWO above, but using group policy instead of a REG fileto do it.
If enabled, users will still be able to unminimize the ribbon while in File Explorer to use the ribbon, but the ribbon will still always be minimized when Windows Explorer is opened next.
If enabled, users will still be able to unminimize the ribbon while in File Explorer to use the ribbon, but the ribbon will still always be minimized when Windows Explorer is opened next.
1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and File Explorer. (see screenshot below)
3. In the right pane of File Explorer, double click/tap on Start File Explorer with Ribbon minimized. (see screenshot above)
4. Do either step 5 or 6 below for what you would like to do.
5. To Let Users Set to "Start File Explorer with Ribbon minimized"
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 7)
NOTE: Not configured is the default setting.
B) Go to step 7.
6. To Specify to "Start File Explorer with Ribbon minimized" or Not for All Users
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and select the setting you want under Options. (see screenshot below step 7)
7. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
8. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.
That's it,
Shawn
Attachments
-
Allow_Users_to_Set_Open_File_Explorer_with_Ribbon.reg620 bytes · Views: 2,281
-
Specify_Always_Open_File_Explorer_with_Ribbon_Minimzed.reg646 bytes · Views: 2,270
-
Specify_Never_Open_File_Explorer_with_Ribbon_Minimzed.reg646 bytes · Views: 2,284
-
Specify_Minimize_Ribbon_when_File_Explorer_Opened_First_Time.reg646 bytes · Views: 2,203
-
Specify_Display_Full_Ribbon_when_File_Explorer_Opened_First_Time.reg646 bytes · Views: 2,334
-
Libraries-2.png11.7 KB · Views: 370
Last edited: