Disable group by in Downloads folder (Windows 10 1903)

Anonymous
2019-06-18T09:01:17+00:00

Hi, since I updated to the new Windows 1903 version the files in some folders like "Downloads" are always grouped by the date. I was able to disable this in the File Explorer itself by choosing "Group by = none". But in all kind of "Save as" dialogs from any application the group by date still appears and in those special explorer windows there is no option to disable file grouping in them. So how can I disable this globally?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2019-06-19T03:25:57+00:00

Hi Chap Sistine,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

The Group by option in normal folders and in Save as window are different, so if you change the Group by to type in Downloads folder, it will not change in Save as window. Then, if you change the Group by in Save as window, it will not change in normal folders.

You can refer the below example.

Change the Group by as size in Downloads folder - Change the Group by as size in Save as window.

Change the Group by as type in Downloads folder - (Check) Group by as size in Save as window (it will not change until you right-click in Save as window and change it to type or anything else).

Also, the Group by option is specific to folders and once you change Group by for a particular folder, the changes will not be applied to all the folders. You need to change the Group by for every folder by opening that particular folder > Press the Alt and V > Click on G > Select the Group by settings or click on Choose columns for more options.

So, once you change the Group by in Save as window, it will remain the same regardless of whichever application you open the Save as window from.

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-07-24T00:57:07+00:00

    This is just plain stoopid! Yup, I spelled "stupid" wrong to emphasize it because it's a PITA. I have been using computers for 30 years, and I already have a very organized way to save things that I download. I organize them by what type of download it is, not what the EFFING date I downloaded it. I mean come on! Say you have a folder c:\downloads\authoring\wordpress\plugins and you want to save something there.  Well, gee, the last time I saved a plugin was like three months ago, so I have to look through all the "Earlier this year" and they're not even in EFFING alphabetical ORDER.  For Christ's sake, I have 33 folders off the root of Downloads and 919 folders in total.  Please stop fixing things that aren't broken!

    Hi Chap Sistine,

    Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

    The Group by option in normal folders and in Save as window are different, so if you change the Group by to type in Downloads folder, it will not change in Save as window. Then, if you change the Group by in Save as window, it will not change in normal folders.

    You can refer the below example.

    Change the Group by as size in Downloads folder - Change the Group by as size in Save as window.

    Change the Group by as type in Downloads folder - (Check) Group by as size in Save as window (it will not change until you right-click in Save as window and change it to type or anything else).

    Also, the Group by option is specific to folders and once you change Group by for a particular folder, the changes will not be applied to all the folders. You need to change the Group by for every folder by opening that particular folder > Press the Alt and V > Click on G > Select the Group by settings or click on Choose columns for more options.

    So, once you change the Group by in Save as window, it will remain the same regardless of whichever application you open the Save as window from.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-06-24T21:22:52+00:00

    Is there a reason this was chosen as default?

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-08-16T14:27:55+00:00

    In a Save As dialog, you right-click in the folder background to access Sort & GroupBy options:

    Keith

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-06-28T20:53:46+00:00

    This page holds the key to making this change permanent. Do step 1, but finish with step 2. 😉👍

    All the best!

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