Disable group by in Downloads folder (Windows 10 1903)

Anonymous

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?

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Anonymous

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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214 additional answers

Anonymous

2020-12-04T15:10:42+00:00

Keith,

I went to Power Shell and only the coding for the count worked, which I'm at around 2600, not at the max currently. The other code did not work at all. See first image attached. And when I go to the registry editor path you listed, below in the second image is what's showing on my computer, doesn't match what you show, if it's supposed to.

I've tried other options in this thread and some have worked. I was able to fix the Downloads folder to where it stays to not be grouped at all or none in Windows Explorer, but in other software that I use where I need to open a file and need to go to the Downloads folder, I'm back to square one and every time, I need to change the grouping to none, because it won't stay that way. And this is only happening in the Downloads folder and not any other folder, see third image below. This is my AutoCAD software and I opened up two sessions so you can see what I'm trying to explain. Where if I go to the Downloads, it shows the default Grouping that Microsoft set up, where if I go to another folder, it's fine, the way I prefer where it's not grouped at all and I can sort by the name, date modified, et.

Not sure why because I thought if it was fixed in Windows Explorer, it would be fixed everywhere, but apparently I'm wrong. If you know how to fix this within a software program, please let me know.
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Anonymous

2020-12-04T02:16:03+00:00

I'm with you 100%. It seems at some point I used to be able to get it to not do that, but now, it's doing it ALL THE TIME. I HATE THIS.
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Anonymous

2020-12-04T02:09:04+00:00

Can Microsoft PLEASE STOP SHOVING THEIR CRAPPY "BEST PRACTISES" DOWN OUR THROATS?!?

I reset the "group by" in Downloads EVERY BLEEPING TIME. And it constantly resets. I don't give a bleep whether or not someone thinks this is nice or useful, it DOES NOT WORK FOR ME. I have a particular way of organising my downloads. Please let me set my preferred folder view PERMANENTLY.

I've tried every "solution" or "workaround" and NONE work. (Windows 1909 atm). Some work for a short while but all of them reset to the bleeping "grouped by" view sooner or later. It's beyond ridiculous.

EDIT:

Ok, editing the registry key mentioned above _might_ (pending reboots and updates) help. Seems to be sticking for now. I deleted the Group* and Primary entries, and changed the SortByList to prop:System.ItemNameDisplay.

Had to take ownership of the key first since the bleeped-up permissions system in Windows prevented me from editing it even though I'm admin. Seems to have fixed both "Save As" as well as opening in Explorer. YMMV.
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Anonymous

2020-11-18T22:58:41+00:00

I suspect it is not a bug because it has never gotten fixed. If it was a bug, it would get fixed.

No, it's not a bug. In whatever update this appeared in (1903, I think), The Downloads folder acquired its own FolderType, the registry entries that define the various view defaults. GroupBy Date is specified in the view settings:

But like other FolderTypes, Apply to Folders should allow you to specify a per-user customized view for the FolderType.

If you copy & paste the following code into a PowerShell window, it will verify what FolderTypes you've set custom views for:

################

(Get-Item 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults').Property |

%{(Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes$_").CanonicalName}

################

and this will return the number of indexed views. If it is 5000, you've maxed out.

################

((gp "HKCU:\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU").Nodeslots).count

################

Keith
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