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
    2019-09-05T08:17:07+00:00

    Mine is fixed for now, thanks to all in this forum.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-09-17T14:02:51+00:00

    Thanks, yes I was having trouble with most folders group by. As a note it came back even after clearing all of then out before.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-09-18T18:18:00+00:00

    Is there anyway to completely disable the Group By option in explorer and the save dialog? Or is there at least a way to get the System to default to Group By none? I keep resting the Bags and it keeps coming back. I don't know if other people like it or not, however I don't. I have worked on every version of Windows ever put out, including Windows 3.11 installed over DOS. I have work on every or almost every version of DOS too for that matter. I have been field service, phone support and an currently a programmer. I know what I'm doing so I don't need it to put the newest file at the top so I can find it. I like the explorer list the way I have it set up and have always had it set up and resent something new that is supposed to be an option being jammed down my through and not being a option, only something you can temporarily get ride of until it decides on it own to come back and them you have to go through every folder to get ride of it again, then it messes up the GUIDs on the bags. So please help me get ride of it once and for all if you know how or know anyone that might. Thanks.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-09-18T23:15:21+00:00

    Like you, I've been around since the days of DOS and I also have very strong dislike of all these new "features" MS is forcing on users for no reason at all.  I don't like them and would never ever request anything like them.  I wish I could go back to XP and Office 2003.  The menu bar worked great and had a good feeling for where to look for the feature I wanted.  The contrast was great when compared to Office 2016 that I'm suffering through these days.  I still use Word 2003 but Outlook 2003 & 2016 can't co-exist on the same machine and function properly.  Outlook 2016 defaults to grouping all my email folders in groups with no way to universally turn that junk off once and for all.  I think one of the reason MS is forcing these things on us is their programmers just now figured out how to do these things but haven't a clue how to undo the damage they've caused. 

    Microsoft if you're listening, take each and everyone of your "group by" defaults and set them to none and then put them where the sun don't shine.

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