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
    2019-10-01T20:58:39+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 10 file save dialog displaying grouped by date 

    gpedit.msc

    User Configuration

    Administrative Templates

    Windows Components

    File Explorer

    ENABLE Windows Libraries features that rely on indexed file data.

    Don't forget my other post of the setting group by to none

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-10-01T21:01:44+00:00

    That really doesn't work well @jfii. Unfortunately.

    What you are doing only works within the one app you are doing it in. If you use Excel, Word, or any other app and go to the downloads folder, the grouping is back. ANd I've had the grouping mysteriously return even in apps I've turned it off on.

    My solution, which is horrible, is to create a new download folder and point all of my browsers to use that, but not tell windows itself this is my download folder. Then I just use my new folder, which is a normal folder, not a "special" folder. It isn't a perfect solution. For example, I cannot tell Teams to use this folder when I download. It requires the "special" folder. Fortunately I rarely download in Teams.

    I am pretty sure office is controlled by another setting but it may seem that they both rely on the indexing manager  - try this

    gpedit.msc as admin

    User Configuration

    Administrative Templates

    Windows Components

    File Explorer

    ENABLE Windows Libraries features that rely on indexed file data.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-10-01T21:02:33+00:00

    or

    gpedit.msc

    User Configuration

    Administrative Templates

    Windows Components

    File Explorer

    ENABLE Windows Libraries features that rely on indexed file data.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-10-01T21:08:24+00:00

    Ed,

    send me a screenshot of your office dialog if the GP change doesn't work. My office 2013 doesn't seem to show any issue either before or after the change. When i was looking for the explore file save dialog i saw a couple of articles pertaining to the office having a different dialog I'll see if they are related. But I want to see what you are seeing since I don't seem to have an issue with MS office.

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