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
    2020-08-27T13:12:11+00:00

    Though I may not agree with the "forceful" language, I want to express my absolute agreement with his message.

    IMHO, it is not only stupid to eff around with a working interface paradigm, it violates several cannons of human interface design.

    1.  The principle of least astonishment:

    Suddenly  re-arranging a known and working interface paradigm, absent user input, is just plain wrong.

    2.  "Better is the enemy of good":

    Otherwise expressed as "Leave 'well enough' alone" or "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

    3.  I strongly object to Microsoft's new policy of resetting and re-arranging a user's carefully crafted settings, both without permission and without notice.

    4.  A "feature" isn't a feature if it can't be disabled.  If you do, for whatever God Forsaken reason, decide to impose a new "feature" or UI paradigm, it should be OPTIONAL and require an EXPLICIT AND AFFIRMATIVE user selection to enable it.

    Summary:

    The computer does not belong to you. Neither does the user's configuration and setup preferences. Don't eff with them!

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-08-27T13:23:25+00:00

    It's just another default template that can be modifed using Apply to Folders. Unfortunatley, even the majority of "Independent Advisors" gave the half-answer of how to set grouping to '(None)' without following that with Apply to Folders.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-09-11T15:02:40+00:00

    16 pages of balooney when the answer was in a link from JeremieLanders  on the first page,(https://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/how\_to\_disable\_file\_grouping.html)

    i.e. use the the right click context menu on the offending "save as " window to turn off grouping because that option just AIN'T in the menu bar.

    Sheesh!

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-09-13T02:10:28+00:00

    Hi Shafeeq,

    I see this response was intended for Windows 10 1903.  Can you provide instructions that will be effective for Windows 10 1909?

    Thanks,

    Ken Humphries

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