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
    2019-08-16T17:06:06+00:00

    why are you concerned with the other GUIDs? Are you having issues with other folder types grouping despite having attempted to turn off grouping via the GUI? I think you're making it harder for yourself than need be.

    That being said, if you copy & paste the following code into a PowerShellwindow & execute it, it will turn off grouping in every saved view (including Quick Access, wihich requires using Reset Folders to restore grouping):

    gci 'HKCU:\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags' -recurse |

    ?{$_.GetValueNames() -contains 'GroupView'} |

    ?{$_.GetValue('GroupView') -ne 0} | %{

    $splat = @{

    'Path'  = $_.PSPath

    'Name'  = 'GroupView'

    'Value' = 0

    }

    Set-ItemProperty @splat

    $splat.Name  = 'GroupByKey:PID'

    $splat.Value = 0

    Set-ItemProperty @splat

    $splat.Name  = 'GroupByKey:FMTID'

    $splat.Value = '{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}'

    Set-ItemProperty @splat

    }

    gps explorer | spps

    Keith

    Yes I was having trouble with most folders randomly setting the group by to date modified.  If the problem comes back I will know how to fix it. I have already gone through all of the Bags entries turning them off for now. Thanks for the info.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-08-19T02:22:30+00:00

    Shafeeq,

    There must be a PowerShell command to change this sort of behavior in Windows.

    Please provide a PowerShell command that will change all of the "Group by" settings at once.

    Thanks.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-08-19T02:44:47+00:00

    This solved my problem.

    Open the registry.

    Goto

    HKCU:\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

    Search for 

    GroupView

    i.e. HKCU:\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\ComDlg{240000A6-0000-477D-B940-338200000000}\GroupView=0

    Change value to 0 for any values that are not already 0.

    Problem solved.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-08-19T03:22:46+00:00

    That's what the script I posted does. But under normal circumstances, Apply to Folders should be sufficient.

    Keith

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