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
    2021-01-23T20:25:07+00:00

    dir /ofen is MY DEFAULT.

    The BUG IS WINDOWS 10 CHANGED ITS BEHAVIOR AND NOW SETS My Default back to its default...

    BUG IT!!!

    Not a User Error!

    also, in a related thread, Microsoft chimed-in with, "There are several places in Windows 10 this is set. Explorer is set separate from Save-As is set different from Open dialogs."

    Then goes on to point to a place to set Open & Save-As Group by default...

    ...except the place they point to...

    . . .a settings place.  .  .

    ...that...

    NO LONGER PHYSICALLY EXISTS IN THIS OR ANY WORLD AT ALL IN MORE RECENT BUILDS!!!

    Windows Changing my settings arbitrarily and at apparent randomness ...

    IS A BUG!!!

    FIX IT YESTERDAY!

    ALL THIS HAVING TO RANDOMLY RIGHT-CLICK in a blank space for Save-As or Open when it has changed from the last time I already right-clicked and chise Group by 'None' the last time!!!

    BUGS, NOT BUG!!!

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-01-23T20:58:30+00:00

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-08-26T23:13:59+00:00

    None of your suggestions work!  As others have asked WHY WAS THIS CHANGE FORCED ON US????  I never have and never want any of my folders GROUP BY anything.  I can change the sort forwards or backwards by clicking any column heading.  I have never needed my folders arranged in any other way.

    When I try follow your instructions with the SAVE AS folder open, all I get is a tone letting me know I've tried an illegal operation.  I can't even resize the window the folder is displayed in. 

    I trade all the so called UPDATED FEATURES for the old Windows 95 interface in a heartbeat.  The pastel colors are getting harder and harder to deal with.  Using Windows is getting to be an eye test because of all the mucking around the updates force on users.  The forums are overflowing with HOW TO's trying to reverse the effects of the problems they cause.

    If you had any idea how Windows worked, CORRECTLY answering this question would be easy for you and there wouldn't be all these replies saying you got it wrong.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-08-09T20:09:28+00:00

    This does not seem completely true for Version 1903 (OS Build 18362.100005). The Group by option seems to randomly reset itself whenever it wants to. It seems to default to Date Modified. One sure fire way to get it to reset is to go into the Folder Options and change something, say Show hidden file, folders, and drives. Then click on the Apply to Folders to apply the change to all folders. The Group by annoyingly reset to default for all folders. There needs to be a way to apply the Group by options for both folder options and save by window to all files, folders, and drives. It also needs to stay the way it is set. I also feel like there needs to be a way to disable it (in other word Group by none) completely for people like me the don't like it at all. There usually is a way even if it take a registry edit to accomplish. If there is a way to disable it I haven't found it and would be grateful to anyone that can tell me how to do it.

    Thanks to anyone that can help.

    Mark.

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