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
    2020-10-25T17:44:31+00:00

    This approach only works until some other uneducated Microsoft developer decides his way is better.  We need a way to stop these stupid willy-nilly changes from happening in the future.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-10-25T15:18:25+00:00

    I mistakly changed paths of downloads folder and picture folder(user library folders) at single location and now  have trouble to separate them,they are mixed up, please help me I want to separate them. it results, IF IM GOING TO CHANGE PATH of one of them then it automatically changes the  path of second also .

    PLZ PLZ PLZ HELP ME......

    Contact Microsoft Support at (800) 642-7676.  You are not going to get any help here.  I tried many times and have always failed.

    Thnx for suggetion.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-10-24T16:07:14+00:00

    I mistakly changed paths of downloads folder and picture folder(user library folders) at single location and now  have trouble to separate them,they are mixed up, please help me I want to separate them. it results, IF IM GOING TO CHANGE PATH of one of them then it automatically changes the  path of second also .

    PLZ PLZ PLZ HELP ME......

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-10-16T06:13:47+00:00

    Why are non-answers like this ALWAYS marked as the "Answer" on microsoft.com ? This is an entirely useless response, the poster ALREADY KNOWS the save dialogue and explorer settings are independent. What he wants to know is why this is the case and why microsoft thinks it's a good idea to make a major change to the organization of users downloads that overrides any attempt to disable it.

    As a side note I have never seen an answer on this entire site that wasn't polluted by this sort of canned responses.

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