How to Stop File Explorer Sorting by Week and Month

Anonymous
2019-07-26T21:53:02+00:00

After the recent update Windows file explorer is now grouping items by day, week and month. I do not want this. I want the old way back please. How do I get rid of this new sorting? I hope this is not going to be like what happened to media folders where they now display metadata columns instead of name, date, size, type and even if you change them the next time you open the folder it has reverted back to metadata columns.

Update: I worked out that Group By must be set to none. How do I make this default so it doesn't revert back? I'd also like to stop my media folders reverting back to the old way too so they show name, date, size, type instead of Artist, Album, Title etc

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2019-09-05T03:31:56+00:00

There is no bug.  Someone at Microsoft just managed to apply their default folder setting to everyone that installs the update.

To turn off file grouping feature:

  1. Open a folder that is Grouping by/sorting using week and month.
  2. Right Click in the folder
  3. Select 'Group by'
  4. Select '(None)'

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-10-31T15:04:17+00:00

    This is the solution i'm looking for

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-10-13T00:47:28+00:00

    Thanks for the update fixing it , I swear to god the UX devs at Microsoft are complete idiots who change thing just to justify a job, Changing a a *&^%&*^$% setting with no warning and now way to correct it on something people have been using for over 20 years is just beyond stupid. 

    Proper way to do it Create a small display app with new feature, show case benefits make it op in and show the way to revert if disliked.  This **** is the last straw,  I'm digging into other os's /pirated version that Microsoft can't screw with anymore.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-09-05T03:47:49+00:00

    Open File Explorer Options

    Clear History & close it

    Open ONE folder ONLY in "Icon View"

    Your standard sort folders or files, is to right click in the folders open area &

    select >>Sort By>>Name

    Now open up Open File Explorer Options again

    View Tab

    Now Tic any box Twice to activate the "APPLY" button.

    Click on "Apply" on bottom right.

    Now click on "Apply to folders" button & OK to close.

    Close the open window.

    "NOW SIGN OUT & SIGN BACK IN TO SAVE THE SETTINGS"

    This link covers some Folder & file settings

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files/how-to-set-file-explorer-details-columns-for-file/c2543db9-bc7e-49a0-92df-d057e876742a

    Setting columns for details view has 5 categories. General is useless.

    The columns will be different for different types of files.

    You can run these 3 commands as admin in command prompt.

    Right click on start menu button>>Command Prompt (ADMIN).

    (Copy and Paste) one at a time and press enter. Then the next one when the previous one completes.

    sfc /scannow

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

    Restart PC.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-09-05T03:46:46+00:00

    Is there ... any difference in view settings between Downloads and Document, I could not find any.

    Downloads now has its own template:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes{885a186e-a440-4ada-812b-db871b942259}

    Its default view groups items by Date Mmodified. 

    whereas prior to 1903, it used the Generic template ({5c4f28b5-f869-4e84-8e60-f11db97c5cc7}). Its default view settings have no grouping.

    So, the situation is more questiionable design decision than outrigit bug.

     I also think this has confounded many because while Apply to Folders will delete saved views used by regular Explorer windows, it doesn't reset the Common Dialogs if they have already saved a view. But, if the dialogs haven't  already saved a view, they will use the modified template created by Apply to Folders.

    So, to cover all bases, it's three steps:

    1. Set Downloads view to your liking
    2. Apply to Folders
    3. Copy & paste the following into a PowerShell window:

    $Bags = 'HKCU:\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags'

    $DLID = '{885A186E-A440-4ADA-812B-DB871B942259}'

    gci $bags -recurse |

       ?{$_.GetSubkeyNames() -contains $DLID} |

       remove-item -Path { join-path $_.PSPath $DLID }

    Press <Enter> to execute the above code.

    Keith

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