How to re-enable the "Expand to Open Folder" option?

Anonymous
2023-09-30T15:30:03+00:00

In the "File Explorer", "Expand to Open Folder" option is not working. This happend after updating "2023-09 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5030310)". How to re-enable the "Expand to Open Folder" option?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-12T23:01:25+00:00

    Have you tried this, if you enable both of the checkboxes below, does the Navigation panel then Expand to current folder when you click on a shortcut to open the folder? It expands for me on Windows 11 24H2 if I enable both options.

    File Explorer > click the ... menu > Options > View tab > scroll down to Navigation pane >

    Check the box: Expand to open folder

    Check the box: Show all folders

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-01-20T19:21:17+00:00

    On my side I confirm Windows 11 24H2 did NOT solve the issue.

    And as of the "Show all folders" option it is activated since months on my configuration without any effect on the problem.

    Sometimes it seems to work, difficult to determine why, but I'm still using Ctrl-Shift-E multiple times per day...

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-13T15:56:48+00:00

    Hi Kaydee.

    Thanks for your reply. I am also using Ctrl+Shift+E to expand the folders in Quick Access. Annoying workaround, but it works for now.

    As a side note... I am aware that the new Explorer in Windows 11 has had a history of bugs over the last few years, ever since Microsoft implemented the tabbed user interface. A few years ago, I remember seeing a post by Microsoft advertising a position to take over the role of developing Explorer and implementing the tabbed user interface. And I got the impression from Microsoft blog posts that programming the new Explorer was rather complicated or difficult. I also happen to have a MacBook Pro and its Finder (the equivalent to Explorer) already had the tabbed interface since 2015, and there were never any issues. Apple makes its macOS work, and the folders in Finder always expand as one would expect.

    Rupertsland,

    Canada

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-01-11T18:16:54+00:00

    Many of us have reported this over quite a long time. If they haven't fixed it by now, they probably won't.

    I guess us (including myself) posting temporary fixes doesn't help either. Why fix it if we can get by without their fix.

    Maybe the AI development they are prioritizing over our minor issue will make the devs obsolete and fix the bug for us.

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-12-23T01:28:15+00:00

    Unless it's a corporate computer with a managed volume license, a Windows license will never expire. If you see anything to the contrary on a store bought computer it is likely compromised.

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