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

Edition Windows 10 Pro

Version 22H2

Installed on ‎3/‎15/‎2022

OS build 19045.5247

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19060.1000.0

This worked for me... Made several desktop links and they all open to the folder with the navigation showing the open folders / folder path. Hot da**! I've been fighting this for far too long.

You cannot edit an existing shortcut, as it will check the path, and it chokes. You cannot try putting explorer in "Start in:" either - same thing, says path is invalid. You must create a new shortcut.

What I did was copy all the paths for my explorer shortcuts and pasted them into a Notepad file, appended the: C:\Windows\explorer.exe to each - ended up with: C:\Windows\explorer.exe D:\Documents\My Sandbox\ - clicked the new button and it allowed it. Gave it a name and poof! Click the link and it opens the folder and expands the navigation pane to show the folders /path.

Rupert, right now my desktop PC Lenovo runs on "Windows 11 Pro for Workstations", version "22H2". Everything is installed for "automatic updates". Installing a 23H2 or a 24H2, I would not know how to do that. I paid for the system, including automated updates. Period.

Checking my computer as you did ask for info, I read: "Windows Update - Your Windows-version is end of service." ?!?!? Checking www this appears to be another bug.

Talking about bugs: there are still more - but these do not bother me that much.

I do not grasp why actual Microsoft-boys cannot make something decent. All these kind of glitches did never happen with Windows7. Microsoft employs way inferior IT-engineers these days ?

Kadee,

Hydrazine, I have mentioned before that apparently only files that are in C:\Users\USERNAME are affected. When you create shortcuts on a separate drive E: (re-directing to original files on C:), then, of course, those files will still be affected. Other folders you created on that drive are NOT behind C:\Users\USERNAME, so these are not affected as you say.

Result : Nothing new under the sun here....

But I am still waiting for these MicrosoftBoys to fix it !!!!!!!!!!!!!

After grousing about it for a half minute, I modified my process to include Ctrl-Shift-E to expand a single master folder. This happens to work really well for me as it's a key combination I use constantly to save files in GIMP. IOW, I have something that works for me by adding one incredibly familiar step, and I no longer care. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But MS is rude and disrespectful for the very reasons you laid out: People have spent a lifetime doing things one way, and with zero warning or explanation, that process, which is ridiculously benign but incredibly useful, winds up on the cutting room floor. No acknowledgment that anything has happened or that anyone was inconvenienced. But it's par for the course. Fortunately for them, MS has been showing up in urine samples for so long that it's beyond an addiction. It's a way of life.

Awesome! Your workaround works.

I used to have "Explorer" pinned to the taskbar, but now I just have the new shortcut with 'C:\Windows\explorer.exe %USERPROFILE%' pinned to the taskbar (with expand working).

Thank you!