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

Try this:

In the Explorer address bar at the top of the window, append a BACKSLASH to the path.

When I change the path from "C:\Users\myname\OneDrive - mycompany_mycompany\Documents\How-Tos" to "C:\Users\myname\OneDrive - mycompany_mycompany\Documents\How-Tos****" then the Navigation pane suddenly starts syncing with the content window.

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.

I am wondering whether Microsoft is putting more effort into developing the forthcoming Windows 12. However, it should have been released by now, I think. No explanation as to the delay, unless as you say, maybe AI development has been prioritized. And if this is the case, this is not helpful to users. Surely, it should not require that much effort to fix the bug in Explorer.

I suggest more users send feedback to Microsoft via the Feedback app. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

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

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.

@Rupertsland,

It is VERY interesting to read 24H2 does not solve the problem. Thx for info !

Your approach encouraging Microsoft to solve the problem sounds solid to me. However, I can hardly imagine Microsoft is still not aware of the problem, as I did read several contributors having notified this problem to Microsoft in the past. Finding another thousand of users to denounce the problem will be a challenge... ?

As for my personal PC that is still not updating as it should do, you are correct. I am waiting for slightly better weather so I can return to the supplier and have things fixed, or me burning his place down :-)

So far I continue to use Ctrl+shift+E in order to generate the expanded tree - quite annoying, but it works.

Thx for input! Kadee, Belgium,