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

Rupertsland, I think your discoveries are completely correct, unfortunately they are not entirely new to me.

It's amazing that this glitch has been around for over a year now. Microsoft doesn't seem to care...

Windows 11 File Explorer's "Expand to current folder" feature fails to work for Quick Access items pointing to any C:\User folder

More testing.

This morning, I decided to sign into a virtual machine account with Windows 11 (23H2) installed, to see if the same Quick Access issue with the "Expand to current folder" setting occurs there, as well.

Exact same problem! Even though the virtual machine is maintained by a client on a separate network outside our office. The version used by the client is Windows 11 Enterprise. My new laptop uses Windows 11 Pro... same problem.

It appears this "Expand to current folder" issue is likely a bug on all PCs with Windows 11 23H2. It doesn't matter if you are working with Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise. The feature does not work on any user folders residing under C:\User. But the feature works for any other folder outside of C:\User.

Rupertsland

I just purchased a new laptop in November 2024.

This same problem exists in Windows 11 version 23H2 build 22631.4460.

I fail to understand why this "Expand to current folder" setting in File Explorer in Windows 11 still doesn't work after more than a year. Clearly, this must be a bug in the software. Has anyone contacted Microsoft about this?

Does anyone know whether Microsoft will be fixing this issue?

Rupertsland,

Canada

Yes, I have shortcuts on my desktop to 3 partitioned workstation drives, and subdirectories under each, as well as 3 external drives. When I click the shortcuts, whether it's the top level or a subdirectory, the left pane expands.

It does not expand when I do a "save as" on files (jpg, pdf, msg, excel, etc.) unless I start clicking on subdirectories. I don't recall if that's they way it worked before because I never paid much attention until we lost the expand for everything in the left pane.

BTW-I'm on Win11, Windows professional 23H2 OS Build 22631.4169 and Office 2021 professional (not 365) version 2409 build 18025.20104.

Could be. It seems to depend on what computer you have!