- Introduction
- Using the Explorer Window
- Changing the Explorer Window View
- Using the Ribbon
- Choosing Commands
- Opening and Viewing This PC
- Viewing and Opening Documents
- Working with Libraries
- Working with Personal Folders
- Navigating Between Folders
- Viewing the Folders List
- Changing the Explorer Layout
- Customizing the Navigation Pane
- Organizing Files by Headings
- Sorting and Grouping Files
- Searching for Files and Folders
- Saving a Search
- Changing Search Options
- Modifying the Index to Improve Searches
- Adding Properties and Tags to Files
- Creating and Renaming Files and Folders
- Copying and Moving Files and Folders
- Deleting and Restoring Files and Folders
- Changing File and Folder List Views
- Hiding Files and Folders
- Changing Folder Options
- Customizing Library Folders
- Customizing Personal Folders
- Sharing Folders or Files with Others
- Compressing Files and Folders
- Managing Files Using a CD or DVD
- Creating a Shortcut to a File or Folder
Changing Folder Options
When you work with files and folders, Windows displays folder contents in a standard way, known as the default. The default folder view settings are as follows: Tiles view displays files and folders as icons; common task links appear in the left pane; folders open in the same window; and items open when you double-click or double-tap them. Depending on previous installation or users, your folder view settings might differ. Instead of changing the folder view to your preferred view—Icons, List, or Details—each time you open a folder, you can change the view permanently to the one you prefer. In addition to the defaults, you can change options such as folder settings to show or hide file extensions for known file types, show or hide hidden files and folders, show or hide protected operating system files, and show pop-up descriptions of folders and desktop items. You can also set Navigation pane options to show all folders like the Folder list and automatically expand the folder list to the current folder.
Change Folder Options
- In the desktop, click or tap the File Explorer button on the taskbar.
- Click or tap the Options button on the View tab, and then click or tap Change folder and search options.
- Click or tap the General tab.
- Select a Browse folders option to display each folder in the same window or its own window.
- Select a Click items as follows option to single-click or double-click items.
- Select the Navigation pane check boxes option to Show all folders or Automatically expand to current folder.
Click or tap OK.
Change the Folder View
- In the desktop, click or tap the File Explorer button on the taskbar.
- Click or tap the Options button on the View, and then click Change folder and search options.
- Click or tap the View tab.
- To set the current view to all folders, click or tap Apply to Folders.
Select the check boxes for the options you want, and clear the check boxes for the ones you don’t. Some common options include:
- Always show menus.
- Hidden files and folders.
- Hide extensions for known file types.
- Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
- Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color.
- Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items.
Click or tap OK.