Automatically Expand Navigation Pane Tree to Current Folder in Windows 7

In Windows 7, when a user uses mouse to double click or press Enter key to open, explorer or drill down on a drive or folder, the folder trree on the navigation pane of Windows Explorer does not automatically expand the navigation pane’s tree to show and display current folder or directory user is at. In other words, Windows 7 Explorer’s navigation pane will stay at top level of a drive or folder, and does not expand the sub-folders branches, unless user manually expand the folder tree.

The behavior of Windows 7 Explorer is a total change from Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2008 or earlier Windows operating system, where the Windows Explorer’s navigation pane will always automatically expand the folder tree to show the deepest or lowest level of folders been opened or arrived at.

Windows 7 actually does possess such ability to automatically expand navigation pane of Windows Explorer to current folder, but it’s turned off and disabled by default. For users who prefer that the navigation pane expands to follow their path into nested folders, the trick is indeed easy.

How to Make Windows Explorer Automatically Expand Navigation Pane to Current Folder in Windows 7

  1. Open Windows Explorer.
  2. Click on Organize pull down menu.
  3. Click on Folder and search options.
  4. Under the “Navigation pane” section, select and tick the check box for Automatically expend to current folder option.

    Automatically Expand Windows 7 Navigation Pane to Current Folder

  5. Click OK.

With the setting enabled, the navigation pane of Windows 7 Explorer will automatically expand when user goes to sub-folder.

Check out also more than 30 Windows 7 hacks, tips and tricks.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 13th, 2009 at 3:15 am and is filed under Windows 7. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

11 Responses to “Automatically Expand Navigation Pane Tree to Current Folder in Windows 7”

  1. MarvinK
    January 28th, 2010 01:32
    11

    This only seems to work for folders that aren’t hidden, etc. For example, if you’re in C:\ProgramData\Windows\StartMenu it won’t expand… even with that option enabled. Very annoying.

  2. David
    January 9th, 2010 08:59
    10

    This isn’t working for me. (Windows 7 home premium)
    Folder in left-hand pane does not expand when selected.

  3. Amirz
    January 3rd, 2010 03:58
    9

    This is what im looking for! Thank you so much for the valuable info, cheers!

  4. anon
    December 3rd, 2009 21:39
    8

    Ugh, yes the expand at bottom is incredibly annoying. I hope someone can find a reghack or something for this.

  5. Ionut Danescu
    November 1st, 2009 03:41
    7

    Thank you very much, this is exactly what i needed! Luck for me i wrote the right combination of words on google and landed on this post! THANK YOU!

  6. Steven James
    October 22nd, 2009 20:16
    6

    You can also turn this feature on by right-clicking in the navigation pane itself.

  7. Anders
    September 16th, 2009 16:27
    5

    It would’ve been better to have it as in earlier versions than expansion at the bottom… very annoying indeed.

  8. Bobo
    September 2nd, 2009 15:12
    4

    Leon, have you found the way to make it expand to the top of the pane?
    It makes me crazy when it always expands at the bottom and I can’t see the folder I just opened.

  9. John
    August 22nd, 2009 20:40
    3

    thanks! just what i needed

  10. Leon
    August 13th, 2009 20:49
    2

    Is there a way to get the expanded view at the top of the pane, as it was in previous Windows versions, rather than having it drop out of sight at the bottom so you always have to scroll it back up?

  11. Windows 7 Usage Guides, How-To Hacks, Tips and Tricks (Complete List) » Tip and Trick
    August 13th, 2009 03:16
    1

    [...] Automatically Expand Navigation Pane Tree to Current Folder in Windows 7 [...]

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