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.

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

  1. 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!

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

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

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

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

    thanks! just what i needed

  6. 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?

  7. 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 [...]

Leave a Reply

You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Subscribe to comments feature has been disabled. To receive notification of latest comments posted, subscribe to My Digital Life Comments RSS feed or register to receive new comments in daily email digest.
« Gigabyte Releases T1028X/G Tablet PC for Netbook Market
Sony Ericssion Jalou And Dolce & Gabbana Limited Edition Fashion Phone »

Custom Search

New Articles

Incoming Search Terms for the Article

windows 7 navigation pane - windows 7 explorer tree - windows 7 explorer expand folders - automatically expand to current folder - windows 7 explorer expand tree - "automatically expand to current folder" - windows 7 automatically expand to current folder - all - windows 7 explorer folder tree - windows 7 explorer expand folder - windows 7 make folders expand - auto expand folders in windows 7 not working - windows 7 explorer navigation pane - windows 7 folder tree expand - expand folder when opening explorer in windows 7 - windows explorer wont expand c drive in windows 7 - expand to current folder - where is the explorer tree in windows 7 - Windows7 folder tree - windows 7 explorer auto open - "expand to current folder" default - automatically expand explorer folders - windows 7 folder tree - Change exploer expanding folder in vista - windows 7. how make drive expand on click - win 7 explorer tree - automatically expand all folders in windows explorer - can vista expand tree like xp - windows 7 open tree - windows 7 expand current directory - windows 7 exploer expand folders - "windows 7" explorer folder list scrolls when expanding - explorer folder navigation enter key - folders does not expand automatically - windows 7 expand folder after - win 7 open explorer with folders expanded - auto expand tree windows 7 - check box on folder windows 7 - how do i keep vista explorer from automatically expanding - is there any way to have views expanded while in a folder? - vista expand folder automatically - where is win 7 activator folder - windows 7 folders pane - windows 7 windows explorer navigation pane expand on right interaction - windows 7 click folders expand automatically - windows7 explorer does not expand tree - windows 7 explorer open with c folder expanded - windows 7 explorer tree does not - win7 expand folders - windows7 explorer expand -