Forum Discussion
How to prevent Windows Explorer from saving paths
When I copy and paste a path into Windows Explorer is saves it. The problem I have is when I'm switching views from Details to Extra Large Icons. After type multiple paths the drop down of the saved paths covers the area that I'm working on. I have to click somewhere else on the screen to hide it. I tried tech support but was told this is by design and can't be changed.
Does anyone know of a work around for this problem?
Thank you.
3 Replies
Hi dujuarez,
If you want the address bar dropdown in File Explorer to stay empty, you can automate clearing its history every time you log in or at a regular intervals.
Example:# Clear Explorer typed paths and history Remove-Item "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths" -Recurse -Force Remove-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU" -Name "*" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue...Save this script as .ps1 file, and configure it to run automatically at startup using Task Scheduler.
This way, Windows Explorer's address bar history will always be cleared, preventing old paths from appearing in the dropdown.Unfortunately, Windows Explorer automatically remembers paths and there’s no built-in way to completely disable this.
- A few workarounds you could try:
- Use Quick Access or Libraries to navigate without typing full paths.
- Press Alt + Down Arrow to open the history and Esc to quickly close the dropdown.
Consider using a third-party file manager (like Total Commander or Directory Opus) that gives more control over path history.
Windows Explorer doesn't natively allow disabling the address bar dropdown history entirely. Clearing the history periodically or using the address bar carefully can reduce the issue. Using third-party explorers can offer more customization if this is a persistent problem.
