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MaverickLincoln's avatar
MaverickLincoln
Iron Contributor
Aug 07, 2026

When you press Win + E to open File Explorer, the window automatically opens in full-screen mode.

After installing a system update, every time I press Win + E to open File Explorer, the window opens in full-screen mode instead of the previously set window size.

I tried manually resizing the window, closing it, and reopening it, but the window still appears in full-screen mode and does not retain the window size settings.

 

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1 Reply

  • Emily2002's avatar
    Emily2002
    Tin Contributor
    Aug 07, 2026

    First, check whether File Explorer is actually in full-screen mode or only maximized:

    • If the address bar and taskbar are hidden, press F11 to exit full-screen mode.
    • If the taskbar is still visible, the window is maximized. Press Win + Down Arrow or click the Restore Down button next to the close button.

    Then close every other File Explorer window. Resize the remaining window, hold Ctrl, and click its X button to close it. Open File Explorer again and check whether the size is remembered.

    If it still opens maximized:

    1. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
    2. Right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart.
    3. Temporarily disable PowerToys FancyZones or any third-party window-management tool.
    4. Sign out of Windows and sign back in.

    Windows 11 does not provide a separate setting for the size used by Win + E; Explorer normally remembers its previous window state. If it continues opening maximized after these checks, it is likely an Explorer issue introduced by the update rather than an intentional change.