File Explorer has gone back to automatically expanding drive folders in the navigation pane . . .

[MateoClark]

Hi All -

When I got my new computer a bit over a year ago, I ordered it with Windows 11 Pro. It worked pretty well, but I had one complaint: No matter what I did in folder options, every time I opened a folder in the main pane of File Explorer, the navigation pane on the left would automatically expand the drive folders to show the same thing that was going on in the right main pane.

Then, to my amazement, I eventually got a Windows Update, and then it did not automatically expand. Now, in the last few days, it has gone back to automatically expanding again, and it is interrupting my workflow. Is there some way to keep the auto expansion from happening? I have the box checked in folder options to not automatically expand. I can, of course, click the arrow to go back to unexpanded, but it is a pain as I work in file explorer a lot.

Thanks.

[#2]

1.File Explorer:
You can do this by pressing Windows + E or by clicking on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar.
2.Access Folder Options:
Click on the View tab in the ribbon menu at the top.
Select Options on the far right, and then choose Change folder and search options.
3.Modify Navigation Pane Settings:
In the Folder Options window, go to the General tab.
Under the Navigation pane section, uncheck the option that says "Expand to open folder". This should prevent the navigation pane from automatically expanding folders when you select them.
4.Apply and Save Changes:
Click on Apply, then click OK to save your changes.

[#3]

@MateoClark 

This needs updating for Windows 11.