How to Enable or Turn Off Grouping in Windows File Explorer
Many users find it very frustrating
File Explorer is the easiest way to browse and organize files on Windows operating systems. It also has a useful File Grouping feature which lets you arrange files and folders by name, date, and more. However, this feature doesn’t always work well, and some users prefer to disable it.
In this tutorial, we’ll explain how to turn off Grouping in Windows Explorer.
How to Disable File Grouping in Windows 10
If you disable File Grouping, you’ll prevent the Explorerfile managerfrom grouping your files according to their name, date, or file size. Typically, the only folder where this setting is automatically applied is the Downloads folder in which files are grouped by date modified. To do so:
How to Disable File Grouping in Windows 11
To turn off File Grouping in Windows 11:
Note:You can also right-click anywhere in the folder and selectGroup by>(None).
How to Turn Off File Grouping in ALL Folders
It’s possible to disable groups universally. First, disable File Grouping in a single folder as shown above. Then, follow the steps below for either Windows 10 or Windows 11 to apply the setting to all folders on your PC.
How to Enable File Grouping on Windows 10/11
To enable File Grouping, you simply need to repeat the steps above and select a different Grouping option.
On Windows 10 or 11, openFile Explorerand right-click an empty location. SelectGroup by, then choose the type of grouping you want to apply. You can choose betweenDate modified,Type,Size, andName. You can also select whether you want the files to group in an ascending or descending order.
To enable File Grouping in all folders, navigate toFile Explorer>Folder Optionsand selectReset Folders.
Better Organization, Less Stress
Many users find the File Grouping feature frustrating and choose to turn it off. Luckily, Microsoft makes it easy to customize your folder view options and organize your files and subfolders exactly how you would like to. The problem is, occasional Windows updates (like the notorious Win 10 1903 version) can mess with your grouping settings and revert them to default.
But hopefully, by following the steps above, you can ungroup your folders for good.
Jake Harfield is an Australian freelance writer whose passion is finding out how different technologies work. He has written for several online publications, focusing on explaining what he has learned to help others with their tech problems. He’s an avid hiker and birder, and in his spare time you’ll find him in the Aussie bush listening to the birdsong.Read Jake’s Full Bio
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