Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Windows Explorer defaults to a simple view of the files on your machine. You can change that default to include all details by following a few steps.
How do I get Windows Explorer to display details by default?
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A Windows 7 version of this article is available here: How do I get Windows Explorer to display details by default in Windows 7? |
Windows Explorer defaults to showing files as icons, and even to hiding some files from you. Personally, when it comes to my computer I'm a control freak - I want all the files and details by default. There are several options including viewing file details that you can manipulate, and it's fairly easy to make them the default. In fact it's one of my standard customization steps whenever I install or get a new copy of Windows.
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It's easiest to think of this as a two step process. First we'll set an instance of Windows Explorer to look the way we want, and then we'll make it permanent.
- Fire up Windows Explorer. You can right-click on "My Computer" and select Explore or if you have the windows key press it and "e" at the same time.
- Select the View menu and then click on the view type you want. As I mentioned I'm partial to viewing file details so that's what I choose.
- Select the Tools menu.
- Select the Folder Options item.
- Make any changes on the General tab that you wish.
- Click on the View tab.
- In the Advanced Settings box make any changes you wish. I typically select Show hidden files and folders and uncheck Hide extensions for known file types. Your choices may differ of course.
- Press OK.
Now verify that Explorer is showing you things the way you want to see them. If not go back and adjust whatever needs to be adjusted. When you are done:
- Go back to Tools, Folder Options, and click on the View tab.
- Press the Apply to All Folders button. You'll get a reminder message that the new settings will apply the next time you start Windows Explorer.
That really all there is to it. Next time you start Windows Explorer, it should come up with the settings you've selected here.
As you might have guessed the two step process I've outlined above can be combined by not leaving the Folder Options dialog box before pressing Apply to All Folders. The only caveat is that you should press the Apply button at the bottom of the dialog before doing so to ensure that any changes you've made to appearance options have actually taken effect.
This video shows the steps to change the default behavior to show details instead of icons:
Article C1865 - November 24, 2003 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
January 6, 2012 8:41 AM
The non-intuitive 'thinking' by Microsoft's engineers is unbelievable! When will that Redmond gang understand that it's all about easy OPTIONS? Give consumers 'options' so that they can customize these really simple things the way they want. With every release of Windows they toss out, it's seems to be an either/or proposition with these guys; leaving hapless users to have to jump through technical hoops to tweak and refine their systems. I suspect we are all sick and tired of this nonsense. The Windows Folder View settings scheme (or lack thereof)in Windows 7 is more than maddening. Even more maddening is the fact that these folks at Redmond seem never to listen and act in a corrective fashion to the hundreds of thousands of complaints by an ever-increasingly dissatisfied and frustrated public. Get a clue dudes and dudettes!
February 4, 2012 12:50 PM
Your advice on how to coax Windows Explorer to remember your view settings was exactly right as far as it went. Unfortunately, the next time you invoke Windows Explorer, it does not remember (if it ever paid any attention?) to your settings. Where does one go in the registry or elsewhere to "finalize" your requested settings?
March 7, 2012 6:53 AM
Thanks Leo! If I just would have known this years ago it probably would have saved me a few hours in my life (if you add up the seconds it takes me to click from icon/thumbnail view to details view).
March 25, 2012 12:59 PM
Thanks Leo
I'm looking for a long time this setting explorer
April 12, 2012 12:20 PM
for XP
is it what U are searching for ?
http://www.remkoweijnen.nl/blog/2010/12/19/default-explorer-view/