Solved A question about the navigation pane in File Explorer


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BruceUK

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In the navigation pane in File Explorer, a folder with no subfolders is being shown with the ">" against the name, i.e. as if it did have subfolders. Is there some setting I can change to avoid this?
 
Windows Build/Version
Version 23H2 (OS Build 22631.4037)

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Screenshot please
 

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    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
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Hi Antspants,

Thanks for your response. OK here are two screenshots of the File Explorer screen. On the first one, you'll see that the 'MS Access Files' folder is shown with the ">" character, indicating that it has subfolders. I then clicked that folder and, on the second screenshot, you'll see that the contents are entirely files and no subfolders. The ">" is still shown against the folder name.

File Explorer screen before clicking the MS Access Files folder.pngFile Explorer screen after clicking the MS Access Files folder.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
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    Dell Inspiron 16 5640
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    16 GB
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    Intel
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    HD
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Hi, Bruce. And if you click on the arrow, it doesn’t expand downwards to expose subfolders?

IMG_4912.jpeg

Is this evident on the other folders above and below the access folder as well?

As I can see under the status column there are green ticks, I am going to assume that this is OneDrive related, sadly something I am not familiar with but i am looking. I know nothing about OneDrive, but many here do.
 

My Computers

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  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.5039
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
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    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
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    All over the place
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    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
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    Silverstone 1500
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    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
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    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
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    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
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    1000/400Mbps
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    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
If I click on the arrow for a folder with no subfolders, it just disappears and the display remains the same. Yes,, all the folders behave in the same way..

The status column does relate to OneDrive - the green ticks indicate that the files are also stored locally to give me immediate access (my WiFi connection is not very good currently, which I'm trying to address).

Does anyone else have any suggestions - or is this just a strange Windows 11 quirk?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 16 5640
    Memory
    16 GB
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    Intel
    Screen Resolution
    HD
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Perhaps there are hidden folders in these that are related to OneDrive. If you uncheck show hidden items, do those expansion arrows still show?

View > Show > Hidden items. See if it is ticked.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.5039
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    1000/400Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
Thanks for your latest reply, which virtually crossed with mine. The 'Show hidden items' option was unticked. I've tried ticking it but it doesn't change the display of the arrows.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 16 5640
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel
    Screen Resolution
    HD
    Mouse
    A4 Tech
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    McAfee
I see some folders without the > and know they do contain subfolders and files but when trying to access get this message so click OK and can see the contents in them:

1725201422983.png
Administrator rights are required.
 

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Berton said:
I see some folders without the > and know they do contain subfolders and files but when trying to access get this message so click OK and can see the contents in them:

View attachment 106806
Administrator rights are required.
Click to expand...

Hi Berton,

That is the opposite problem to mine. My problem is that I see folders with the > and I know they don't contain subfolders!
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 11
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    Dell Inspiron 16 5640
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    16 GB
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    Intel
    Screen Resolution
    HD
    Mouse
    A4 Tech
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    McAfee
FWIW Windows 10 also did this. I.e. had an arrow next to the folder icon, then when you click it, the arrow disappears if no subfolders are present.

It's a bit annoying I guess, as it suggests there are subfolders when there aren't.
 

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Yearofthegoat said:
FWIW Windows 10 also did this. I.e. had an arrow next to the folder icon, then when you click it, the arrow disappears if no subfolders are present.

It's a bit annoying I guess, as it suggests there are subfolders when there aren't.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. :-) So, as I thought, it appears to be simply an annoying Windows quirk. I wonder what the chances are that Microsoft will do something about it!
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 11
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BruceUK said:
Thanks for that. :-) So, as I thought, it appears to be simply an annoying Windows quirk. I wonder what the chances are that Microsoft will do something about it!
Click to expand...
I would say zero to none. If it was happening in Windows 10 and still happening in Windows 11, I don't see it getting fixed. Might happen in the next version of Windows.
 

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    Windows 11 Canary Channel
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    ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax
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Been like that in Windows since there was sliced bread!!! 🤷‍♂️

0007567.gif
 

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    ASUS VivoBook
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