Personalization Restore Classic File Explorer with Ribbon in Windows 11

soewhaty · Thursday at 10:22 AM

Brink said:
Hello,

If you're using the shortcut from option two, then you could delete the shortcut and only use the native File Explorer instead.

You can use option one in the tutorial below to reset all folder view settings in File Explorer back to default.

It's option 3 I used from this thread here page 1. As to your link to resetting File Explorer, that only resets it visually, it doesn't reset anything as to what this discussion thread here suggests, i.e. Modern vs Classic style. That's what I am trying to reset to get it to behave as a normal/clean Win11 explorer and not the currently glitching clunky machinery.

Brink · Thursday at 10:28 AM

soewhaty said:
It's option 3 I used from this thread here page 1. As to your link to resetting File Explorer, that only resets it visually, it doesn't reset anything as to what this discussion thread here suggests, i.e. Modern vs Classic style. That's what I am trying to reset to get it to behave as a normal/clean Win11 explorer and not the currently glitching clunky machinery.

Using step 3 in option 3 should restore the native File Explorer.

soewhaty · Thursday at 10:29 AM

Just to make it less confusing I'll give an example of the latest "improved" behaviour of Win11's native explorer. Every other time I navigate back to an Explorer Window it decides to unfold the address bar for me ... odd.

soewhaty · Thursday at 10:30 AM

Brink said:
Using step 3 in option 3 should restore the native File Explorer.

Certainly does. I guess what I am looking for is a "reset to default values" and not a "restore original look" option, with the hope of alleviating the above issue.

Brink · Thursday at 10:38 AM

soewhaty said:
Just to make it less confusing I'll give an example of the latest "improved" behaviour of Win11's native explorer. Every other time I navigate back to an Explorer Window it decides to unfold the address bar for me ... odd.

View attachment 128941

Not sure why it does that.

soewhaty · Thursday at 10:40 AM

Brink said:
Not sure why it does that.

That is the reason I am looking for a reset/restore defaults (ofc not just visually). Anyway, 10x for trying to help :).

dacrone · Thursday at 11:21 AM

soewhaty said:
That is the reason I am looking for a reset/restore defaults (ofc not just visually). Anyway, 10x for trying to help :).

Its AutoSuggest. the revamped navigation bar is broken (but whats new with Microsoft). its been an issue for the better part of a year now, if not longer. works 50/50 of the time. you have a few options, depending on how much it annoys you...

1) import the following .reg which SHOULD disable it but doesnt always work:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AutoComplete]
"AutoSuggest"="No"

Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in Run and File Explorer Address Bar in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable AutoSuggest for the Run and File Explorer address bar for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. As you type (ex: path) in the address bar of File Explorer (Win+E) or Run (Win+R), AutoSuggest will automatically show you a list of...

www.elevenforum.com

2) Windhawk - use classic explorer (the win 10 ribbon) or use and invoke the pre-moment4 windows 11 explorer address/navigation bar:
.https://windhawk.net/mods/explorer-frame-classic

3) @LesFerch OldExplorer or SwitchExplorer, or manually via Registry to use Win10 Ribbon Style Explorer:
.https://github.com/LesFerch/OldExplorer
.https://github.com/LesFerch/SwitchExplorer

hdmi · 2025-03-21T01:39:24-0400

dacrone said:
Its AutoSuggest. the revamped navigation bar is broken (but whats new with Microsoft). its been an issue for the better part of a year now, if not longer. works 50/50 of the time. you have a few options, depending on how much it annoys you...

1) import the following .reg which SHOULD disable it but doesnt always work:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AutoComplete] "AutoSuggest"="No"

Enable or Disable AutoSuggest in Run and File Explorer Address Bar in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable AutoSuggest for the Run and File Explorer address bar for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. As you type (ex: path) in the address bar of File Explorer (Win+E) or Run (Win+R), AutoSuggest will automatically show you a list of...

www.elevenforum.com

2) Windhawk - use classic explorer (the win 10 ribbon) or use and invoke the pre-moment4 windows 11 explorer address/navigation bar:
.https://windhawk.net/mods/explorer-frame-classic
View attachment 128943

3) @LesFerch OldExplorer or SwitchExplorer, or manually via Registry to use Win10 Ribbon Style Explorer:
.https://github.com/LesFerch/OldExplorer
.https://github.com/LesFerch/SwitchExplorer

...Or ExplorerPatcher to use this same Windows 10 Ribbon "style" File Explorer, which isn't just a "style" actually, but a completely different File Explorer that is identical to the File Explorer of Windows 10 and currently still present in Windows 11:
https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher

ExplorerPatcher has been able to do this properly and without any hiccups since long (more than several many months anyway...) before the other options to accomplish this same tweak came to existence. I think it's kind of funny that each time when this same old subject comes up again here on the forum, no one else except me seems to remember (or even be aware of) this fact.

dacrone · 2025-03-21T01:59:20-0400

I know EP can but it’s the same registry change that SwitchExplorer does. EP just uses a reg change that is in Windows. There are actually 3 possible variations of that style Explorer, depending on what mod you use:

EP/SwitchExplorer/Regedit/Windhawk - Win 10 Ribbon but no multi file selection full details pane view
EDIT: forgot to mention, also can run

Code:

shell:::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\0\::{A8CDFF1C-4878-43be-B5FD-F8091C1C60D0}

Here is an AutoHotKey script that will run that and browse from Documents to This PC auto:

Win10Ex:
Run, shell:::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\0\::{A8CDFF1C-4878-43be-B5FD-F8091C1C60D0}
Sleep, 1000
Send, +{TAB}
Sleep, 100
Send, T
Sleep, 100
Send, {ENTER}
Return

OldExplorer - Win 10 Ribbon with multi file selection full details pane view

SAB - Win 10 Ribbon with tabs but no multi file selection full details pane view

All of them provide the Classic Navigation bar that pertains to this issue (being discussed - disabling AutoSuggest).

Side Note - Windhawk/SAB/ (I think EP?) also have a Win 7 Command Bar Explorer mod that applies the Classic Navigation bar.

soewhaty · 2025-03-21T03:35:03-0400

dacrone said:
1) import the following .reg which SHOULD disable it but doesnt always work:
2) Windhawk - use classic explorer (the win 10 ribbon) or use and invoke the pre-moment4 windows 11 explorer address/navigation bar:
.https://windhawk.net/mods/explorer-frame-classic
3) @LesFerch OldExplorer or SwitchExplorer, or manually via Registry to use Win10 Ribbon Style Explorer:
.https://github.com/LesFerch/OldExplorer
.https://github.com/LesFerch/SwitchExplorer

Thanks for this input.
1) - insta trying it out
2) - tried it and its mods, albeit great as concepts, behave glitchy on my work machine
3) - tried it and I am not saying it's its fault but all this switching back n forth made things even more glitchy so therefore looking for a fresh start

hdmi · 2025-03-21T03:35:31-0400

dacrone said:
I know EP can but it’s the same registry change that SwitchExplorer does. EP just uses a reg change that is in Windows. There are actually 3 possible variations of that style Explorer, depending on what mod you use:

EP/SwitchExplorer/Regedit/Windhawk - Win 10 Ribbon but no multi file selection full details pane view

OldExplorer - Win 10 Ribbon with multi file selection full details pane view

SAB - Win 10 Ribbon with tabs but no multi file selection full details pane view

All of them provide the Classic Navigation bar that pertains to this issue (being discussed - disabling AutoSuggest).

Side Note - Windhawk/SAB/ (I think EP?) also have a Win 7 Command Bar Explorer mod that applies the Classic Navigation bar.

I don't know if it matters at all, but the binary data of the ITBar7Layout registry value stored under the key "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\ShellBrowser" is different when I use EP compared to SwitchExplorer to apply the tweak.

hdmi · 2025-03-21T03:55:22-0400

soewhaty said:
2) - tried it and its mods, albeit great as concepts, behave glitchy on my work machine
3) - tried it and I am not saying it's its fault but all this switching back n forth made things even more glitchy so therefore looking for a fresh start

I have been using Windhawk's "Better file sizes in Explorer details" (explorer-details-better-file-sizes) mod alongside various tweaks in both Open-Shell's Classic Explorer and ExplorerPatcher. With the Control Interface setting set to Windows 10 Ribbon in ExplorerPatcher. On multiple different computers for ages, all running Windows 11 also for ages. To be able to get glitches, I have to 1/ deliberately destroy Windows 11 or 2/ remove the ExplorerPatcher tweaks. File Explorer with tabs is still a bugfest of cataclysmic proportions. The Windows 11 taskbar is still a bugfest of cataclysmic proportions. Here endeth the story!

soewhaty · 2025-03-21T04:03:09-0400

hdmi said:
I have been using Windhawk's "Better file sizes in Explorer details" (explorer-details-better-file-sizes) mod alongside various tweaks in both Open-Shell's Classic Explorer and ExplorerPatcher. With the Control Interface setting set to Windows 10 Ribbon in ExplorerPatcher. On multiple different computers for ages, all running Windows 11 also for ages. To be able to get glitches, I have to 1/ deliberately destroy Windows 11 or 2/ remove the ExplorerPatcher tweaks. File Explorer with tabs is still a bugfest of cataclysmic proportions. The Windows 11 taskbar is still a bugfest of cataclysmic proportions. Here endeth the story!

For me the Glitches with Windhawk were with the vertical taskbar. Again, I am on a business machine, so the organisation controls a ton here.

Ditto, echo to "File Explorer with tabs is still a bugfest of cataclysmic proportions" - I mean, either make it all fully and only consistently working tabs or just drop these tabs. Currently it's neither.

soewhaty · 2025-03-21T04:06:53-0400

hdmi said:
...Or ExplorerPatcher to use this same Windows 10 Ribbon "style" File Explorer, which isn't just a "style" actually, but a completely different File Explorer that is identical to the File Explorer of Windows 10 and currently still present in Windows 11:
https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher

ExplorerPatcher has been able to do this properly and without any hiccups since long (more than several many months anyway...) before the other options to accomplish this same tweak came to existence. I think it's kind of funny that each time when this same old subject comes up again here on the forum, no one else except me seems to remember (or even be aware of) this fact.

I'll give this a try in case things don't stabilize after disabling AutoSuggest. Thanks for your input.

soewhaty · 2025-03-21T06:58:35-0400

hdmi said:
...Or ExplorerPatcher to use this same Windows 10 Ribbon "style" File Explorer, which isn't just a "style" actually, but a completely different File Explorer that is identical to the File Explorer of Windows 10 and currently still present in Windows 11:
https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher

ExplorerPatcher has been able to do this properly and without any hiccups since long (more than several many months anyway...) before the other options to accomplish this same tweak came to existence. I think it's kind of funny that each time when this same old subject comes up again here on the forum, no one else except me seems to remember (or even be aware of) this fact.

I am gonna have to try this because the nightmare with AutoSuggest keeps happening after the regedit "AutoSuggest"="No" and a reboot. Still, thanks @dacrone. As you said yourself, it "SHOULD disable it but doesnt always work" so it didn't work here.

dacrone · 2025-03-21T12:24:04-0400

soewhaty said:
I am gonna have to try this because the nightmare with AutoSuggest keeps happening after the regedit "AutoSuggest"="No" and a reboot. Still, thanks @dacrone. As you said yourself, it "SHOULD disable it but doesnt always work" so it didn't work here.

if you want windows 11 style explorer with the classic navigation bar, Option 2 in post 367 is the only option at the moment. i'm still working on a way to implement the nav bar without moving the command bar above it (the pre-moment 4 style).

Personalization Restore Classic File Explorer with Ribbon in Windows 11

Temporarily Open File Explorer with Ribbon

Create Shortcut to Always Open File Explorer with Ribbon

Restore Classic File Explorer with Ribbon for Current User using REG file

Restore Classic File Explorer with Ribbon for All Users using REG file

Enable or Disable File Explorer Command Bar for Current User using REG file

Enable or Disable File Explorer Command Bar for Current User using Command

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