Hide or Show Navigation Pane in Windows 11

This article explains how to show or hide the navigation pane in Windows File Explorer on Windows 11.

The navigation pane in Windows File Explorer is the left-hand pane that displays your computer’s file and folder structure. It allows you to quickly and easily navigate your files and folders and provides easy access to frequently used locations such as your Desktop, Downloads folder, and Documents folder.

The navigation pane can take up extra space on a small screen device. If you want to hide the navigation pane to increase the view areas in File Explorer, you can do that in Windows 11.

When hidden, it is applied to all folders, not just the current folder. The navigation pane is flexible enough to be dragged to increase or decrease its width. However, if you don’t want to do it manually, use the steps below to show or hide it.

Show or Hide the navigation pane using the File Explorer Command Bar

As mentioned above, users can show or hide the Windows 11 File Explorer navigation pane.

Here’s how to do it.

First, open File Explorer (Win+E).

Next, click the View on the command bar.

Then, select to show or hide the navigation pane.

Show or hide the navigation pane using the Windows Registry editor

Another way to show or hide the navigation pane is to use the Windows Registry editor.

First, open the Windows Terminal app.

The key is stored in the registry key below.

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\Sizer

The value is a (REG_BINARY) and is named:

PageSpaceControlSizer

Run the command below on the Windows Terminal console to show the navigation pane.

REG ADD HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\Sizer /v PageSpaceControlSizer /t REG_BINARY /d a00000000100000000000000ec030000

To hide the navigation pane, run the command below.

REG ADD HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\Sizer /v PageSpaceControlSizer /t REG_BINARY /d a00000000000000000000000ec030000

• The /v or value name, under the selected key to add.
• The /t or data types REG_BINARY to add.
• The /d or data to assign to the registry ValueName being added.
• The /f or Force overwrites the existing registry entry without prompting.

You may have to restart your computer to apply the changes.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

• In Windows 11, you can easily show or hide the navigation pane in File Explorer to customize your file browsing experience.
• Utilize the File Explorer Command Bar to quickly toggle the visibility of the navigation pane for enhanced screen real estate.
• Alternatively, access the Windows Registry Editor to modify the settings and control the display of the navigation pane according to your preferences.
• Remember to apply the changes by restarting your computer so they take effect.