How to Add or Remove the Navigation Pane in Windows 11

What is the Navigation Pane?

The navigation pane in Windows File Explorer shows your folders and drives, making it quicker to find your files. While helpful, it can sometimes eat up screen space, especially on smaller displays. If you’d prefer more room to view your files, you can hide the pane. You can then show it again whenever you need it. This setting applies to all folders, so it stays hidden or visible across your entire File Explorer experience until you decide to change it.

How to Show or Hide the Navigation Pane Using File Explorer

Here’s how you do it:

1. Open 📁 File Explorer. Press Win + E on your keyboard to open it quickly.
2. Look at the top menu (called the Command Bar) and click on View.
3. In the dropdown, click on Show and then choose Navigation pane to show or hide it.

How to Show or Hide the Navigation Pane Using Windows Registry (Advanced)

If you’re comfortable using the command line, you can try another method with Windows Terminal. The Registry Editor is a tool that lets you change this setting. Be careful when editing the registry; mistakes can cause problems.

Here’s how:

1. Open the Windows Terminal app. Search for it in the ⊞ Start menu.
2. The setting is saved in the registry here: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\Sizer
3. The value to change is called PageSpaceControlSizer. It is a binary value (REG_BINARY).

To Show the Navigation Pane

Run this command in Windows Terminal:

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

To Hide the Navigation Pane

Run this command instead:

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

What Each Part of the Command Means

• /v specifies the name of the value to change.
• /t REG_BINARY means the data type is binary.
• /d is the data to set.
• /f forces the change without asking for confirmation.

FLAG: You’ll need administrator rights to run this command. After running the command, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Summary

You’ve learned how to show or hide the navigation pane in Windows 11 File Explorer. Hiding the pane can give you more screen space. Showing it again makes navigating your files much easier.

• Use the 📁 File Explorer’s View menu for the easiest way.
• Use Windows Terminal and registry commands if you want more control (advanced users only).
• Remember to 🔄 restart your PC if you use the registry method.

That’s it! Now you know how to customize your File Explorer to fit your needs.