How do I get back "Open folder location" option in Windows 11?

1. Restore Full Context Menu Permanently

Yes the registry tweak I mentioned does restore the classic Windows 10-style right-click menu, including “Open folder location.” Here's how to apply it safely:

Registry Steps:

Press Win + R, type regedit, press Enter

Navigate to:

Code

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID

Right-click CLSID → New → Key → name it:

Code

{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}

Right-click that new key → New → Key → name it:

Code

InprocServer32

Click InprocServer32 → double-click (Default) → leave value blank → click OK

Close Registry Editor → Restart your PC

After reboot, right-click menus will show full options like “Open folder location” without needing “Show more options.”

2. Fix “Open File Explorer to: This PC” Setting

If File Explorer still opens to Home despite your setting:

Open File Explorer

Click the 3-dot menu → Options

Under “Open File Explorer to:”, select This PC

Click Apply and OK

Then open a new File Explorer window manually (don’t use taskbar shortcut yet)

If it still opens to Home, reset the shortcut:

Right-click File Explorer icon → Unpin from taskbar

Search “File Explorer” → Right-click → Pin to taskbar

This forces the shortcut to respect your new default

3. Enable Navigation Pane + Expand to Folder

If “Expand to open folder” isn’t visible:

Open File Explorer

Click View → Show → Navigation pane

Then go to:

View → Show → Details pane (optional for clarity)

  **View → Show → Libraries** (if needed)
  

These options are context-sensitive — they only appear when you're in a real folder view (not Home or Quick Access).

Use two separate File Explorer windows when copying between USB drives

Always verify the full path in the address bar before dragging

• Avoid using “Quick Access” for transfers — it can redirect to unexpected folders Step-by-Step Fixes

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Hi Chuck,

My name is Jason and I am an independent advisor and windows user like yourself, You're not alone Windows 11 has made some subtle but frustrating changes to File Explorer behavior, especially around the “Open folder location” and “Open file location” options. Here's how to restore or work around the missing context menu and folder navigation quirks:

Why “Open Folder Location” Might Be Missing

• Context menu redesign: Windows 11 uses a simplified right-click menu. Some options like “Open folder location” are hidden behind “Show more options”.
• File Explorer Home view: If you're in the Home view, double-clicking or right-clicking folders may not behave as expected.
• Search results behavior: If you're clicking items from search results, the context menu may only show “Copy path” instead of “Open file location”.

How to Restore or Access “Open Folder Location”

1. Use “Show More Options”

• Right-click the file or folder
• Click “Show more options” (or press Shift + F10)
• You should see “Open file location” or “Open folder location”

2. Use File Explorer’s Navigation Pane

• Open File Explorer
• Click View > Show > Navigation pane
• Enable “Expand to open folder”
• This helps you see the actual folder tree when navigating

3. Avoid Home View

• Instead of launching File Explorer to Home, set it to open to This PC:
  • Open File Explorer → Click 3-dot menu > Options
    • Under “Open File Explorer to:”, choose “This PC”
      • Click Apply

This ensures you’re always starting from a real folder structure.

4. Enable Classic Context Menu Permanently (Advanced)

If you want the old right-click behavior back:

• Open Registry Editor (Win + R, type regedit)
• Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\

• Create a new key:

{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}

• Inside it, create a subkey:

InprocServer32

• Set its default value to blank

Reboot and you’ll get the classic context menu by default.

• Use “Details” view in File Explorer to avoid visual confusion
• Always verify the full path in the address bar before transferring
• Avoid dragging between two USB drives in the same window—use two separate File Explorer windows