[BUG] Windows 11 Disable Group By For All Folders - Gets Re-Enabled

Question

[BUG] Windows 11 Disable Group By For All Folders - Gets Re-Enabled

Pie 306

I have been trying to disable Group By feature in Windows 11 File Explorer but it seems to only apply to a single folder. In addition when I go and apply to all folders of this type, group by re-enables itself.

Disable Group By:

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Group By is disabled now, but only for this one folder.

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Try applying to all folders...

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Group By is now enabled again.

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What is going on here? Looks like a bug...

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Pie 306 Reputation points

2023-03-10T19:46:09.6866667+00:00

Any help here?
Ryan Avery 15 Reputation points

2023-03-13T17:23:07.63+00:00

This is an issue for me as well - I believe a recent update caused this. I do not run any special anti-virus software other than the built-in Windows Defender. I see the same issue where I can disable for a folder, but when I try to apply everywhere, it re-enables file grouping. This is NOT due to file corruption as it appears to be a widespread issue in the last week for windows 11 users.

Please respond with solutions, not suggestions about file corruption or other programs, as I have a very clean machine with few programs installed.
Mike Job 0 Reputation points

2023-05-17T14:03:19.0533333+00:00

Have you solved your problem? I'm going through the same and I tried the same steps above and no clue...
Zain ul Abidin 20 Reputation points

2023-07-07T15:02:59.1+00:00
Hello there.

So, I have came across this issue recently and I found a solution for this permanently.

Go to that folder inside, click Right key and " Sort by -- Name "

Then again Right click and " Group by --- None "

Refresh inside the folder -------

Note: If it automatically re-enables, just do the above steps again and refresh inside the folder.

BOOM. Your problem will be solved. Let me know how it goes.

Marius le Roux 15

The "Apply to Folders" Steps:

 

    Open any folder, that has grouping enabled, that is not a "library" folder.

    Make the Window wide enough to see all options.

    Click the View tab.

    Select (None) from the Group by menu (in Windows 11, Group by is within the Sort menu).

    Select Options, Change folder and search options (in Windows 11, select …, Options).

    Click the View tab.

    Click the Apply to Folders button and then Yes.

This worked for me.

Mahek Rana 0 Reputation points

2023-12-25T09:25:04.7933333+00:00

Still has the same issue. Has anyone been able to figure out a solution?
Pete Brown 0 Reputation points

2024-01-03T23:52:52.31+00:00

Please report these types of issues to feedback hub, with a repro recording, so the engineering teams can actually learn about the bugs. Thanks!

Engineering teams rarely see peer support forum posts, and I could find only one feedback hub entry on this issue -- not enough to bump this up and make it visible.

I would guess that you're seeing this happen after viewing the Downloads folder from the browser and that is resetting the view.

Pete
LF 0 Reputation points

2024-03-23T21:08:43.95+00:00

Marius le Roux's way has worked for me! Instead of having to do folder by folder it changed all folders!
LF 0 Reputation points

2024-05-01T00:48:37.4733333+00:00

Marius le Roux answer of Aug 20, 2023, 4:15 PM works for me. I applied his method March, 23 and since then I've made many new folders and it is fixed!
It's a one time fix so you don't have to repeat it for every folder.
LF 0 Reputation points

2024-05-01T00:48:58.4433333+00:00

Marius le Roux answer of Aug 20, 2023, 4:15 PM works for me. I applied his method March, 23 and since then I've made many new folders and it is fixed! It's a one time fix so you don't have to repeat it for every folder.
random_pawn 6 Reputation points

2024-10-16T12:26:11.9566667+00:00

As of today, still a f*****king problem. Micro$oft continues to jack things up. Clearly doesn't listen to anyone. Always having a problem and there is never any resolution. Feedback Hub is a joke too.
random_pawn 6 Reputation points

2024-10-16T12:32:18.6233333+00:00

Feedback Hub is ignored -- plain and simple. None of the bugs I have reported have been fixed.
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9 answers

Your answer

Pie 306 Reputation points

2023-03-10T19:46:09.6866667+00:00

Any help here?
Ryan Avery 15 Reputation points

2023-03-13T17:23:07.63+00:00

This is an issue for me as well - I believe a recent update caused this. I do not run any special anti-virus software other than the built-in Windows Defender. I see the same issue where I can disable for a folder, but when I try to apply everywhere, it re-enables file grouping. This is NOT due to file corruption as it appears to be a widespread issue in the last week for windows 11 users.

Please respond with solutions, not suggestions about file corruption or other programs, as I have a very clean machine with few programs installed.
Mike Job 0 Reputation points

2023-05-17T14:03:19.0533333+00:00

Have you solved your problem? I'm going through the same and I tried the same steps above and no clue...
Zain ul Abidin 20 Reputation points

2023-07-07T15:02:59.1+00:00

Hello there.

So, I have came across this issue recently and I found a solution for this permanently.

Go to that folder inside, click Right key and " Sort by -- Name "

Then again Right click and " Group by --- None "

Refresh inside the folder -------

Note: If it automatically re-enables, just do the above steps again and refresh inside the folder.

BOOM. Your problem will be solved. Let me know how it goes.
Marius le Roux 15 Reputation points

2023-08-20T14:15:50.71+00:00

The "Apply to Folders" Steps: Open any folder, that has grouping enabled, that is not a "library" folder. Make the Window wide enough to see all options. Click the View tab. Select (None) from the Group by menu (in Windows 11, Group by is within the Sort menu). Select Options, Change folder and search options (in Windows 11, select …, Options). Click the View tab. Click the Apply to Folders button and then Yes. This worked for me.
Mahek Rana 0 Reputation points

2023-12-25T09:25:04.7933333+00:00

Still has the same issue. Has anyone been able to figure out a solution?
Pete Brown 0 Reputation points

2024-01-03T23:52:52.31+00:00

Please report these types of issues to feedback hub, with a repro recording, so the engineering teams can actually learn about the bugs. Thanks!

Engineering teams rarely see peer support forum posts, and I could find only one feedback hub entry on this issue -- not enough to bump this up and make it visible.

I would guess that you're seeing this happen after viewing the Downloads folder from the browser and that is resetting the view.

Pete
LF 0 Reputation points

2024-03-23T21:08:43.95+00:00

Marius le Roux's way has worked for me! Instead of having to do folder by folder it changed all folders!
LF 0 Reputation points

2024-05-01T00:48:37.4733333+00:00

Marius le Roux answer of Aug 20, 2023, 4:15 PM works for me. I applied his method March, 23 and since then I've made many new folders and it is fixed!
It's a one time fix so you don't have to repeat it for every folder.
LF 0 Reputation points

2024-05-01T00:48:58.4433333+00:00

Marius le Roux answer of Aug 20, 2023, 4:15 PM works for me. I applied his method March, 23 and since then I've made many new folders and it is fixed! It's a one time fix so you don't have to repeat it for every folder.
random_pawn 6 Reputation points

2024-10-16T12:26:11.9566667+00:00

As of today, still a f*****king problem. Micro$oft continues to jack things up. Clearly doesn't listen to anyone. Always having a problem and there is never any resolution. Feedback Hub is a joke too.
random_pawn 6 Reputation points

2024-10-16T12:32:18.6233333+00:00

Feedback Hub is ignored -- plain and simple. None of the bugs I have reported have been fixed.
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

Answer 1

JohnZ 10

Hello there. So, I have came across this issue recently and I found a solution for this permanently.

Go to that folder inside, click Right key and " Sort by -- Name "
Then again Right click and " Group by --- None "
Refresh inside the folder ------- Note: If it automatically re-enables, just do the above steps again and refresh inside the folder. BOOM. Your problem will be solved. Let me know how it goes.

This suggestion from "Zain ul Abidin" seems to have worked. I'll let you know if it holds when I restart by computer tomorrow. You just have to do it a second time if it doesn't hold the first time. It is inconvenient to have to do each folder individually. Microsoft needs to change this to only needing to set all folders like this - option.

(Trying the set all folders like this only reset to listing by date for me too!)

Thanks Zain

Crash Burnsley 0 Reputation points

2024-08-21T15:56:05.3+00:00

Boom I can verify that this works! This guy has got it right. Do as he states above and your problem will be solved verified by me just now August 21st 2024 9:55 AM mountain time
Martin Hubka 1 Reputation point

2024-10-31T19:12:37.3966667+00:00

I can confirm that this doesn't work, if I apply it to all folders, everything returns to normal even with group by

Answer 2

I solved it via WinSetView (free download from MajorGeeks). Windows Defender tried to abort the installation, but I just clicked on 'More information' - 'Allow/continue anyway'.

In the WinSetView programme, you will see a list of simple block buttons at the top, one of which is called 'Folder View Settings', or something like that. Click on it and you get a list of +- 6 options. The second to last option is unticked, and that is where you need to be.

Tick it on, press apply, let your system open a dialog screen and afterwards a general file. And you're done.

//

If you find this "solution" ridiculous, you are 100 % correct. With every major update Microsoft preforms, this bug is coming back. So even if you solve the issue now, next time Microsoft will shove auto-grouping through our throats again, whether we like it or not.

I am a self-employed copywriter/journalist/webshop owner and it is absolutely horrible how hard auto-grouping lowers my productivity. Seriously, I cannot comprehend the twisted, sick and royal-dominant mind of someone who would think it is a great idea to force your opinion upon consumers. I mean, that's just Marketing 101. It is the base of communciation of product development of everything.

I would love to see Microsoft workers "enjoying" this "great" auto-grouping "feature" (punishment) for a day. I wonder how longer their tasks would get, and how much money Microsoft would lose. THEN it will be an important problem... Only then...

But because we are worthless consumers (in the eyes of Microsoft - thanks, you d.1.c.k), our productivity means nothing to Microsoft. They are more focussed on how to annoy people more with relevant advertising, which is also lowering our productivity. So I guess, based on that, Microsoft is being very consistent in creating tools for people who like to spend double the work than what is needed is needed on a project...

! >>>>> STOP AUTO-GROUPING NOW!!!

PS Did you know this bug, caused and forced upon us by Microsoft, has been distracting and bothering people since... forever? There are posts of people having THIS VERY SAME ISSUE, without Microsoft ever reacting or solving the problem, since 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021,... You get the vibe: it's every year, again and again, and again, and again,...

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Ken Beaudry 0 Reputation points

2025-03-26T18:42:12.0066667+00:00

if anybody is still suffering through this, there is a simple fix, with 1 single registry key:

navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

Create or Modify a DWORD (32-bit) named: UseAutoGrouping, and set the value to 0

I used it, and so far have not experienced any issues.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Izzy 0

Zain ul Abidin Yes this can work but you need to do it to every folder. Ok if you only work with a few folders but I work with thousands of folders and they are all annoyingly grouped. I need an option to system-wide disable grouping. Apply to all folders just isn't working, it can enable grouping again.

Carmela R 0 Reputation points

2024-04-30T22:03:22.55+00:00

I agree! As someone who also uses hundreds of folders, this is quite an annoying feature.

Has anyone figured out how to permanently deactivate this?
LF 0 Reputation points

2024-05-01T00:50:26.4833333+00:00

Marius le Roux answer of Aug 20, 2023, 4:15 PM works for me. I applied his method March, 23 and since then I've made many new folders and it is fixed! It's a one time fix so you don't have to repeat it for every folder.

Answer 5

Skettalee 0

There is no answer, windows might change it back to grouped and details and all that. I have been fighting with microsoft with this for years now. I hate it so much, I swear they screw me over all the time when is says change all folders to one thing or the other it ALWAYS changes things back. And mostly of the time I can change a folder to sort by type and large icon view and navigate out that folder and come right back to it being details and grouped and file sort changed again. I wish i could say i gave up and just used my computer the way the file folders decide it wants to be but I cant, im very ocd and adhd and maybe that stuff is why If my folders arent right then i might as well get off my computer or change it then be able to work with the files.

LF 0 Reputation points

2024-05-01T00:47:13.7033333+00:00

Marius le Roux answer of Aug 20, 2023, 4:15 PM works for me.
I applied his method March, 23 and since then I've made many new folders and it is fixed!

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[BUG] Windows 11 Disable Group By For All Folders - Gets Re-Enabled

9 answers

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