Share via

How to open file explorer folders as new tabs by default (instead of as new file explorer windows)

Anonymous
2023-02-16T12:44:16+00:00

Hello,

I am loving the tabs functionality of the new file explorer, but I am constantly annoying with the fact that opening any folder results in a new file explorer windows being spawned. What I would instead like to happen is that my current file explorer windows is made active and the folder is opened in a new tab inside of it.

Can this be toggled somewhere as the default behavior?

For example lets say I have a file explorer opened with 2 tabs (desktop, C drive) and I use MS Edge to download a file into the Downloads folder. I then use the "Show in folder" button inside MS Edge to open the Downloads folder. What happens is that a new file explorer window is opened with the Downloads folder. What I would like to happen is that the Downloads folder is opened as a new tab in the file explorer windows which I already am using.

Thanks,

Jakub

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

12 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2023-02-17T13:59:36+00:00

    Hi iTsFx, thanks for the video, but it is not needed. We already have tabs enabled, as we are on the latest Windows 11 version.
    I would just like to find out how to ensure that new file explorer windows always open as tabs by default. Please see the gif below:

    It shows that when I click on a folder within a file explorer window, it openes it within the same windows - AWESOME! But it also shows that when I right click on file explorer to open another folder, it openes it in a new window - BAD! What I would like is that even the "2023-02" folder gets opened as a new tab in the file explorer window which I already have opened...

    40+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-02-16T13:34:12+00:00

    TRANSLATION OF ABOVE provided by Google Translate:

    Yes, it is possible to change File Explorer's default behavior to open folders in new tabs instead of new windows. Here are the steps:
    
    Open File Explorer.
    In the top menu bar, click "File" and then select "Options" from the drop-down menu.
    In the File Explorer Options window, select the "View" tab.
    Scroll down to the "Advanced Settings" section and find the "Open folders in new window" option.
    Uncheck the box next to "Open folders in new window".
    Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes.
    Now, whenever you open a folder in File Explorer, it will open as a new tab within the existing File Explorer window instead of in a new window. Note that this will not affect other instances of File Explorer that are already open prior to making this change.
    
    20+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-02-17T14:14:29+00:00

    Oh now I got it, unfortunately, this is not a feature from Windows as I could find in another topics.

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-02-16T13:36:06+00:00

    Hi iTsFx, thank you for the answer, unfortunately I don't have "Advanced Settings" available there. I tried looking for "Open folders in new window" option, but also dont have it there.

    I am using a work laptop, maybe my company has disabled the "Advanced Settings" ?

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-02-16T15:20:48+00:00

    According to this: https://www.intowindows.com/4-ways-to-open-a-folder-in-a-new-window-in-windows-10-11/#:~:text=Open%20a%20folder%20in%20a%20new%20window%20using%20the%20context,Simple%20as%20that!

    I found the below settings, but this doesnt achieve what I am looking for. What this does is when set to "open each folder in its own window" when I double click a folder within the file explorer, it openes a new file explorer window for that. Switching this to "open each folder in the same window" changes the behavior that opening a folder from within the file explorer opens that folder within the same file explorer window.

    But even with this option on using MS Edge "Show in folder" button for a downloaded file, stills ends up opening a brand new file explorer window...

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments