How to totally disable multi-tabs in windows file explorer?

Question

Windows 11 file explorer is multi-tabbed. However, I don't like multi tab file explorer and want to totally disable tabbing in file explorer. How can I disable it?

Edit: I don't like the browser-like tabs (the yellow box below), but I like the toolbar of windows 11 explorer (the red box) and feel it convenient to me. I don't want to go back to windows 10 explorer's toolbar. How can I disable the tabs while keeping the windows 11 toolbar?

Answer 1

Click the three dots all the way to the right on the toolbar and select "Options." Under the General Tab select "Open each folder in its own window" under Browse Folders.

Answer 2

I don't like it either.

Answer 3

I am also looking for a way to disable tabs. Especially since they for some reason changed middle click from opening a new window like it should, to opening a new tab which is unwanted behavior. There was a way to completely disable the new File Explorer and return to the old functional one from Windows 10, but that has recently stopped working on insider builds. This is severely affecting my work flow in a negative manner having these tabs in the way of everything I try to do in File Explorer.

Answer 4

One option for going back to the Windows 10 Explorer (which also removes tabs) is to install StartAllBack and select the "Kinda 10" mode.

This also restores the ability to set the folder type for an entire folder tree.

Answer 5

I for one am unsure what you mean by 'Tabs' There are different Views that can be set.

The latest version of Windows 11 22H2 transforms File Explorer into a "browser-like" state now providing the option to open additional locations in Tabs just like on an Internet Browser. Notepad also incorporates this new feature.