How to Restore Classic Ribbon in File Manager after Windows 11 update -- regedit fix doesn't work anymore

Question

After successfully using the regedit fix below, after last week's windows 11 update, I no longer see the classic ribbon. This new file manager is so dysfunctional for me that I will downgrade back to windows 10 if there is no fix. Very frustrating. Anyone know how to do this?

Thanks for your help,

Nancy

To restore the classic ribbon to the File Explorer interface, type “regedit” into the Windows 11 search tool and select Regedit from the search results. Using the left-hand window, navigate to this key, as shown in Figure B.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions

We have to create a new key, so right-click the Shell Extensions folder and select New | Key and give it the name Blocked, as shown in Figure C.

Now we must add a string value. Right-click the Blocked key you just created, and select New | String Value and then enter the following string value as its name, as shown in Figure D:
{e2bf9676-5f8f-435c-97eb-11607a5bedf7}
Figure D

To restore the classic file explorer with ribbon go to Step 6 else go to Step 7 to use the default modern file explorer in Windows 11.

6. In the Edit String window, type <added> in the Value data field to restore to the classic Windows 10 File Explorer with a ribbon in Windows 11.

Click on OK.

Reboot your PC orlog out and log in for the changes to come into effect.

7. In the Edit String window, type <delete> in the text box below Value data to make use of themodern file explorer with the command bar in Windows 11.

Click on OK to save the changes.

Answer 1

A quick and dirty way to recover the old file explorer ribbon is to: 1 Bring up File Explorer. 2 Tap the Up Arrow in the navigation pane to bring up the Desktop. 3 Select the displayed Control Panel icon. Then, when Control Panel comes up... 4 Hit the Up Arrow again to return the browser to Desktop. It will now be in the old File Explorer mode and the full old ribbon is exposed. Tabs are also gone. Being that I only need this on rare occasions, this is really fast to do and serves its purposes for me. I expect enough people are complaining that a checkbox will be added to View Options in a later update.

Answer 2

Agreed!

Trying to make it look nice and neat, with as little as possible, is making me work 'more'.

once just one click to where i was going... now take 2 or more clicks... doesn't seem like a lot but it IS if you're doing that all day.

this alone is a deal-breaker for me...

I was happy with the fix before, worked like a charm, if I had known this windows update would mess that up..... :-/

Not happy,

J

Answer 3

Didn't work!

This is going to add hours of time to my work week.

Answer 4

Yes agreed, not sure what they're doing and why. Windows users are windows users because they are not Apple users. Making windows more like an apple interface is like shooting yourself in the foot.

Fortunately, I found a workaround...

https://www.startallback.com/

Fabulous product, free, quick. In 5 minutes everything was the way it should be.

Highly recommend.

Answer 5

Very good. Thanks for the tip. This means that the "old" explorer has not completely disappeared.

Still, a combination of the new and old explorer would be the best solution. Or you just get the option, as they said, with a checkbox to optimally select your own options. For example, a split view in an explorer window would be great. Instead of having to open multiple explorer windows.