Were you casually using your PC when you saw all the files and folders disorganized? Chances are that they might be grouped in some order using Group By feature because that is what’s happening with many users. Even though filters like Group By in File Explorer have been present for quite some time now, Microsoft recently pushed a Windows update that turned them on by default, causing inconvenience to many. Here’s how to turn off Group By in File Explorer on Windows.
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What Is Group By in File Explorer
Group by in File Explorer is the grouping option available to easily organize the files and folders present in a location. For example, If we consider the Downloads directory in the File Explorer, we can reorganize the files present there by their modified Date. They’d show up under tabs like Today, Yesterday, Earlier this Week, This Month, etc.
Group by can be accessed in any directory in Windows by using right-click and navigating to Group by. Then we can organize the files by their Name, Date Modified, Type, and Size of the file. Further, filters like Ascending or Descending are also present.
Custom Group by filters can also be created if required by the user.
We don’t prefer grouping our files and folders which is the case with many users but it should be left to the individual users. Earlier, Group by was disabled by default, Microsoft enabled it in a recent update. Albeit developed for ease and to save time, this is degrading productivity for some. So, Let’s see how to turn off Group by in Windows File Explorer.
Turning off Group by in a Folder in File Explorer
If you prefer to group your files in only one folder but don’t want to group them in another, then this is the solution to your problem.
1. To turn off grouping in a specific folder, right-click anywhere in that folder and then locate Group by.
2. Hover on Group by option and an additional menu will appear which shows different filters like Name, Date Modified, Type, Size, and (None).
3. Click on (None) to disable the grouping of files and folders in that specific directory.
4. Now, grouping will be turned off in that specific folder until you restart your Windows device.
Turning off Group by Systemwide
If you want to permanently turn off grouping in all folders, then this method should be your pick.
1. Open any folder directory, for example, Downloads, and turn off grouping in this folder using the previous method.
Note: Here is what to do if the left pane is missing in File Explorer.
2. Now, look for three-dot menu icon in the Ribbon toolbar of File Explorer and click on it.
3. Then click on Options and a dialog box will open.
4. Navigate to the View tab of Folder Options.
5. Once in the View section, click on Apply to Folders.
6. Click on Yes to the Folder Views prompt.
7. Then click on OK in the Folder Options dialog box to apply the changes.
8. Now none of your folders would be grouped by default, even after a restart.
Exploring Folder Options
Even if folders are grouped by default or arranged in some manner that you don’t remember doing, now you can easily turn off grouping. Organize your files and folders the way you want. Here are some File Explorer tips and tricks that will come in handy and save some precious time.
