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

Pie 246

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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Ryan Avery 5 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.
Zain ul Abidin 10 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 10

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.

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!

7 answers

Limitless Technology 43,996 Reputation points

2023-03-08T18:40:00.97+00:00
Hello there,

This might be due to a corrupt system file. You can do the SFC and DSIM scan to repair the system files.

Step to run the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) (DISM)

Click on the windows start button, type CMD

Right-click on " prompt command " and " run as admin "

Now type these commands

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

Press Enter.

Then, this command and Enter.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Then make the following commands.

sfc /scannow

Check once after you restart the device after these commands.

Hope this resolves your Query !!

--If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept it as an answer–
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1 person found this answer helpful.
Pie 246 Reputation points

2023-03-09T08:23:00.2133333+00:00

Although it seems there were some errors found. It had no affect on the issue which was tried after a reboot.

Michael Philipov 0 Reputation points

2024-01-05T17:28:27.2066667+00:00

It is worked for File Explorer. But File Select is still with grouping.
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JohnZ 5 Reputation points

2023-11-09T02:46:06.2133333+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.

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
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1 person found this answer helpful.

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Pie 246 Reputation points

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

Any help here?
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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...

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.
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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?
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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.
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Izzy 0 Reputation points

2024-01-31T20:01:39.5033333+00:00

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

7 answers