Windows Explorer Address Bar

INFO: The Address bar, also known as the Breadcrumb bar, is the bar at the top of a Windows Explorer window that displays the currently selected folder or file path location like a folder tree, but sideways instead.

NOTE: If you have Vista set to the Classic theme, see: How to Change the Desktop Theme in Vista, and you do not see the full path in the title bar, then make sure that you have checked Display the full path in the title bar (Classic folders only) in Folder Options. See: How to Open and Change Folder Options in Vista

RELATED LINKS:
1. How to Change Windows Explorer Default Open Location

2. How to Change a Windows Explorer Folder Type Template in Vista

3. How to Change a Default Open Window Size for a Shortcut in Vista

4. How to Reset Windows Explorer Folder View Settings to Make Vista Remember

5. How to Change the Windows Explorer Columns and Sort Order in Vista

6. How to Enable or Disable Auto-Hide for Vista Explorer Full Screen F11


EXAMPLE: Windows Explorer Address Bar
Address_Bar2.jpg


OPTION ONE:
How to Use the Go To Option in the View Menu :
NOTE: If you do not see the Menu bar, then see: How to Enable or Disable the Menu Bar in Vista
1. Click View on the menu bar. (See screenshot below)
2. Click Go To.
3. Select the option you want to go to.
NOTE: The checked item shows you the current open location from within the list of previous opened locations
that you were at in this opened window.

View.jpg


OPTION TWO:
How to Use the Left Navigational Arrows :
NOTE: See screenshot below
1. Left Arrow button = Takes you back to previous window.
2. Right Arrow button = Take you forward to the window you had open before before going back to a previous
window.
3. Drop Down Arrow = List of recent opened folder windows that you can select to go back to.

Directional_ buttons.jpg


OPTION THREE:
How to See a Drop Down List of Previous Locations :
1. Click on the drop down arrow at the end to see a list of previous locations. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will also show recent Internet Explorer addresses to since the two share the same address bar. You
will notice file paths appearing in this list as you navigate from within the address bar.

2. Click on the location that you want to open.
NOTE: Press the Esc key twice or click on a empty area within the window twice to exit this.

Previous_Location.jpg


OPTION FOUR:
How to Show The Full Path :
1. Left click on a empty area of the address bar. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Press the Esc key or click on a empty area to return to the normal address bar.
This is like the old XP address bar.
Empty_Area.jpg

OR

1. Right click anywhere in the address bar.
2. Click Edit Address. (See screenshot below)

Right_Click.jpg
Full_Path.jpg


OPTION FIVE:
How to Copy the Full Folder Path Into the Clipboard :
1. Right click anywhere in the address bar.
2. Click Copy Address as Text. (See screenshot below)
3. You can now paste the full folder path anywhere you like.

Right_Click.jpg


OPTION SIX:
How to Make a Shortcut of the Open Location :
1. Right click anywhere in the addres bar.
2. Click Copy Address. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will also add the full folder path to the clipboard as above.

3. Right click on your desktop (for example) and click Paste Shortcut.

Right_Click.jpg


OPTION SEVEN:
How to Refresh the Currently Open Window :
1. Click on the arrows in a circle to refresh the window. (See screenshot below)
OR
1. Press F5.

Refresh.jpg


OPTION EIGHT:
How to Open a Internet Explorer Window :
1. Left click on a empty area of the address bar. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Press the Esc key or click on a empty area to return to the normal address bar.

Empty_Area.jpg

2. Type in a Internet address and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will open a IE7 window with the address you typed and still leave your current Windows Explorer
window location open.

Internet_Address.jpg


OPTION NINE:
How to Navigate Inside the Address Bar :

From the Keyboard :
1. ALT + Left Arrow key = Back
2. ALT + Right Arrow key = Forward
3. ALT + Up Arrow key = Up One Level

From the Address Bar :
1. First Arrow = Shows you a list of parent folders before this folder or location that you can click on to open it.
(See screenshot below)

First_Arrow1.jpg

2. Double Arrow = Same as above, but it turns to a double arrow indicating that the address bar does not have
room to show the entire path. (See screenshot below)

First_Arrow2.jpg

3. Other Folder Arrows = They will show you a list of folders inside that folder that you can click on to open it.
(See screenshot below)

Other_Arrows.jpg

4. Folders = If you click on one of the folders in the address bar it will open it. (See screenshot below)

Click_On_Folder.jpg


That's it,
Shawn