Vista Tutorial - Open a Folder in the Same or Separate New Window

**Brink** · **OPTION ONE:**

How to Open a Folder in the Same or Separate New Window in Vista

Information

This will show you how to have a folder temporarily or always open in the same or separate new Windows Explorer window in Vista.

RELATED LINKS:

OPTION ONE:
To Temporarily Open a Folder in the Same or Separate Window

NOTE

Explore (same window) is the default always action. To change the default option in the context menu to Explore (same window) or Open (separate window), see OPTION TWO below for how.

1. Open a Windows Explorer window.

2. Turn on the Navigation Pane.

3. Right click on a folder. (See screenshot below step 5)

4. To Open the Folder in the Same Window -
A) Click on Explore.
NOTE: If Open is bolded instead, then turn on the Navigation Pane from step 2. You can also just click or double click on the folder to open it in the same window.

5. To Open the Folder in a Separate New Window -
A) Click on Open.

OPTION TWO:
To Always Open a Folder in the Same or Separate Window

NOTE

Open in the Same Window (Explore) is the default setting. This will show you how to have Explore (same window) or Open (separate) in the context menu set as the default option for OPTION ONE above.

1. Open a Windows Explorer window.

2. Open Folder Options.

3. To Always Open the Folder in the Same Window -
NOTE: Sets Explore as default in context menu.
A) Dot Open each folder in the same window. (See screenshot below step 4)

B) Click on OK.
NOTE: You can now just click on the folder, or right click on the folder and click on Explore, to always open it in the same window.

C) Go to step 5.

4. To Always Open the Folder in a Separate New Window -
NOTE: Sets Open as default in context menu.
A) Dot Open each folder in its own window. (See screenshot below)

B) Click on OK.

C) Turn off the Navigation Pane in the Windows Explorer window.
WARNING: This will not work unless you do this.
NOTE: You can now just click on the folder, or right click on the folder and click on Open, to always open it in a separate window.

5. Close Folder Options and the Windows Explorer window when done.

That's it,
Shawn

apellizzaro · 07-08-2008

Thanks for the post. I have this weird problem, where no matter which option I choose, it always opens the folder in its own window when I double click on the folder. If I use the "right click->Explore" then it opens in the the same window. Somwhow, something is overriding the "Open each folder in the same window" settings. Any idea?
Thanks
-Antonio

**Brink** · 07-08-2008

Hi Antonio,

Is the Navigation Pane turned off in the Windows Explorer window that always opens in a separate window by just clicking on it?

Hope this helps,
Shawn

apellizzaro · 07-08-2008

No matter if the navigation pane is on or off, when I double click, it always perfomrs an "open" i.e. opens a new window. If I click on the navigation pane,then a new window does NOT open.
Thanks for your help, our IT guy were not able to figure it out

**Brink** · 07-08-2008

Antonio,

Try toggling the settings back to using the Always Open in the same window with the Navigation Pane on, then restarting the computer. Sometimes toggling the settings will reset them and allow them to work properly again.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

apellizzaro · 07-08-2008

No Luck. I was hoping someone could point me to some registry settings to change/verify...
Thanks
-Antonio

**Brink** · 07-08-2008

Sorry Antonio, I do not know where the location is for this. You might post this in the General Discussion forum also to see if any of the other members may know by chance.

Hope you get a solution soon other than anything drastic.

Shawn

gurgleblaster · 09-10-2008

I found a solution!!

At least it works for me. With the program ShellExView (Freeware, check ShellExView - Shell Extension Manager For Windows) select the shell extension called "explore" and enable it, if it is disabled. This did the trick with me. (it's better not to play around in ShellExView apart from that, if you don't know what you're doing)

**Brink** · 09-10-2008

Hello Gurgleblaster, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Thank you for adding this alternative way to have a folder open in the same window.

Shawn

Viking · 09-22-2008

I think this is the solution you're looking for:

	Quote:
	You can check the setting below in the registry: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell (Default) setting must be have a value of "(Value not set) This makes windows to use the setting in the folder options. If the default setting is open windows opens every folder in seperate window; if the setting is expore windows opens every folder in same window without regarding to the setting you specified in folder options.

I found this solution here:

Open Each folder in its own window Bug