FIX: 'Expand to Current Folder' not working in Windows 11.
The "Expand to current folder" feature in Windows 11/10 allows you to expand or collapse the folder tree in the File Explorer navigation pane. In other words, allows you to show or hide the path of the selected folder.
But some users complain that the Expand to current folder" option does not work after installing updates in Windows 11, so in this guide I include all the methods to re-enable the 'Expand to current folder' option.
How to Show the Folder Tree in Explorer's Navigation Pane on Windows 10/11.
Method 1. Enable/Disable 'Expand to Current Folder' in File Explorer.
The easiest way to "tell" Explorer to expand to current folder in navigation pane, is the following:
1. Right-click at an empty space in File Explorer's navigation pane and click/tap at Expand to current folder option, to toggle it On (checked).
* Note: If you change your decision, just perform the same steps to uncheck and disable the 'Expand to Current Folder' option.
Method 2. Turn On or Off 'Expand to open folder' in Folder Options.
1. In File Explorer, click the three dots 
on the menu bar and click Options.*
* On Windows 10, select the View tab and then click Options.
2. In 'Folder Options' window, click the View tab.
3. Now, under the 'Navigation pane' section check the option Expand to open folder, if you want to see the folder tree in the navigation pane, or uncheck it if you don't. Then click Apply > OK.
Method 3. Turn on or Off "Expand to Current folder" in Registry.
If after following the above methods, the 'Expand to Current Folder' is not working, then proceed to force File Explorer to show the Folder Tree in navigation pane, using registry:
1a. Press the Windows 
+ R keys to open the Run command box.
1b. Type regedit and press Enter to open the registry editor.
2. In Registry Editor, navigate to this location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. Now look at the right pane if there is a REG_DWORD value named "NavPaneExpandToCurrentFolder". Then according the result, do the following:
a. If the value exists (like in screenshot below), skip to step-4.
b. If the value does not exist, right-click on Advanced key on the left and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
c. Then (on the right), rename the "New Value #1" to NavPaneExpandToCurrentFolder and hit Enter.
4. Double-click to open the NavPaneExpandToCurrentFolder REG_DWORD, and type "1" in the value data box. When done, click OK to save the change. *
* Note: If you change your decision and you don't want to view the folder tree, set this value to "0" (Zero).
5. Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC to apply the change.
That's all folks! Did it work for you?
Please leave a comment in the comment section below or even better: like and share this blog post in the social networks to help spread the word about this solution.
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