An Easy Peasy Way to Show the Classic Windows File Explorer
Toolbar
Along With a Shortcut To Make It So Much Easier
One of the annoyances Windows users experienced when migrating to Windows 11 was the disappearance of the File Explorer Toolbar most Consumers found quite useful. Gone was the immediate functionality of the complete menu of file tools. Replacing the old toolbar was a not so institutive group of icons and dropdown menus. Well, thanks to a Reddit user who, according to PC World magazine, had accidently discovered the technique demonstrated herein to get back the classic Windows File Explorer Toolbar from within Windows 11, I offer this tutorial with easy to follow steps — along with the usual style and panache Readers of the Dispatches have come to Expect.
This trick is hidden in a Control Panel function. Follow the steps below to access Control Panel. It's as easy as π.
| The Windows 11 File Explorer Toolbar shown below without the familiar icons. |
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| The Classic Windows File Explorer Toolbar shown below with the familiar icons. |
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| Rather than open Control Panel
each time you wish to use Control Panel, it's easier if you create a Shortcut to Control Panel on your Desktop. Follow the steps below. |
| Step 1: Right click a place on
the Desktop. Mouse over "New." Click Shortcut to create a new Shortcut on the Desktop. |
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| Step 2: When the Create Shortcut
Dialog Box opens, type exactly what you see below into the location box of the item: C:\Windows\System32\control.exe. Or better, yet — Copy & Paste the text. Click Next. |
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| Step 3: Next, type a name for your New
Shortcut. I suggest "Open Control Panel." Then click Finish. |
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| Your New Desktop Shortcut will look like the one below. |
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| Now let's put this New Shortcut to Work.
Click the Open Control Panel icon. When you first open Control Panel, it may look similar to what is shown below. If so, switch from View by Category to Large Icons. |
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| Now your Control Panel will
look similar to what is shown below. "Click Windows Tools." |
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| After you click Windows Tools, an
expansive menu of Control Panel applets opens up. Of interest here, however, is the left pane with the horizontal list of folders. The left pane window is File Explorer. Click any folder, and the Classic Toolbar will appear. |
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Simply keep Control Panel Open to ensure File Explorer
continues to work in Classic Mode. |
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So, if you long for that easy to use Classic Windows File Explorer Toolbar, follows these easy steps to gain back the Classic Toolbar.
Easy peasies. Eh Me Mates?
He's a one-trick pony
He either fails or he succeeds
He gives his, testimony
Then he relaxes in the weeds
He's got one trick to last a lifetime
But that's all a pony needs
— One Trick Pony, Paul Simon
Gerald Reiff
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