How to Hide the Navigation Pane in Windows 10 File Explorer

The File Explorer Ribbon is a handy tool, but it’s a bit over-populated. It’s not always easy, at a glance, to find what you’re looking for, or to change things you need. The Navigation pane is typically enabled by default, but if you’d rather hide it -- or learn how to get it back after you hid it on accident -- then we’ve got you covered.

How to Hide the Navigation Pane in Windows 10 File Explorer

1. Right click the Start menu and choose File Explorer from the available options.

2. Click the View tab atop the File Explorer ribbon to open your view options. The Navigation pane is on the left by default, but we’re going to hide it.  

3. At the left, select Navigation pane, and and then click Navigation pane from the dropdown to remove the checkmark. From here, you’ve just disabled the left sidebar and moved the content over ever-so-slightly.

4. To show the Navigation pane, simply repeat steps one through three, this time ensuring the Navigation pane gets a check mark after clicking. If so, you should see the Navigation pane.