Folder View Settings


Folder view settings, you know this feature from File Explorer: You can save the view settings (view type, sort order, column layout...) of a particular folder and have them automatically restored whenever you come back to that folder. Great feature, saves a lot of time. XYplorer's implementation is even better: It actually works!

How many years has it been since frustrated File Explorer users started complaining about forgotten view settings? The complaint started with Windows 95 and has not stopped with Windows 11. But it ends with XYplorer. XYplorer lets you reliably set specific view settings for any folder you want, and default view settings for folders without specific settings.

It works and it's easy

Use could not be easier: Like the settings of the current folder and want to keep them? Just press the Folder View Settings toolbar button. Want to return to the default settings? Just press the Folder View Settings toolbar button again.

Adding the Folder View Settings button to the toolbar. (Click to enlarge)

Alternatively, use the Folder View Settings menu (located under View), which is also available as a context menu of the toolbar button.

The toolbar button's context menu.

The "Edit..." command in the menu above brings up the Edit dialog, which allows a number of interesting refinements.

Editing a folder view.

You can include all subfolders of the specified folder.
You can specify not only a specific folder, but also a wildcard pattern, or even a list of such patterns. Any folder that matches any of the patterns will be set to the saved view when you browse to it. A typical example of such a pattern would be *\images\*, which matches every folder named "images", including all its subfolders.
You can even specify which of the saved view settings are actually applied. For example, you can have a particular folder always show line numbers and a grid (apply List Style), and another folder inherit those settings from the previous location, or use the default folder view (do not apply List Style).
Last but not least, there's an Auto-save feature: If you enable it for a folder, that folder will always remember the view settings you left it with. You don't have to update the saved folder view every time you manually change something, like a column width. Your manual settings just stick.
This page was last updated on 2024-01-11. Screenshots do not necessarily reflect the current look and feel of the application. Some of the functionality may have been changed or enhanced in the current version.