How to Disable File Explorer Tabs in Windows 11? 3 Methods

File Explorer is an essential component of Windows 11, allowing users to browse and manage their files and folders. With the release of Windows 11, Microsoft has introduced new features to File Explorer, including the ability to open multiple tabs in a single window. While this feature can be useful for some users, others may find it cluttered and unnecessary. In this guide, we will show you how to disable File Explorer tabs in Windows 11 using different methods.

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Method 1: Using the Registry Editor

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Type “regedit” and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Step 3: In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Note: If the “Explorer” folder does not exist in the Windows folder, right-click the Windows folder and select New > Key. Name the new key “Explorer”

Step 4: In the Explorer folder, right-click on the right-hand pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 5: Name the new value “DisableTabbedBrowsing” (without the quotes).

Step 6: Double-click the newly created DisableTabbedBrowsing value and change the value data from 0 to 1.

Step 7: Click OK to save the changes.

Step 8: Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Method 2: Using Group Policy Editor

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Type “gpedit.msc” and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.

Step 3: In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to the following path:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer

Step 4: In the right-hand pane, double-click on “Turn off tabbed browsing in File Explorer.”

Step 5: Select “Enabled” and click OK.

Step 6: Close the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer.

Method 3: Using the Registry File (Simple & Fast)

Step 1: Open Notepad.

Step 2: Copy and paste the following code into the Notepad file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] “DisableTabbedBrowsing”=dword:00000001

Step 3: Save the file with a .reg extension (e.g., DisableTabs.reg).

Step 4: Double-click the .reg file to merge it with the Registry.

Step 5: Click Yes to confirm that you want to make changes to the Registry.

Step 6: Restart your computer.

Disabling File Explorer tabs in Windows 11 can help to streamline the user experience and reduce clutter in the interface. Whether you prefer a simpler, cleaner File Explorer or just don’t find tabs useful, these methods can help you disable tabs and customize your Windows 11 experience to your liking. With the step-by-step instructions provided in this guide, you can easily disable tabs using either the Registry Editor or the Group Policy Editor, and revert to the classic single-window view in File Explorer.