Always show absolute path in File Explorer address bar

When using one of the Quick Access links in Windows 10 File Explorer, the address bar displays the following:

ThisPC > Documents

This is really annoying for navigating around as I often need to get to another folder near Documents, but I can't click the parent folder in the address bar because its not there and if I click the up or back button on the address bar it just takes me back to This PC.

As a developer this is just epically annoying. I have to navigate quickly around the file system all the time. Is there a way to just always have the address bar work off of the absolute path like old windows did?

Jamie Marshall

Posted 2018-09-29T01:28:00.160

Reputation: 203

Answers

The most reliable method to do what you want is to pin your preferred folders to the Quick Access area after you have navigated to them via a UNC path.

For example, the workgroup laptop on my home network is called DELL-INSPIRON15, so I can enter the following path in the address bar:

\\DELL-INSPIRON15\Users\Run5k\Documents

However, if your machine is on an Active Directory domain you will need to add c$ to the syntax in order to map your local Documents folder via a UNC path:

\\DELL-XPS-9100\c$\Users\Run5k\Documents

After that, right-click Quick Access on the top-left and choose Pin current folder to Quick access.

Do the same for each folder within the Quick Access area, and you should see exactly the behavior that you want when you click on the up-arrow.

Run5k

Posted 2018-09-29T01:28:00.160

Reputation: 13 092

That was my first idea but using this solution going back you will not only see the quick access folders but allt the other files and folders as well which have "nothing to do" with the quick access folders. But maybe I understood him wrong and that's what he wants. Anyway just wanted to point out the the two solutions give differnent results. – Albin – 2018-09-29T03:17:46.523

@Albin I am fairy certain that is what the OP wants: when they utilize a Quick Access folder shortcut, they want to be able to easily navigate to all of the other folders throughout the hierarchy. – Run5k – 2018-09-29T03:32:43.937

Well whatever it is, he will tell us. As I said, I just wanted to point out that our solutions will give different results, not argue about who is right ; ) – Albin – 2018-09-29T03:51:58.520

@Albin I already knew that our solutions will give different results. That’s why I submitted a separate answer. ;-) – Run5k – 2018-09-29T04:04:01.787

This doesn't work for me. Clicking Pin current folder to quick access produces exactly the same results as any other folder. The folder still shows only itself in the address bar, and clicking the up arrow takes me back to my computer. – Jamie Marshall – 2018-09-29T17:08:45.687

@JamieMarshall, that shouldn't be the case. To clarify, did you first remove the default Documents folder that is already within the Quick Access area by executing a right-click and choosing Unpin from Quick Access? After that, if you navigate to your Documents folder using a UNC path (starting with the computer's name) as I described above and pin that one, it should work. – Run5k – 2018-09-29T17:15:31.443

Point of correction, the new quick access shortcuts default to the Desktop folder when the up arrow is clicked. – Jamie Marshall – 2018-09-29T17:15:44.380

@Run5k, yep, no effect. If I simply pin the documents folder by navigating to it and clicking Pin current folder to quick access I get the same result as it had by default. Super annoying.... – Jamie Marshall – 2018-09-29T17:21:06.000

@JamieMarshall That is rather strange. I tested this on two different Windows 10 machines across four different profiles, and it worked every time. Just to double-check, you are starting your navigation with the specific computer name entered in a UNC path, correct? For example, my desktop is \DELL-XPS-9100, so I type that in the address bar & then I manually navigate to Users > Run5k > Documents. As a result, when I click within the File Explorer address bar, the path appears as \\DELL-XPS-9100\Users\Run5k\Documents. When I pin that to the Quick Access area, it works exactly as you desire. – Run5k – 2018-09-29T20:41:04.890

@JamieMarshall It has been several days since we heard from you. Have you made any progress? Did you try the method that I described within my last post? – Run5k – 2018-10-02T22:51:18.733

@Run5k, sorry, i've been away from this machine for a couple days. So i've been playing around more. I wasn't using the proper the UNC path when I made the last comment. However now it seems if i use the UNC path with the computer \\ComputerName\Users in the address bar of exporer, nothing happens. If I put \\ComputerName in the address bar I get a blank folder. My PC is on a Domain and if I use \\ComputerName.Domain\Users I likewise get nothing. – Jamie Marshall – 2018-10-03T15:46:51.333

No worries, we are here to help whenever you're ready! "My PC is on a Domain" Now, that makes a big difference. For future reference, factors that can affect the answer such as that one should be included within the original question. Regardless, on a domain you can still gain the capability you want by adding c$ to the path. In my previous example, this path would work: \\DELL-XPS-9100\c$\Users\Run5k\Documents. In your last example, paste \\ComputerName\c$ in the File Explorer address bar, navigate through the Users hierarchy down to your Documents folder, and then pin it. – Run5k – 2018-10-03T20:43:34.180

@JamieMarshall just wanted to check-in, now that another week has passed. Did you have an opportunity to try the method I described in my last post? – Run5k – 2018-10-10T12:38:15.860

Yep, its working. Thanks for the info. I'll mark it right. – Jamie Marshall – 2018-10-10T16:12:18.173

Glad to hear it! – Run5k – 2018-10-10T16:15:57.780

So for any ordinary desktop computer not connected to a network it is \\Full_computer_name\c$\Users\User_name\Documents . Your full computer name you can find here: https://support.office.com/en-ie/article/do-you-need-help-locating-your-computer-name-00384381-8aa9-4398-b81b-475f09fed618

– MrGISRocker – 2019-07-09T10:50:19.500

Not sure if this will have unintended side-effects, but experimenting with the Pictures folder, I deleted the current Quick Access pin, then in the registry, deleted the 'ParsingName' value under:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{0ddd015d-b06c-45d5-8c4c-f59713854639}

and

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{33E28130-4E1E-4676-835A-98395C3BC3BB}

Restarted, navigated to C:\Users\Keith and pinned Pictures to Quick Access. the result was the Address Bar now showed Pictures path as a subfolder of the USerProfile folder rooted in the Desktop:

Explorer Screenshot 1

So then I delected the ParsingName under {f3ce0f7c-4901-4acc-8648-d5d44b04ef8f} (UsersFilesFolder) and that produced the desired result (after restarting Explorer):

Explorer Screenshot 2

Back up HKLM...\FolderDescriptions before testing.

Keith

Keith Miller

Posted 2018-09-29T01:28:00.160

Reputation: 1 789

Install Open-Shell https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu

If you don't want the start menu don't install that part. Just select Classic Explorer in the installer. Then open it and click Disable breadcrumbs

Classic Explorer will add it's own annoying toolbar. Go to the View tab, Options, then uncheck Classic Explorer Bar

Derek Ziemba

Posted 2018-09-29T01:28:00.160

Reputation: 1 072

I used to have the same problem. I don't use Quick Access. I use the Quick Launch toolbar and I wanted to have shortcuts in the Quick Launch toolbar that would open a window with the correct path in the Address Bar.

I solved the problem by creating shortcuts where the target is:

C:\Windows\explorer.exe <Full path of the desired target>

Such a shortcut opens a folder window where the path in the Address Bar is the actual path.

gvesp

Posted 2018-09-29T01:28:00.160

Reputation: 1

-2

Open Folderoption-Window (Explorer -> View -> Options -> Change Folder- and Search) and open the "View" tab. Under "Navigationarea" you will find an entry to show all folders. Activate it, that should do the trick.

Sorry, the wording might not be correct, I had to translate from my German version.

Albin

Posted 2018-09-29T01:28:00.160

Reputation: 3 983

1this is the interface on English Windows (https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7078-turn-off-show-all-folders-windows-10-navigation-pane.html) and no, that doesn't solve the OP's problem which is showing the full path on the address bar. It just shows all folders in the navigation pane on the left – phuclv – 2018-09-29T03:29:04.807

Thanks for the answer but I already found this option and tried it. It doesn't give me a quick shortcut to navigate around like quick access, it just shows me the current file tree. I suppose if quick access can't used as I have used it in the past then as a last resort I could use this in concurrence with quick access, but it's less than ideal. – Jamie Marshall – 2018-09-29T17:11:59.907

@JamieMarshall then I think I didn't quite get what you meant. I thought you meant that you go onto the quickaccess folder (usually with the 4 shortcuts). After you click on a shorcut and then choose the quickaccess folder again you want to see the 4 shortcuts again, is that right? – Albin – 2018-10-03T08:56:16.393

1@Abin, no I used specific language. What i'm concerned with is seeing the absolute path in the address bar after I click on a quickaccess shortcut. – Jamie Marshall – 2018-10-03T15:55:05.187