Windows 11 redesigned the File Explorer to be touch-friendly. To accomplish this, Microsoft added a significant amount of padding (empty white space) between files, folders, and lists. While this makes it easier to tap icons with your finger on a Surface tablet, it is incredibly inefficient on a desktop monitor operated with a precise mouse.
If you have hundreds of files in a directory, the default touch-friendly spacing forces you to scroll endlessly just to see the contents of the folder. If you prefer the dense, information-rich layout of legacy Windows versions (where items are tightly packed together), you must disable the default layout and enable “Compact View.”
How to Turn On Compact View in Windows 11 File Explorer
You can toggle the spacing layout directly from the File Explorer command bar.
- Open File Explorer by clicking its icon on the taskbar (or pressing Windows Key + E).
- Look at the command bar running across the top of the window (just below the address bar).
- Click on the View button to open a drop-down menu.
- Look at the bottom half of the menu for an option labelled Compact view.
- Click Compact view to place a checkmark next to it.
The change is instantaneous. The massive gaps between your files and folders will collapse. The layout will become significantly denser, allowing you to see roughly 30% more files on the screen at any given time without needing to scroll. This setting is applied globally to all folders on your PC.