Windows 11 File Explorer features a prominent “Navigation Pane” on the left side of every folder window. This sidebar contains a vertical list of your hard drives, Quick Access folders, OneDrive directories, and network locations, allowing you to jump between different parts of your PC rapidly. However, if you are working on a small laptop screen or simply want a minimalist interface focused entirely on the contents of your current folder, this sidebar can feel cluttered and space-consuming. Fortunately, you can easily hide the Navigation Pane to reclaim your horizontal screen space.
How to Hide the Navigation Pane
Hiding this sidebar is a simple view toggle that can be done directly from the main toolbar.
- Open File Explorer (press the Windows Key + E, or click any folder icon).
- Look at the main toolbar at the top of the window.
- Click on the View menu. A drop-down list will appear.
- At the very bottom of the drop-down list, hover your mouse over Show.
- A secondary menu will slide out to the right. Look at the top of this list for Navigation pane. If it has a checkmark next to it, the pane is currently visible.
- Click on Navigation pane to uncheck it.
The left-hand sidebar will instantly vanish, allowing your file and folder icons to stretch across the entire width of the window.
Restoring the Navigation Pane
If you ever need the sidebar back to quickly jump to a different drive, simply repeat the exact same steps. Click View, hover over Show, and click Navigation pane again to restore the checkmark and bring the sidebar back into view.