How to Show Full File Path in Windows File Explorer

Windows 10 and Windows 8 show by default the Folder Name in the Title box of the Windows File Explorer. In this small tutorial I will explain how you can turn on that Windows Explorer shows the full path of the current folder instead of the Folder Name.

[symple_box color=”blue” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””] This tutorial is for multiple Windows Versions: Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. The steps are the same, however the layout of the menu’s might be different.
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Show Full Path in File Explorer.

1. Open File Explorer and open any random folder.

2. Click on View in the top bar.

3. Then click on Options

4. Now click on Change Folder and Search options

 

Windows 10: Folder Options
Windows 10: Folder Options

5. Click on the View tab

6. Check the box: “Display the Full Path in the Title Bar”

Windows 10: Display full path in title bar
Windows 10: Display full path in title bar

7. Click on Apply and then OK

 

As you see, the File Explorer should now show the full file path instead of the Folder Name.

 

Disable Full Path in File Explorer.

1. Open File Explorer and open any random folder.

2. Click on View in the top bar.

3. Then click on Options

4. Now click on Change Folder and Search options

 

Windows 10: Folder Options
Windows 10: Folder Options

5. Click on the View tab

6. Uncheck the box: “Display the Full Path in the Title Bar”

Windows 10: Display full path in title bar
Windows 10: Display full path in title bar

7. Click on Apply and then OK

 

As you see, the File Explorer should now show the Folder Name instead of the Folder Path.

About the Author

2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Windows
Yuri specializes in troubleshooting (crash analysis and devices), system resource utilisation and system performance. He is also very interested in Customer Security. Yuri can be found as Windows Community Moderator and Wiki Author on Microsoft Answers and is active on different communities all across the web.

1 comment

  1. It does not work if you clicked “Documents” or “Desktop” to get there – the top level shown will be “Documents” or “Desktop”, even though you have set the folder options to always show full path.

    I tried navigating to the folder starting from the hard drive (C:) and then adding it to the Windows 10 Start Menu but this did not work. Then I sent the Documents folder to the Desktop. From there, I dragged it to my taskbar. THAT worked. Now I just click on it from the taskbar, and I get the full path showing for it.

    Why would anyone care? Because we use other programs (like Ruby or Bash) to list directory contents and things like that. It helps to know where Documents is ACTUALLY located.

    Why does Microsoft seek to HIDE the actual location from us (and inconsistently at that)?

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