PowerShell – Windows – Enable Expand to Current Folder in File Explorer

PowerShell

# Enable "Expand to current folder" in File Explorer navigation pane
try {
    $regPath = "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced"
    $valueName = "NavPaneExpandToCurrentFolder"

    # Create the key if it doesn't exist
    if (-not (Test-Path $regPath)) {
        New-Item -Path $regPath -Force | Out-Null
    }

    # Set the value to 1 (enable)
    Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name $valueName -Value 1 -Type DWord

    Write-Host "'Expand to current folder' has been enabled." -ForegroundColor Green
    Write-Host "Restart File Explorer for changes to take effect."

} catch {
    Write-Host "Error: $($_.Exception.Message)" -ForegroundColor Red
}

Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force
Start-Process explorer.exe

# Enable "Expand to current folder" in File Explorer navigation pane
try {
    $regPath = "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced"
    $valueName = "NavPaneExpandToCurrentFolder"

    # Create the key if it doesn't exist
    if (-not (Test-Path $regPath)) {
        New-Item -Path $regPath -Force | Out-Null
    }

    # Set the value to 1 (enable)
    Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name $valueName -Value 1 -Type DWord

    Write-Host "'Expand to current folder' has been enabled." -ForegroundColor Green
    Write-Host "Restart File Explorer for changes to take effect."

} catch {
    Write-Host "Error: $($_.Exception.Message)" -ForegroundColor Red
}

Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force
Start-Process explorer.exe

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