Removing Chevrons and Hiding Folders with No Subfolders or Files in File Explorer

Removing Chevrons from Folders in File Explorer

Have you ever noticed the small chevrons (») that appear next to folders in File Explorer in Windows 10? These chevrons can be confusing and make it difficult to distinguish between folders and files. In this article, we will discuss how to remove these chevrons and clean up the look of your File Explorer.

What are Chevrons in File Explorer?

Chevrons are the small arrows (») that appear next to folder icons in File Explorer. They are meant to indicate that a folder can be expanded to show its contents. However, they can be distracting and make it difficult to quickly identify folders, especially when there are no subfolders or files within the folder.

Why Remove Chevrons from Folders?

There are a few reasons why you might want to remove chevrons from folders in File Explorer:

• To declutter the appearance of File Explorer and make it easier to quickly identify folders
• To reduce confusion, especially when there are no subfolders or files within the folder
• To create a more consistent look for folders, especially when using custom folder icons

How to Remove Chevrons from Folders

To remove chevrons from folders in File Explorer, you will need to use a registry hack. Here are the steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box
2. Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor
3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons
4. Right-click on the right-hand side of the window and select New > String Value
5. Name the new value 29 and press Enter
6. Double-click on the new value and enter the following value data: %windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-50
7. Click OK to save the changes
8. Close the Registry Editor and restart File Explorer

After following these steps, the chevrons should no longer appear next to folders in File Explorer.

References

• Microsoft. (2021). Change file, folder, and search options in Windows 10
• Microsoft. (2021). How to customize folder icons
• Microsoft. (2021). How to use icon files

In this article, we discussed how to remove chevrons from folders in File Explorer in Windows 10. By using a registry hack, you can declutter the appearance of File Explorer and make it easier to quickly identify folders. This can be especially useful when there are no subfolders or files within the folder, or when using custom folder icons.