Microsoft has recently unveiled Build 26200.8313 (KB5083631) for the Release Preview Channel, introducing a noteworthy enhancement to File Explorer that addresses a long-standing inconsistency in folder view settings. This update ensures that user preferences—such as sorting by name, disabling “Group by date,” adjusting icon sizes, or changing layouts—remain intact regardless of how a folder is accessed.
File Explorer finally keeps folder views consistent everywhere
Historically, customizing folder views in File Explorer has been a somewhat unpredictable experience. For instance, one might set their Downloads folder to display files as “Extra large icons,” only to find that accessing the same folder via the Edge browser resets the view to a “Details” format. Such discrepancies have often led users to resign themselves to this erratic behavior. However, with the latest update, Microsoft is taking significant steps to rectify this issue.
The new update guarantees that folder view preferences will remain consistent across all access points. If a user disables the “Group by date” option in their Downloads folder, that setting will persist even when the folder is opened from a web browser or another application. This consistency extends to sorting methods, icon sizes, and overall layouts, providing a more seamless user experience.
<figure id="attachment88905″ aria-describedby=”caption-attachment-88905″ class=”wp-caption aligncenter”><figcaption id="caption-attachment88905″ class=”wp-caption-text”>Windows 11 update KB5083631 with Build 26200.8313 for Release Preview Channel
As Microsoft notes in the Windows Insider blog, “Improves folder view consistency so customized settings (such as sorting files by name or adjusting icon size) now apply across all ways you open a folder. When you open the same folder from another app, such as a web browser, your preferences persist automatically.”
Why was this happening?
It’s important to clarify that this inconsistency was not a bug. File Explorer does retain folder view settings, but the application of these settings has been inconsistent due to the way they are stored. The view preferences are saved in the registry under the Shell Bags system, with settings linked to how the folder is accessed rather than the folder itself.
When a folder is opened directly in File Explorer, it utilizes one shell context. Conversely, accessing the same folder from another application, such as a browser, can invoke a different shell path. In some instances, Windows interprets this as a separate view instance, leading to the application of a different stored “Bag.” This limitation has been a persistent challenge in Windows’ handling of folder views.
More File Explorer improvements are coming to Windows
In addition to the consistency update, KB5083631 introduces several other enhancements to File Explorer. Users can expect improved launch performance, a reduction in the white flash experienced in dark mode, and expanded support for additional archive formats, including uu, cpio, xar, and nupkg. Furthermore, reliability improvements have been made to explorer.exe when closing windows.
As this update is now available in the Release Preview channel, it is anticipated to roll out to standard Windows 11 PCs by May, including the folder consistency feature. Additionally, Microsoft is currently testing a modern search bar in File Explorer, although the timeline for its rollout remains uncertain, as it is currently only available in the Canary preview builds.
Looking ahead, Microsoft has committed to delivering major updates to File Explorer, including performance enhancements, all scheduled for release later in 2026.
