How to Delete Windows Explorer Address Bar History in Windows

As most of you know, our browsers keep track of our browsing history and help us fill in the URL of our frequently-visited websites when we type in the address bar. Just like in a web browser, Windows Explorer also keeps track of your frequently-opened folders so that you can easily move back and forth between them.

In fact, if you open File Explorer and click on that little down arrow icon in the address bar, it will show you all the frequent folders that you’ve visited. Using that drop-down menu, you can easily navigate to your favorite folders. If you don’t like this or want to delete the File Explorer address bar history, here are a couple of ways to do it.

Note: even though I’m showing this in Windows 10, the below discussed methods will also work in Windows 7 and 8.

Delete Directly from the File Explorer

The easiest way to delete the Windows Explorer history is directly from the File Explorer itself. To do that, open the File Explorer using the keyboard shortcut “Win + E.” Once the File Explorer has been opened, right-click on the address bar and select the “Delete History” option.

You won’t receive any prompts, but the File Explorer history has been cleared in the background. You can confirm that by clicking on that little drop-down icon in the address bar.

Delete from Folder Options

The second easiest way is to use the folder options. To start, open File Explorer using the “Win + E” shortcut, and then select “Options” from the “View” tab.

Once the Folder Options window has been opened, click on the “Clear” button to clear all the File Explorer history. This action clears the File Explorer address bar and the files and folders in quick access.

If you don’t want File Explorer to store your recent file and folder history, then uncheck both checkboxes under the Privacy section and click on the “Ok” button to save the changes.

Delete Using Windows Registry Editor

This is not the most elegant or easiest way, but you can also delete the File Explorer address bar history using the Windows Registry editor. To do that, press “Win + R,” type regedit and press the Enter button.

After opening the Windows Registry editor, navigate to the following key:

The Registry editor will display the File Explorer address bar history as a list of URLs. Since each URL is displayed separately, you can actually delete them individually. To do that, right-click on the URL string value, and then select the “Delete” option.

The above action will show you a warning message. Simply click on the “Yes” button to delete the string value.

If you want to delete the complete File Explorer address bar history, then select all the URLs except “(Default)” using the Ctrl key on you keyboard; right-click on them, and then select the “Delete” option.

Do comment below sharing your thoughts and experiences about using the above methods to delete the File Explorer address bar history in Windows.

Vamsi is a tech and WordPress geek who enjoys writing how-to guides and messing with his computer and software in general. When not writing for MTE, he writes for he shares tips, tricks, and lifehacks on his own blog Stugon.

Show Full Path in Address Bar in Windows 10 File Explorer

How to Show Full Path in Address Bar in File Explorer in Windows 10

File Explorer is the default file management app which is bundled with Windows starting with Windows 95. Besides file management operations, Explorer.exe also implements the shell — the Desktop, taskbar, desktop icons and also the Start menu are parts of the Explorer app. By default, File Explorer only shows a part of an open folder in the address bar, hiding the rest of the path behind breadcrumbs. You can make it show the full path to the current folder.

Starting with Windows 8, File Explorer got the Ribbon user interface and the quick access toolbar. While it has no option to get rid of the Ribbon, there is a method that you can use to permanently disable the Ribbon and restore the classic Explorer look with a command bar and a menu row.

By default, the address bar in File Explorer app contains the name of a folder you are currently browsing and a part of its path. The other part of its path is hidden behind breadcrumbs. Instead of the actual folder location, e.g. c:\users\user\pictures, the address bar shows a path like «This PC > Pictures». The breadcrumbs also include navigation buttons to show the locations related to the current folder path.

However, sometimes you need to know the actual folder path. There are three methods you can use.

To Show Full Path in Address Bar in File Explorer in Windows 10,

1. Press the Alt + L keys together on the keyboard.
2. Alternatively, press Alt + D .
3. Click on the location icon to the left of the breadcrumbs.
4. Or, click on an empty area next to the current folder path.

You are done. Regardless of the method you have used, you will see the full path to the current folder opened in File Explorer. See the following screenshot:

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Sergey Tkachenko is a software developer from Russia who started Winaero back in 2011. On this blog, Sergey is writing about everything connected to Microsoft, Windows and popular software. Follow him on Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube.

2 thoughts on “ Show Full Path in Address Bar in Windows 10 File Explorer ”

Unfortunately these options do not work for me. Option 1 does nothing. And option 2, 3 and 4 just show “Documents” when coming from “This PC > Documents”.

However, when going one folder deeper than Documents options 2, 3 and 4 do show the full path.

Windows Explorer Explained: The Address Bar

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Judging by the volume of e-mail I’ve received in the last few days, a lot of people share my confusion and/or frustration with Windows Explorer. I’m glad to hear these mini-tutorials are proving helpful, and I’ll keep them coming for at least another couple days.

Today, let’s talk about the Address Bar, which is not only poorly named (it should really be called the Location Bar), but also pretty confusing—especially for users who were accustomed to the Windows XP version.

Found near the top of the Explorer window, the Address Bar displays the hard drive «address» of the currently selected folder. In XP, that would look something like this: C:\Data\Spreadsheets\Financials\Third Quarter. But in Vista and Windows 7, the Address Bar got an overhaul:

Gone were the backslashes; in their place, little arrows. Though it may look a little weird, this new convention offers a much better way to navigate your folders. (Novice users, now would be a good time to read my post on the difference between files and folders.)

In the above example, I’ve opened the PC World folder, which is a sub-folder of my Graphics folder. Graphics is a sub-folder of Data, which is a folder that’s found on the root directory of my hard drive.

Suppose I want to quickly jump from the PC World folder to the Data folder. Simple: just click Data in the Address Bar. And if I want to jump to a different Data sub-folder (say, Documents instead of Graphics), I click the little arrow next to Data, then choose the folder I want.

This makes a lot more sense once you try it out for yourself. The bottom line is that the Address Bar can make folder navigation a lot quicker. But it’s optional—if you’re more comfortable with the traditional tree structure, there’s always the Navigation pane (see Windows Explorer Explained: Changing the Layout).

Ready for a couple Address Bar tricks? If you click in a blank area, the location instantly changes to show the old-school folder path. You can type in a different path and press Enter to jump directly to it. Or, better yet, type in the name of a common location: Computer, Contacts, Control Panel, Documents, Favorites, Pictures, and so on. Neat!

Use the Explorer address bar as a Run box for executing commands in Windows 10

One of our several one-liner quick tips for Windows is that you can use the Explorer address bar as a Run box. The Windows File Explorer lets you manage your files and folders. You can navigate it by using the links in the left navigation pane or by typing the folder locations in the address bar.

Use Explorer address bar as Run box

There are several new features in Windows 10 File Explorer. The prominent changes among them include Quick Access instead of Favorites, New tabs Home and Share, Direct access to One Drive. It opens to Quick Access now, and so on.

Most of us use the Run box, the Start Search box or the Taskbar address bar to execute Run commands. Now you may not have done this before, but you can also use the Explorer address bar as a Run box. It is quite simple to do it. Now, this feature is not something new in Windows 10 – it existed in Windows 8.1 and maybe even in earlier versions.

If you have Windows File Explorer open, and you need to open any of built-in Windows tools, Control Panel applet or features, there is no need for you to open a Run box. We have seen how you can Run Commands from Start Search, now let us see how to do this.

Execute Run commands from Explorer address bar

To execute Run command from Windows File Explorer, simply type any of the usual Run commands like msconfig, cmd , gpedit.msc , regedit , cleanmgr , etc., in the address bar and hit Enter. The command will be executed, and the tool or setting opened.

You can even open your system folders like Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Videos, etc. Simply type documents, downloads, pictures, videos, etc., respectively to navigate directly to that folder.

Want to take a look at these 3 geeky Windows Run commands you may have never heard of?

Date: November 18, 2018 Tags: Explorer, Run

address bar not working in internet explorer

If I type the URL in address bar and press enter, nothing happens. Page doesn’t open.

I have set the home page which opens when I open IE and new tab.

I can open local files (Not typing in address bar, but by dragging the file and dropping it in IE window). I can open any URL from inside a IFRAME of local file.

I have IE9. I had the same problem with IE8 also. It is running on Windows 7 OS.

Replies (6) 

If I type the URL in address bar and press enter, nothing happens. Page doesn’t open.

Do you have AutoComplete for the Address bar enabled? When you start typing if it matches something and you choose that does it open?

Depending on what you type, your «nothing happens» symptom description sounds suspiciously like interference from a Search provider.

I had the same problem with IE8 also. It is running on Windows 7 OS.

It would probably be a good idea to uninstall IE9, do a RIES in IE8 and then see if your symptom persists.

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Thanks Robert Aldwinckle.

But, If I turn on suggestions, it shows in the drop down as I type. If I select anything, then nothing happens.

I had tried RIES in IE8. That also didn’t work.

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But, If I turn on suggestions, it shows in the drop down as I type. If I select anything, then nothing happens.

I guess that at least clears up whether you are using a complete URL which would not be passed to a Search provider. What about the other case then—explicitly using the Search bar? E.g. press Ctrl-e, type something that you would expect to be submitted to a search engine and press Enter. Which Search Provider would you be sending it to? And if it has Search Suggestions enabled for it was that working when you were typing? You weren’t clear about what all you were seeing in «the drop down as I type». I was thinking mainly of you being able to do a conventional match from either Favorites or History which would be complete URLs but getting signs that you were seeing automatic search done as you type would be a significant clue to add to your symptom description too. Choose a different Search Provider and test it too. Related to that you could go into Manage Add-ons Search Providers and try to get into Find more. (Alt-x,Alt-M,Alt-S,Alt-F) What happens then? E.g. a reason for doing that test is that it normally opens in a new window.

On another tack when you do have a complete URL to use showing selected in the IE Address bar, try copying to Clipboard and then using it from a Windows Explorer Address bar (Win-E, Alt-d, Ctrl-v) or Run. dialog (Win-R, Ctrl-v). What happens if you press Enter then?

On a completely different tack have you tried testing after booting in safe mode with networking or tried using a different account in either case? Doing either of the latter would at least be a start at doing some clean-boot troubleshooting, e.g. trying to test the hypothesis that something else that you have in your Startup could be interfering to cause your symptom.

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