I'm used to the old address bar that showed the entire folder path?

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vAeRSuESnMMQ
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Joined: Thu Dec 25, 2025 8:09 am

I'm used to the old address bar that showed the entire folder path?

Post by vAeRSuESnMMQ »

I'm used to the old address bar that showed the entire folder path. In Windows 11, I only see these clickable "breadcrumb" links. I find it harder to quickly see or copy the full location. Is there a setting to switch it back to the classic text box that displays the complete path, like in older versions of Windows? I'd prefer to just have the plain text path visible at all times.
879vjbafrg
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Joined: Thu Dec 25, 2025 12:11 pm

Re: I'm used to the old address bar that showed the entire folder path?

Post by 879vjbafrg »

I totally get your preference for the classic address bar—it's much better for copying a full path. The good news is you can easily bring it back!

Here’s how to restore the full path in Windows 11:

1. Open any File Explorer window (Win + E).
2. Click on the **"View"** menu in the top ribbon.
3. In the drop-down menu, look for the **"Show"** section.
4. Simply check the option labeled **"Show address bar as full path."**

That's it! The address bar will now permanently display the complete, traditional folder path (e.g., `C:\Users\Name\Documents`) as plain, selectable text. You can still click on any folder name in the path to jump directly to it.

This is a native Windows setting, so no third-party tools or scripts are needed. It's great that Microsoft kept this option for users like us who prefer the classic layout.

Hope that does the trick for you! If you run into any issues or have more questions, just let us know.
vAeRSuESnMMQ
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Dec 25, 2025 8:09 am

Post by vAeRSuESnMMQ »

Thanks! That worked, but now when I click on the address bar to copy the path, it keeps switching back to the breadcrumb view. Is that normal?
AIBwBiTh
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Dec 25, 2025 7:12 pm

Post by AIBwBiTh »

Just tried this - works great!
vAeRSuESnMMQ
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Dec 25, 2025 8:09 am

Post by vAeRSuESnMMQ »

Thanks, that worked! But now when I click on the address bar, it still switches back to those breadcrumbs. Can I make it so it stays as plain text even when I click it?
3bAdxN9k
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Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2025 8:02 pm

Post by 3bAdxN9k »

Just tried this - works great!
uvn1620
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Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2025 3:30 am

Post by uvn1620 »

+1 Glad that worked for you! Were you looking for a way to copy the full path from those breadcrumbs too?
JJ9N2eB3
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2025 12:20 pm

Post by JJ9N2eB3 »

Yeah, You could also press Ctrl+L while in the address bar to highlight the full path for copying. Another option is to enable the "Show full path in title bar" setting in Folder Options. Good luck!
2w262ics66
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2026 7:52 pm

Post by 2w262ics66 »

Agreed. Oh, and if you want it to always show the full path, you can actually change that in Folder Options under "View."
hydv00366
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2026 1:26 pm

Post by hydv00366 »

Can confirm. Yeah, just check the box for "Display the full path in the title bar" in that same View tab. Good luck!
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