Microsoft is preparing to remove some folder options from the Windows File Explorer program. The motivation for deprecating these is that they are said to be rarely used, but many power users will disagree with Microsoft’s decision.
“As part of our effort to clean up a number of File Explorer settings, we are removing some obsolete settings in File Explorer’s Folder Options.” statement Microsoft is reading. “Many of these are legacy settings that have been around for a long time and are not regularly used by people with Windows 11.”
Here are the folder settings that no longer appear in File Explorer folder options:
- Hide folder merge conflicts.
- Always show icons, never thumbnails.
- Show file icons on thumbnails.
- Show file type information in folder tips.
- Hide protected OS files.
- Show drive letter.
- Displays pop-up descriptions of folders and desktop items.
- Displays encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color.
- Use the share wizard.
Microsoft stresses that these settings are still accessible via registry keys, so they can be used, but that they will only make them much more difficult to use.
Software developers tend to add features to their programs, but sometimes remove certain features to make the user interface a little less usable or to stop testing features that most people don’t use. Some features are deprecated and others are duplicated, so this is not a big deal for the majority of people.
However, things like “Show drive letter” and “Show file icons on thumbnails” are not seldom used items, especially if they aren’t turned on by default. In fact, not displaying file types with icons can be used as vectors for virus and Trojan horse exploits.
Another aspect about certain features used by the 1% of advanced users is that removing these features does not simplify the operating system or significantly reduce its size on disk. It means no. On the other hand, this makes life difficult for some advanced users who appreciate maintaining control.
