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Is there a Windows 7 Explorer keyboard shortcut to set focus to files/folders/content area (depicted below)?

This has bothered me for so long... I want to set my explorer window's focus to the files pane (shown below). What's the most efficient way to do that with a keyboard?

enter image description here

Here's what I've been doing:
- Tab / Shift+Tab to move focus through interactive window elements until it looks like a selection rectangle appears over one of the files in my window.
- Alt+V, Alt+D to change appearance setting of a folder contents' icons. Doesn't always work, depending on what's selected at the time.

Pup
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11 Answers11

33

Try Ctrl+Tab, that should do it.

For the record the terminology you are referring to is called "Property Tab Navigation" ...

Properties control

CTRL+TAB/CTRL+SHIFT+TAB: Move through the property tabs
Edward J Beckett
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13

You can use AutoHotkey to move the keyboard focus to the file pane. In this example, I use the hotkey Win+Space:

#IfWinActive ahk_class CabinetWClass ; Windows Explorer
    #Space::
        ControlFocus, DirectUIHWND3, A
        SendInput, {Space}
        return
#IfWinActive

See Also:

iglvzx
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11

Ctrl+E (or Ctrl+F) followed by Esc

Works in Windows 7, 8.1, 10

RashaMatt
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7

I came here because I'm looking for a solution too.

The fastest way I found to do that was to go back and forth: use Alt+UP and then ENTER. Almost always works.

Jason Aller
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yellowblood
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4

Two solutions I use: -

The first is from this Microsoft support thread where they recommend a third party app which focuses on the window under the mouse if you use the scroll wheel - which is rather handy now considering the segmented approach to Explorer.

And the other, keyboard only, is the Alt+D hotkey to focus the address bar, then press Shift+Tab twice to bring the focus to the file list (the first Shift+Tab focuses on the sorting headings). A third Shift+Tab sends focus to the folder pane.

Jon
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2

If you have just opened the Explorer window you can press Space (thanks to a @mnmnc's comment).

Otherwise Ctrl+Tab seems to always work.

bluish
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2

A compromise...
Hide the menu along the top of the Explorer window. Go to:
Tools -> "Folder Options..." -> "View" tab -> Deselect "Always show menus"

Now focus can be moved from the left and right panes (shown below) using Tab & Shift+Tab.

enter image description here

Pup
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1

You could just do Ctrl+F then TAB twice. Just as fast as any keyboard shortcut and you don't have to install anything.

Vivian De Smedt
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Lester
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1

Type: Ctrl+FTABTAB if the navigation pane is present.

Type: Ctrl+FTAB otherwise.

Vivian De Smedt
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1

Thanks to iglvzx for the AutoHotkey solution. Unfortunately, it didn't always work for me, because sometimes the focus would be on the first column header in detail view. Pressing the space there causes the contents to be resorted. To fix that problem, I wound up changing the code to use a mouse click instead. Here is the new code:

#IfWinActive ahk_class CabinetWClass ; Windows Explorer

   #Space::

  ; Get coordinates of content control within explorer window
  ControlGetPos, x, y, w, h, DirectUIHWND3, ahk_class CabinetWClass

  ; Offset to get past column headers in Details View
  x += 100
  y += 30

  ; Send a mouse click to change focus to content window
  SendInput, {Click %x%, %y%}

  return

#IfWinActive
Mike Ruf
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I know this is a really old thread, and focussing on Windows 7, but I've been looking for a way to do the same thing in Windows 11 and finally found you can press F6 to to toggle between the title tabs, the navigation and then finally the file/folder list.

Nick
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