Disable Favorite Links Panel in Windows Vista Explorer
If you dislike the new Favorite Links panel in the Windows Vista Explorer panel, you might not realize that it's really called the Navigation Pane, and it's extremely simple to turn off.
If you want to disable the entire panel, just click the Organize button, and select Layout, and then deselect Navigation Pane.
And just like that, no more Favorite Links bar. The only problem with this is that it also hides the Folders view as well. (read further)
If you want to show the folders view instead of the favorite links panel, just hold your mouse over the top of the folders bar until it changes to a resize icon like this:
Then just drag it all the way up to the top, and you will only see the Folders view from now on.
Thanks to everybody in the comments for leaving comments about this.
this removes the whole navigation pane, not just the fav links panel - it would be nice to be able to have the nav panel but not the fav links (it just takes up unwanted space and I dont use it).
You can drag it shut if you don't want the favorite links panels.
… durp. Thanks, Geo. Now that I've done that, I can't believe I spent fifteen minutes trying to figure out how to disable that panel without killing my folder tree view.
Now, does anyone know how to get the Links taskbar toolbar to map to the Users\myName\Links folder, instead of the Favorites\Links folder? I'd really like to start using that from the taskbar, but I don't want it to mess with the Favorites section.
thanks geo. helped me allot. cant believe i took 30 min and still didnt think of just dragging the fav links panel closed. i love the folder tree view, so thanks again.
Honestly, I could not find a way to drag the favorite links panel. I get not mouse activity at all when I hover or click on it. The folder panel, on the other hand, goes up and down on a single mouse click, which was very annoying when I tried to drag it to a new position, which is not supported. Gawd I hate the new UI. The re-design seems totally unnecessary and arbitrary. I hope that MS wins over enough Mac users to account for the defections to linux.
…how to get the Links taskbar toolbar to map to the Users\myName\Links folder, instead of the Favorites\Links folder?
No, I don't know how. But somehow I ended up with TWO links folders, one of which IE7 uses in its toolbar and the other one Vista uses on the desktop taskbar. I did not plan it that way — it happened when I moved my old data and favorites from an old ENGLISH XP computer to my new GERMAN VISTA machine. One of these links folders uses the German term for links (Verknüpfungen). This is the one that can be activated from the Vista taskbar properties. It was initially empty, so I filled it with shortcuts to my favorite PROGRAMS.
Small problem: Vista thinks I want to go to the Internet and makes me confirm every click, even though I have User Access Control switched off. Sigh.
Wasn't the question How to "Disable Favorite Links Panel in Windows Vista Explorer" and NOT how do you turn off the Navigation Pane.
This did not answer the question AT ALL.
You get an F for the answer and an additional F for not understanding the question.
Geo, was correct although the explanation was missing. If you put your cursor at the very top edge of the 'Folders" bar until it changes to the 'double arrow' cursor you can click and drag the Folders until it covers the Favorites.
THANKS for the last comment! it was driving me NUTS!
Thanks Geo and Glacia! Your advice work for me. I hate that Favorite Links Panel too!
glacia OMG THANK YOU
I SPEND FOR FREAKING EVER TRYING TO DO THAT @_@
Does anyone know how to put Favorites (URL addresses) on the menu bar? i can go to customize and click favorites but it only gives me the option of putting Add to Favorites and Organize Favorites to drag up. I use a lot of the same websites daily and at the moment i have to use the scroll on my address window and search down for the one i want.
Just drag it? OH!
I'd tried that but clearly I haven't got the precision required by MS programmers, it just kept snapping shut and open again - thanks for the advice - perseverance pays!
One Vista issue sorted, 239 to go…
You can drag it shut if you don't want the favorite links panels.
Well, now don't I feel like a retard! I've been trying to close that stupid-assed thing for weeks.
Yeah, turning off the Navigation pane doesn't do it… I'd have to agree with glacia's assessment of the tip - no bueno Mr. Geek. Although now that I've read through these posts I've at least learned how to get rid if this ridiculous thing - just drag it closed.
It boggles the mind that something like this is seen by MSFT as an "improvement". How can using up a large chunk of valuable real estate in the explorer window be seen by anyone as a good thing?
Oy Vey!
I've updated the article to explain how to show the folders instead of the favorite links panel instead.
I have a second problem: How can I disable the very annoying "moving folders"?
If you have only 2nd, 3rd and so on levels on the navigation panel but you don't have root level (ie desktop) the folders panel moves left and right all the time to whichever level is the lowest. And I hate it, it sucks big time and I want to disable it.
Because I use only me my computer I like Favorite Links but I don't know why they are gone. I have enabled Navigation Pane and I have many favorite folders but not showed. Only word "empty". maybe is conflict with Favorites from IE because I've moved default Favirites folder from User to My Documents in D:\.Any idea why not showed my favorite links in Navigation pane, please?
Sorry for my english.
Dragging it shut with stupid aero is not so obvious… the end of the folder control is higher than you can easily see…… move mouse up slowly above the "folders" word and you'll get it…
I really don't like this vista junk and the way they've changed so many things around. Thanks for the how to. It was anything but obvious how to get rid of the links.
Thanks, simple but useful
Thank you so much for your pointers! This is like learning all the hidden secrets by clicking random objects in a video game!!!!
well…
try dragging out the favorite pane in a normal mode window, then maximize it. ups!
workaround: drag the folder panel up, but NOT all the way. stop just when it covers up the "favorite links" text.
now THAT's the stuff.
Thank You
OMG - THANK YOU !!!!
I cannot tell you HOW LONG I have been trying to figure this out, and now I feel like an idiot that it was so simple.
YOU ROCK!!
YIPPIE !!!
I got ride of the that stupid favourites panel
Cheers Buds from a Mac/Linux/Windoze user (in that order)
I figured out how to remove the links panel easy enough. (Running Vista Home Premium)
What REALLY driving me crazy is the "Favorites" , "links" and "Searches FOLDERS in the documents folder under Users>My Name
I delete them and they keep coming back after restart. Persistent little buggers.
The only way I can remove them is by using their properties and making them hidden. But I like to see my hidden folders and would have to change this just to circumvent this nag.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
I am paid like most people by the quality of what I produce from my PC.
Time wasted by having to convert to the Vista and Office 2007 quirks does not benefit anyone.
THANKS!!!! simple stuff but still so hard to figure out.. haha
many thanks for that. it was driving me nuts !!
f___ing brilliant! Thanks.
BION (believe it or not) that was almost my last problem with Vista.
Last one is how to prevent the My……. folders reappearing after I delete them. I store music/pictures/roboform data etc in another partition and don't need them cluttering up my main data partition. Advice from the geek or others appreciated. Thanks.
Excellent, thnx!!!
Thanks! Although it seems obvious now, I've been searching a way to do this for some time now.