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How to Turn On or Off Display File Size Info in Folder Tips in Windows 10

by Richelle Arevalo, IT Technical Writer
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Key Points

  • Purpose: Guide to enabling or disabling file size info in folder tips in Windows 10/11 for better usability or system performance.
  • What It Does: Controls whether Windows Explorer shows file size details when hovering over folders.
  • Why It Matters:
    • Enable: Quick folder insights
    • Disable: Faster performance on slower systems
  • How-To (File Explorer):
    • Open File Explorer
    • Open the Folder Options windows and go to View > Display file size information in folder tips.
    • Enable or disable based on your preference.

When hovering over files and folders in File Explorer on Windows, a tooltip displays details such as name, type, and size. The file size information allows users to quickly check a file’s size without opening its properties. Enabling this feature lets you view file sizes at a glance. While disabling it reduces clutter and speeds up file browsing, especially for large directories.

While this is a useful feature, some users opt to configure these settings. This guide will show you how to easily turn on or off display file size info in Windows 10 in File Explorer.

How to enable or disable file size info in folder tips

This section walks you through various ways to enable or disable the file size information in folder tips in File Explorer.

Using Folder Options in File Explorer

Using Folder Options in File Explorer is the simplest way to enable or disable the display of file size information. It’s ideal for home users and doesn’t require admin privileges.

  1. Press Win + E to open the File Explorer.
  2. Go to the View tab in the ribbon, then select Options located at the far right to open the Folder Options window.
  3. In the Folder Options window, go to the View tab.
  4. Scroll down to Display file size information in folder tips.
  5. Either tick to enable or untick to disable Display file size information in folder tips based on your preference.
  6. Tap Apply > OK to apply changes.

Alternative method

This alternative method is for those who manage a shared computer. You can use this to apply the setting to all user accounts on a single computer.

Using Local Group Policy Editor (for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education users)

⚠️ Note: The policy described below may not be available in Windows 10 builds 1809 and later. Microsoft has deprecated or removed it in newer updates of the Professional, Enterprise, and Education editions.

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type gpedit.msc and hit Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
  3. Navigate to the following: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.
  4. Look for the policy named Turn off the display of file size information in folder tips.
  5. Double-click it and set it to Enabled (to turn off file size info) or Disabled (to turn it on) based on your preference.
  6. Click Apply > OK to confirm.
  7. Restart File Explorer to apply the changes.

Troubleshooting & common issues

Here are some common issues you may encounter when enabling or disabling the display of file size in Windows 10. Follow the steps below to troubleshoot them.

File size info doesn’t appear even after enabling the setting

This can happen if the folder is too large or contains too many files or subfolders. Try any of the following:

Refreshing File Explorer

  1. Press Win + E to open the File Explorer.
  2. Right-click on an empty area.
  3. Select Refresh.

Restarting computer

  1. Click the Start button.
  2. Select the Power button.
  3. Tap Restart.

Can’t find Display file size info in folder tips option

Ensure you’re in the correct location: the View tab in Folder Options. Also, check if your Windows 10 is up-to-date, as some versions may have limited features.

Manage File Explorer’s file size info in folder tips

Folder tips display file size information when hovering over files in File Explorer. You can enable or disable this feature via Folder Options or Group Policy. Disabling file size information can speed up browsing, especially in large folders.

Keep in mind that this setting only affects how information is displayed; it doesn’t impact file functionality. You can easily reverse changes at any time through the same settings.

FAQs

No, disabling the file size info affects only the folder tips. It removes the file size information that appears when you hover over a folder in File Explorer. It does not affect file access; all files will remain fully accessible.

Yes, you can still view file sizes even with this setting turned off. File sizes will still appear in File Explorer’s details view. A layout that displays your files and folders in a list format. It includes detailed information for each item, such as date modified, type, size, and more. Here’s how to access the details view:

  1. Press Win + E to open the File Explorer.
  2. Click on the View tab in the top toolbar.
  3. Select Details. This will display files and folders in a list format with columns for various details, including the file size.
  4. If the size column isn’t visible, right-click on any column header and select size to add it.

Another way to view sizes is by right-clicking a file or folder and selecting Properties to view the total size. Here’s how:

  1. Press Win + E to open the File Explorer.
  2. Navigate to the file or folder you want to check.
  3. Right-click it and select Properties.
  4. In the General tab, you will see both the actual size and the size on disk.

No, the Folder Options method applies only to the user for whom it’s enabled or disabled. On the other hand, Local Group Policy changes are system-wide and affect all user accounts on the system.

If you’d like to view a folder’s size in detail, right-click the folder and select Properties. This will show you the exact size of all its contents, including subfolders and hidden files.

The fastest way to check a folder’s size is to hover over it. A folder tip will appear with the size information, providing a quick glance at the folder’s size.

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