How To Enable or Disable Compact View in File Explorer in Windows 11. Compact View in Windows 11 helps you see more items in File Explorer by reducing the space between entries. It improves visibility on smaller screens, touch devices, and managed environments that need denser layouts. Let’s walk through several ways to turn Compact View on or off using both GUI and command-based tools. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne’s IT video hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. Why Compact View Matters. Compact View allows users to navigate folders more efficiently. It works well for environments that manage large numbers of files, and it helps admins apply consistent layouts across multiple devices. Next, you can use File Explorer to make quick adjustments without modifying deeper system settings. How To Toggle Compact View With File Explorer. You can start with the Command Bar inside File Explorer. Open File Explorer, select View, hover over Show, and choose Compact View. A check mark indicates that it is active. You can also use Folder Options as an alternative GUI method. You can also use Folder Options if you need another GUI method. Open Options from the Command Bar, go to the View tab, and enable or disable “Decrease space between items.” How To Configure Compact View With System Tools. Meanwhile, administrators can use the Registry, Command Prompt, or PowerShell for deployable changes. In the Registry, go to the Advanced key and adjust the UseCompactMode value. A value of 1 enables Compact View, and a value of 0 disables it. These same values can be applied using command-line tools. Command Prompt supports the reg add command, while PowerShell uses Set-ItemProperty to apply the setting. Both options work well for scripts and remote management. How To Manage Compact View Through Group Policy. Finally, enterprises can use Group Policy. Go to the File Explorer policies and configure “Turn off Compact View.” This method allows domain administrators to enforce the layout across multiple devices in a managed environment. For more information, check out our official blog post on Enabling or Disabling Compact View in File Explorer in Windows 11, linked in the description below.