{"id":10178,"date":"2026-05-12T06:07:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T06:07:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/?p=10178"},"modified":"2026-05-12T06:14:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T06:14:59","slug":"how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stop Compact View From Changing in Windows"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve ever opened File Explorer in Windows only to find that your view settings have mysteriously changed, you\u2019re not alone. Many users prefer a specific layout\u2014such as Details view, neatly aligned columns, or Compact view enabled\u2014and find it frustrating when Windows reverts to another display style. Fortunately, there are ways to control how your folders look and prevent Compact view or other layout settings from constantly changing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>TLDR:<\/strong> Windows may change Compact view and folder layout settings automatically due to folder type templates, automatic folder discovery, or system settings. You can stop this behavior by manually setting a default folder view, disabling automatic folder type discovery, and applying your preferred settings to all folders. Adjusting File Explorer options and, in some cases, editing the registry can permanently fix the issue. With the right tweaks, your folder layout will stay exactly how you like it.<\/p>\n<h2>Understanding Compact View in Windows<\/h2>\n<p><em>Compact view<\/em> in Windows 11 reduces the spacing between files and folders in File Explorer, allowing more items to appear on the screen at once. Some users prefer the cleaner, more spaced layout when Compact view is turned off, while others enjoy the denser layout for productivity.<\/p>\n<p>However, Windows sometimes resets this setting or applies different layouts to different folders based on what it \u201cthinks\u201d the folder contains\u2014such as pictures, music, or documents. This can make it seem as if Compact view is randomly changing.<\/p>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/>\n<h2>Why Windows Keeps Changing Your Folder View<\/h2>\n<p>Before fixing the issue, it\u2019s important to understand why it happens. Windows uses <strong>folder templates<\/strong> to optimize folders for different content types. These templates include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>General items<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Documents<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Pictures<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Music<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Videos<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When Windows detects a certain type of content (like many image files), it may automatically switch the folder to a Pictures template with larger thumbnails. This can override your preferred view settings, including Compact view.<\/p>\n<p>Other possible causes include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Major Windows updates resetting File Explorer settings<\/li>\n<li>Corrupted folder view cache<\/li>\n<li>Conflicting third-party software<\/li>\n<li>Syncing via OneDrive or other cloud services<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<h2>How to Stop Compact View From Changing<\/h2>\n<h3>1. Manually Set and Apply Your Preferred View to All Folders<\/h3>\n<p>This is the most straightforward solution, and for many users, it\u2019s enough.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>File Explorer<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Navigate to any folder.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>View<\/strong> in the top menu.<\/li>\n<li>Turn <strong>Compact view<\/strong> on or off, depending on your preference.<\/li>\n<li>Select your desired layout (Details, List, Large icons, etc.).<\/li>\n<li>Click the three dots (<strong>&#8230;<\/strong>) in the toolbar and choose <strong>Options<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>In the Folder Options window, go to the <strong>View<\/strong> tab.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Apply to Folders<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Confirm when prompted.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This instructs Windows to use your current folder\u2019s layout as the default for folders of that same type.<\/p>\nImage not found in postmeta<br \/>\n<p><strong>Tip:<\/strong> Repeat the process for each folder template type if necessary (Documents, Pictures, etc.).<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>2. Change Folder Template to General Items<\/h3>\n<p>If Windows keeps switching specific folders to a different layout, the problem may be the assigned folder template.<\/p>\n<p>To fix it:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Right-click the folder that keeps changing.<\/li>\n<li>Select <strong>Properties<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Go to the <strong>Customize<\/strong> tab.<\/li>\n<li>Under <em>Optimize this folder for:<\/em>, choose <strong>General items<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Check <strong>Also apply this template to all subfolders<\/strong> if needed.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Apply<\/strong> and then <strong>OK<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Setting everything to General items can prevent Windows from making automatic layout decisions based on file content.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>3. Reset and Rebuild Folder View Cache<\/h3>\n<p>Sometimes the problem isn\u2019t your settings\u2014it\u2019s the internal view cache Windows uses to remember folder preferences. If that becomes corrupted, layouts may reset repeatedly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Important:<\/strong> This method involves editing the registry. Always create a restore point first.<\/p>\n<p>Basic steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Press <strong>Win + R<\/strong>, type <strong>regedit<\/strong>, and press Enter.<\/li>\n<li>Navigate to:<br \/>\n<em>HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Classes\\Local Settings\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Shell<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Delete the following keys if they exist:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bags<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>BagMRU<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Restart your computer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This forces Windows to rebuild folder view settings from scratch. After restarting, configure your layout preference again and apply it to all folders.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>4. Increase Folder View Memory Limit<\/h3>\n<p>By default, Windows remembers view settings for a limited number of folders. Once that limit is reached, older settings may be overwritten, causing your layout (including Compact view) to revert.<\/p>\n<p>To increase the limit:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>Registry Editor<\/strong> (Win + R, type regedit).<\/li>\n<li>Go to:<br \/>\n<em>HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Classes\\Local Settings\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Shell<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Right-click in the right pane and choose <strong>New \u2192 DWORD (32-bit) Value<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Name it <strong>BagMRU Size<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Double-click it and set the value to <strong>10000<\/strong> (decimal).<\/li>\n<li>Restart your PC.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This allows Windows to remember settings for many more folders, reducing unwanted changes.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>5. Check Windows Updates<\/h3>\n<p>In some cases, Compact view resets may be due to known Windows bugs that have already been fixed in updates.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings \u2192 Windows Update<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Check for updates<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Install any pending updates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Microsoft frequently patches File Explorer behavior issues, especially in Windows 11.<\/p>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/black-flat-screen-computer-monitor-windows-update-settings-screen-checking-for-updates-windows-11-interface.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/black-flat-screen-computer-monitor-windows-update-settings-screen-checking-for-updates-windows-11-interface.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/black-flat-screen-computer-monitor-windows-update-settings-screen-checking-for-updates-windows-11-interface-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/black-flat-screen-computer-monitor-windows-update-settings-screen-checking-for-updates-windows-11-interface-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/black-flat-screen-computer-monitor-windows-update-settings-screen-checking-for-updates-windows-11-interface-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/>\n<hr>\n<h2>Preventing Future Changes<\/h2>\n<p>After fixing the issue, follow these best practices to keep your settings stable:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Avoid frequent template switching<\/strong> between folder types.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Set templates manually<\/strong> instead of letting Windows detect content automatically.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Be cautious with cleaning utilities<\/strong> that claim to \u201coptimize\u201d Windows\u2014they may delete folder view cache.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sign out properly<\/strong> instead of force-shutting down your PC.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you use OneDrive or another cloud service, make sure the problem isn\u2019t occurring only in synced folders. Sometimes sync resets metadata that affects view customization.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2>Windows 10 vs. Windows 11 Differences<\/h2>\n<p>While the overall solution steps are similar, there are some UI differences:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In <strong>Windows 11<\/strong>, Compact view is toggled directly from the <em>View<\/em> menu.<\/li>\n<li>In <strong>Windows 10<\/strong>, spacing differences may be tied more closely to icon size and layout settings.<\/li>\n<li>Folder template customization works the same in both systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you recently upgraded from Windows 10 to 11, your previous folder memory settings may not have transferred correctly, which can explain sudden layout changes.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2>When Nothing Works<\/h2>\n<p>If Compact view still keeps changing despite all of the above steps, consider:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Creating a <strong>new Windows user profile<\/strong> to see if the problem is profile-specific.<\/li>\n<li>Running <strong>sfc \/scannow<\/strong> in Command Prompt to check for system corruption.<\/li>\n<li>Performing a <strong>repair install<\/strong> of Windows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In most cases, though, resetting the folder view cache and applying the layout to all folders resolves the issue permanently.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2>Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n<p>File Explorer is one of the most frequently used parts of Windows, so even small visual annoyances\u2014like Compact view changing unexpectedly\u2014can become major frustrations over time. The good news is that Windows provides multiple ways to enforce your preferred folder layout once you understand how its template and caching systems work.<\/p>\n<p>By manually setting your preferred view, adjusting folder templates to General items, increasing the folder memory limit, and keeping Windows updated, you can regain control and stop Compact view from changing on its own. A few small tweaks can mean a permanently cleaner, more consistent experience every time you open File Explorer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve ever opened File Explorer in Windows only to find that your view settings have mysteriously changed, you\u2019re not alone. Many users prefer a specific layout\u2014such as Details view, neatly aligned columns, or Compact view enabled\u2014and find it frustrating when Windows reverts to another display style. Fortunately, there are ways to control how your folders look and prevent Compact view or other layout settings from constantly changing. <a href=\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/\" class=\"read-more\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":10180,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[665],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50","no-featured-image-padding"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Stop Compact View From Changing in Windows - Unit Conversion Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Stop Compact View From Changing in Windows - Unit Conversion Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you\u2019ve ever opened File Explorer in Windows only to find that your view settings have mysteriously changed, you\u2019re not alone. Many users prefer a specific layout\u2014such as Details view, neatly aligned columns, or Compact view enabled\u2014and find it frustrating when Windows reverts to another display style. Fortunately, there are ways to control how your folders look and prevent Compact view or other layout settings from constantly changing. Read more\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Unit Conversion Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-12T06:07:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-12T06:14:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"810\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Olivia Brown\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Olivia Brown\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Olivia Brown\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/4ea06b340c4660f4a04bd6d58c582b69\"},\"headline\":\"How to Stop Compact View From Changing in Windows\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-12T06:07:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-12T06:14:59+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/\"},\"wordCount\":1166,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Blog\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/\",\"name\":\"How to Stop Compact View From Changing in Windows - Unit Conversion Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-12T06:07:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-12T06:14:59+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example.jpg\",\"width\":1080,\"height\":810},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to Stop Compact View From Changing in Windows\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Unit Conversion Blog\",\"description\":\"On conversion and other things :)\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Unit Conversion Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/uclogo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/uclogo.png\",\"width\":500,\"height\":500,\"caption\":\"Unit Conversion Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/4ea06b340c4660f4a04bd6d58c582b69\",\"name\":\"Olivia Brown\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/441e8f5d29c2bd1022936f38e27eee93?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/441e8f5d29c2bd1022936f38e27eee93?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Olivia Brown\"},\"description\":\"I'm Olivia Brown, a tech enthusiast and freelance writer. My focus is on web development and digital tools, and I enjoy making complex tech topics easier to understand.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/author\/olivia\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Stop Compact View From Changing in Windows - Unit Conversion Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Stop Compact View From Changing in Windows - Unit Conversion Blog","og_description":"If you\u2019ve ever opened File Explorer in Windows only to find that your view settings have mysteriously changed, you\u2019re not alone. Many users prefer a specific layout\u2014such as Details view, neatly aligned columns, or Compact view enabled\u2014and find it frustrating when Windows reverts to another display style. Fortunately, there are ways to control how your folders look and prevent Compact view or other layout settings from constantly changing. Read more","og_url":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/","og_site_name":"Unit Conversion Blog","article_published_time":"2026-05-12T06:07:36+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-05-12T06:14:59+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1080,"height":810,"url":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Olivia Brown","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Olivia Brown","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/"},"author":{"name":"Olivia Brown","@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/4ea06b340c4660f4a04bd6d58c582b69"},"headline":"How to Stop Compact View From Changing in Windows","datePublished":"2026-05-12T06:07:36+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-12T06:14:59+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/"},"wordCount":1166,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example.jpg","articleSection":["Blog"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/","url":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/","name":"How to Stop Compact View From Changing in Windows - Unit Conversion Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example.jpg","datePublished":"2026-05-12T06:07:36+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-12T06:14:59+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/three-pictures-of-a-lighthouse-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-windows-11-file-explorer-compact-view-comparison-folder-layout-example.jpg","width":1080,"height":810},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/how-to-stop-compact-view-from-changing-in-windows\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Stop Compact View From Changing in Windows"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/","name":"Unit Conversion Blog","description":"On conversion and other things :)","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#organization","name":"Unit Conversion Blog","url":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/uclogo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/uclogo.png","width":500,"height":500,"caption":"Unit Conversion Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/4ea06b340c4660f4a04bd6d58c582b69","name":"Olivia Brown","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/441e8f5d29c2bd1022936f38e27eee93?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/441e8f5d29c2bd1022936f38e27eee93?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Olivia Brown"},"description":"I'm Olivia Brown, a tech enthusiast and freelance writer. My focus is on web development and digital tools, and I enjoy making complex tech topics easier to understand.","url":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/author\/olivia\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10178"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/79"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10178"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10178\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10394,"href":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10178\/revisions\/10394"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitconversion.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}