Windows 7 Explorer keyboard shortcut: set focus to files/folders/content area?











up vote
41
down vote

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14












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.










share|improve this question


















  • 3




    The Easiest way is to open an explorer window and press SPACE bar on keyboard. Works fine on Windows7. So Win+E --> SPACE
    – mnmnc
    Mar 17 '16 at 13:23












  • Now tell me how you really feel...
    – Leo
    May 29 '16 at 20:51















up vote
41
down vote

favorite
14












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.










share|improve this question


















  • 3




    The Easiest way is to open an explorer window and press SPACE bar on keyboard. Works fine on Windows7. So Win+E --> SPACE
    – mnmnc
    Mar 17 '16 at 13:23












  • Now tell me how you really feel...
    – Leo
    May 29 '16 at 20:51













up vote
41
down vote

favorite
14









up vote
41
down vote

favorite
14






14





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.










share|improve this question













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.







windows-7 windows keyboard-shortcuts gui






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asked Jun 29 '12 at 10:51









Pup

633716




633716








  • 3




    The Easiest way is to open an explorer window and press SPACE bar on keyboard. Works fine on Windows7. So Win+E --> SPACE
    – mnmnc
    Mar 17 '16 at 13:23












  • Now tell me how you really feel...
    – Leo
    May 29 '16 at 20:51














  • 3




    The Easiest way is to open an explorer window and press SPACE bar on keyboard. Works fine on Windows7. So Win+E --> SPACE
    – mnmnc
    Mar 17 '16 at 13:23












  • Now tell me how you really feel...
    – Leo
    May 29 '16 at 20:51








3




3




The Easiest way is to open an explorer window and press SPACE bar on keyboard. Works fine on Windows7. So Win+E --> SPACE
– mnmnc
Mar 17 '16 at 13:23






The Easiest way is to open an explorer window and press SPACE bar on keyboard. Works fine on Windows7. So Win+E --> SPACE
– mnmnc
Mar 17 '16 at 13:23














Now tell me how you really feel...
– Leo
May 29 '16 at 20:51




Now tell me how you really feel...
– Leo
May 29 '16 at 20:51










9 Answers
9






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
9
down vote



accepted










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:




  • AutoHotkey: Hotkeys






share|improve this answer

















  • 1




    Perfect. Now I am wondering why I was tolerating tabs all these days. I should have googled earlier
    – VarunAgw
    Aug 10 '16 at 20:28


















up vote
19
down vote













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





share|improve this answer























  • wow. this worked. never would have thought. but the (usless) search webpages box kills it.
    – n611x007
    Jul 19 '13 at 13:06












  • Does not work in Windows 10.
    – RashaMatt
    Nov 24 at 18:04










  • @RashaMatt ~ This is for Windows 7 ... long before Windows 10 mate.
    – Eddie B
    Nov 26 at 17:30


















up vote
6
down vote













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.






share|improve this answer























  • That's nice trick. Never thought about it
    – VarunAgw
    Aug 10 '16 at 20:24










  • Alt-UP navigates upward in the file hierarchy, which is not what the poster asked for.
    – RashaMatt
    Nov 24 at 18:05


















up vote
6
down vote













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



Works in Windows 7, 8.1, 10






share|improve this answer























  • The question was asking for a Windows 7 solution, does this also work for Windows 7?
    – Jason Aller
    May 29 '15 at 3:46










  • Yes it also works in Windows 7.
    – RashaMatt
    May 29 '15 at 9:24










  • CTRL + E navigates to the search input not the content pane.
    – Eddie B
    May 31 '15 at 15:31






  • 1




    And esc navigates from the search input back to the content pane. It works, if you takes the time to actually read and understand all six words in the post.
    – RashaMatt
    May 31 '15 at 19:52










  • Does not work for me. Although works if instead of Esc you use SPACE
    – mnmnc
    Mar 17 '16 at 13:26


















up vote
3
down vote













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.






share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    2
    down vote













    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






    share|improve this answer




























      up vote
      1
      down vote













      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





      share|improve this answer




























        up vote
        1
        down vote













        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.






        share|improve this answer




























          up vote
          0
          down vote













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






          share|improve this answer





















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            9 Answers
            9






            active

            oldest

            votes








            9 Answers
            9






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            9
            down vote



            accepted










            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:




            • AutoHotkey: Hotkeys






            share|improve this answer

















            • 1




              Perfect. Now I am wondering why I was tolerating tabs all these days. I should have googled earlier
              – VarunAgw
              Aug 10 '16 at 20:28















            up vote
            9
            down vote



            accepted










            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:




            • AutoHotkey: Hotkeys






            share|improve this answer

















            • 1




              Perfect. Now I am wondering why I was tolerating tabs all these days. I should have googled earlier
              – VarunAgw
              Aug 10 '16 at 20:28













            up vote
            9
            down vote



            accepted







            up vote
            9
            down vote



            accepted






            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:




            • AutoHotkey: Hotkeys






            share|improve this answer












            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:




            • AutoHotkey: Hotkeys







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Jul 7 '12 at 3:07









            iglvzx

            19.4k1165112




            19.4k1165112








            • 1




              Perfect. Now I am wondering why I was tolerating tabs all these days. I should have googled earlier
              – VarunAgw
              Aug 10 '16 at 20:28














            • 1




              Perfect. Now I am wondering why I was tolerating tabs all these days. I should have googled earlier
              – VarunAgw
              Aug 10 '16 at 20:28








            1




            1




            Perfect. Now I am wondering why I was tolerating tabs all these days. I should have googled earlier
            – VarunAgw
            Aug 10 '16 at 20:28




            Perfect. Now I am wondering why I was tolerating tabs all these days. I should have googled earlier
            – VarunAgw
            Aug 10 '16 at 20:28












            up vote
            19
            down vote













            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





            share|improve this answer























            • wow. this worked. never would have thought. but the (usless) search webpages box kills it.
              – n611x007
              Jul 19 '13 at 13:06












            • Does not work in Windows 10.
              – RashaMatt
              Nov 24 at 18:04










            • @RashaMatt ~ This is for Windows 7 ... long before Windows 10 mate.
              – Eddie B
              Nov 26 at 17:30















            up vote
            19
            down vote













            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





            share|improve this answer























            • wow. this worked. never would have thought. but the (usless) search webpages box kills it.
              – n611x007
              Jul 19 '13 at 13:06












            • Does not work in Windows 10.
              – RashaMatt
              Nov 24 at 18:04










            • @RashaMatt ~ This is for Windows 7 ... long before Windows 10 mate.
              – Eddie B
              Nov 26 at 17:30













            up vote
            19
            down vote










            up vote
            19
            down vote









            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





            share|improve this answer














            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






            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Jan 28 '13 at 19:38

























            answered Jan 22 '13 at 22:36









            Eddie B

            799714




            799714












            • wow. this worked. never would have thought. but the (usless) search webpages box kills it.
              – n611x007
              Jul 19 '13 at 13:06












            • Does not work in Windows 10.
              – RashaMatt
              Nov 24 at 18:04










            • @RashaMatt ~ This is for Windows 7 ... long before Windows 10 mate.
              – Eddie B
              Nov 26 at 17:30


















            • wow. this worked. never would have thought. but the (usless) search webpages box kills it.
              – n611x007
              Jul 19 '13 at 13:06












            • Does not work in Windows 10.
              – RashaMatt
              Nov 24 at 18:04










            • @RashaMatt ~ This is for Windows 7 ... long before Windows 10 mate.
              – Eddie B
              Nov 26 at 17:30
















            wow. this worked. never would have thought. but the (usless) search webpages box kills it.
            – n611x007
            Jul 19 '13 at 13:06






            wow. this worked. never would have thought. but the (usless) search webpages box kills it.
            – n611x007
            Jul 19 '13 at 13:06














            Does not work in Windows 10.
            – RashaMatt
            Nov 24 at 18:04




            Does not work in Windows 10.
            – RashaMatt
            Nov 24 at 18:04












            @RashaMatt ~ This is for Windows 7 ... long before Windows 10 mate.
            – Eddie B
            Nov 26 at 17:30




            @RashaMatt ~ This is for Windows 7 ... long before Windows 10 mate.
            – Eddie B
            Nov 26 at 17:30










            up vote
            6
            down vote













            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.






            share|improve this answer























            • That's nice trick. Never thought about it
              – VarunAgw
              Aug 10 '16 at 20:24










            • Alt-UP navigates upward in the file hierarchy, which is not what the poster asked for.
              – RashaMatt
              Nov 24 at 18:05















            up vote
            6
            down vote













            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.






            share|improve this answer























            • That's nice trick. Never thought about it
              – VarunAgw
              Aug 10 '16 at 20:24










            • Alt-UP navigates upward in the file hierarchy, which is not what the poster asked for.
              – RashaMatt
              Nov 24 at 18:05













            up vote
            6
            down vote










            up vote
            6
            down vote









            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.






            share|improve this answer














            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.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited May 29 '15 at 3:45









            Jason Aller

            2,21652121




            2,21652121










            answered Dec 26 '12 at 0:50









            yellowblood

            198125




            198125












            • That's nice trick. Never thought about it
              – VarunAgw
              Aug 10 '16 at 20:24










            • Alt-UP navigates upward in the file hierarchy, which is not what the poster asked for.
              – RashaMatt
              Nov 24 at 18:05


















            • That's nice trick. Never thought about it
              – VarunAgw
              Aug 10 '16 at 20:24










            • Alt-UP navigates upward in the file hierarchy, which is not what the poster asked for.
              – RashaMatt
              Nov 24 at 18:05
















            That's nice trick. Never thought about it
            – VarunAgw
            Aug 10 '16 at 20:24




            That's nice trick. Never thought about it
            – VarunAgw
            Aug 10 '16 at 20:24












            Alt-UP navigates upward in the file hierarchy, which is not what the poster asked for.
            – RashaMatt
            Nov 24 at 18:05




            Alt-UP navigates upward in the file hierarchy, which is not what the poster asked for.
            – RashaMatt
            Nov 24 at 18:05










            up vote
            6
            down vote













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



            Works in Windows 7, 8.1, 10






            share|improve this answer























            • The question was asking for a Windows 7 solution, does this also work for Windows 7?
              – Jason Aller
              May 29 '15 at 3:46










            • Yes it also works in Windows 7.
              – RashaMatt
              May 29 '15 at 9:24










            • CTRL + E navigates to the search input not the content pane.
              – Eddie B
              May 31 '15 at 15:31






            • 1




              And esc navigates from the search input back to the content pane. It works, if you takes the time to actually read and understand all six words in the post.
              – RashaMatt
              May 31 '15 at 19:52










            • Does not work for me. Although works if instead of Esc you use SPACE
              – mnmnc
              Mar 17 '16 at 13:26















            up vote
            6
            down vote













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



            Works in Windows 7, 8.1, 10






            share|improve this answer























            • The question was asking for a Windows 7 solution, does this also work for Windows 7?
              – Jason Aller
              May 29 '15 at 3:46










            • Yes it also works in Windows 7.
              – RashaMatt
              May 29 '15 at 9:24










            • CTRL + E navigates to the search input not the content pane.
              – Eddie B
              May 31 '15 at 15:31






            • 1




              And esc navigates from the search input back to the content pane. It works, if you takes the time to actually read and understand all six words in the post.
              – RashaMatt
              May 31 '15 at 19:52










            • Does not work for me. Although works if instead of Esc you use SPACE
              – mnmnc
              Mar 17 '16 at 13:26













            up vote
            6
            down vote










            up vote
            6
            down vote









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



            Works in Windows 7, 8.1, 10






            share|improve this answer














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



            Works in Windows 7, 8.1, 10







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Nov 24 at 18:03

























            answered May 29 '15 at 3:13









            RashaMatt

            8926




            8926












            • The question was asking for a Windows 7 solution, does this also work for Windows 7?
              – Jason Aller
              May 29 '15 at 3:46










            • Yes it also works in Windows 7.
              – RashaMatt
              May 29 '15 at 9:24










            • CTRL + E navigates to the search input not the content pane.
              – Eddie B
              May 31 '15 at 15:31






            • 1




              And esc navigates from the search input back to the content pane. It works, if you takes the time to actually read and understand all six words in the post.
              – RashaMatt
              May 31 '15 at 19:52










            • Does not work for me. Although works if instead of Esc you use SPACE
              – mnmnc
              Mar 17 '16 at 13:26


















            • The question was asking for a Windows 7 solution, does this also work for Windows 7?
              – Jason Aller
              May 29 '15 at 3:46










            • Yes it also works in Windows 7.
              – RashaMatt
              May 29 '15 at 9:24










            • CTRL + E navigates to the search input not the content pane.
              – Eddie B
              May 31 '15 at 15:31






            • 1




              And esc navigates from the search input back to the content pane. It works, if you takes the time to actually read and understand all six words in the post.
              – RashaMatt
              May 31 '15 at 19:52










            • Does not work for me. Although works if instead of Esc you use SPACE
              – mnmnc
              Mar 17 '16 at 13:26
















            The question was asking for a Windows 7 solution, does this also work for Windows 7?
            – Jason Aller
            May 29 '15 at 3:46




            The question was asking for a Windows 7 solution, does this also work for Windows 7?
            – Jason Aller
            May 29 '15 at 3:46












            Yes it also works in Windows 7.
            – RashaMatt
            May 29 '15 at 9:24




            Yes it also works in Windows 7.
            – RashaMatt
            May 29 '15 at 9:24












            CTRL + E navigates to the search input not the content pane.
            – Eddie B
            May 31 '15 at 15:31




            CTRL + E navigates to the search input not the content pane.
            – Eddie B
            May 31 '15 at 15:31




            1




            1




            And esc navigates from the search input back to the content pane. It works, if you takes the time to actually read and understand all six words in the post.
            – RashaMatt
            May 31 '15 at 19:52




            And esc navigates from the search input back to the content pane. It works, if you takes the time to actually read and understand all six words in the post.
            – RashaMatt
            May 31 '15 at 19:52












            Does not work for me. Although works if instead of Esc you use SPACE
            – mnmnc
            Mar 17 '16 at 13:26




            Does not work for me. Although works if instead of Esc you use SPACE
            – mnmnc
            Mar 17 '16 at 13:26










            up vote
            3
            down vote













            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.






            share|improve this answer

























              up vote
              3
              down vote













              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.






              share|improve this answer























                up vote
                3
                down vote










                up vote
                3
                down vote









                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.






                share|improve this answer












                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.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Jan 15 '13 at 21:49









                Jonathan Barton

                33825




                33825






















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote













                    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






                    share|improve this answer

























                      up vote
                      2
                      down vote













                      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






                      share|improve this answer























                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote










                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote









                        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






                        share|improve this answer












                        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







                        share|improve this answer












                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer










                        answered Jul 7 '12 at 0:50









                        Pup

                        633716




                        633716






















                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote













                            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





                            share|improve this answer

























                              up vote
                              1
                              down vote













                              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





                              share|improve this answer























                                up vote
                                1
                                down vote










                                up vote
                                1
                                down vote









                                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





                                share|improve this answer












                                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






                                share|improve this answer












                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer










                                answered Jun 8 '13 at 23:28









                                Mike Ruf

                                111




                                111






















                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote













                                    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.






                                    share|improve this answer

























                                      up vote
                                      1
                                      down vote













                                      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.






                                      share|improve this answer























                                        up vote
                                        1
                                        down vote










                                        up vote
                                        1
                                        down vote









                                        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.






                                        share|improve this answer












                                        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.







                                        share|improve this answer












                                        share|improve this answer



                                        share|improve this answer










                                        answered Apr 11 '17 at 8:09









                                        bluish

                                        46739




                                        46739






















                                            up vote
                                            0
                                            down vote













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






                                            share|improve this answer

























                                              up vote
                                              0
                                              down vote













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






                                              share|improve this answer























                                                up vote
                                                0
                                                down vote










                                                up vote
                                                0
                                                down vote









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






                                                share|improve this answer












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







                                                share|improve this answer












                                                share|improve this answer



                                                share|improve this answer










                                                answered Dec 8 '17 at 18:54









                                                Lester

                                                1




                                                1






























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