Cannot re-enable classic explorer ribbon

[FirmDaKitsune]

I was messing around with some settings and unchecked the "show classic toolbar" in windows explorer and now I have no way to show it again AND I found NOTHING about how to get it back (I even reinstalled open-shell).

[PhilipBeinggs]

Just wanted to second this: I thought I was mad or stupid until I found this post, but I can't see any way to re-enable it either after un-checking "Show classic toolbar" when right-clicking in space to the left of the classic toolbar in Windows Explorer.

I've looked for a Show/Hide option in Classic Explorer Settings -> Toolbar Settings, but I can't see it there or anywhere else.

Are there just two of us who are mad or stupid, among all the Open-Shell users? 😄

[rixtech]

Seems there are four of us now 😉

[PhilipBeinggs]

OK @FirmDaKitsune, I looked in the registry using RegEdit and found the setting named ShowedToolbar in Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\OpenShell\ClassicExplorer, which is set to 1. I changed it to 0 and re-opened Windows Explorer and the Classic Explorer Bar reappeared in Windows Explorer:

If anyone else knows of an 'official' way to re-enable it after turning it off using the right-click menu in Windows Explorer, please reply here.

[githubzoidal]

I have the same problem. I just did your suggested regedit. But then, how to Quit Explorer? Restart pc? I did do a reinstall just now of Open Shell and toggled what I thought was relevant to the file ribbon but it's still not back. Btw, the Help file says:

2.Turn on the menu in Explorer – Go to Tools (Alt+T), Folder Options, the View tab, and make sure “Always show menus” is checked.
3.Right click on the menu bar and select “Classic Explorer Bar” to show the toolbar.

BUT I don't see a Tools menu, even with Alt+T, nor does the #3 line work.

[rixtech]

@githubzoidal the regedit didn't work for me either.

For the "Quit Explorer", I generally just close the File Explorer window(s), then open a new window to see the Classic Explorer changes. If things still don't look right, I restart the Windows Explorer process from the Task Manager.

The help file worked fine for Windows 8 and 10. But Windows 11 changes everything, right 😄

My workaround

1. Install Windhawk
2. Install Windhawk Classic Explorer navigation bar mod.
3. Set the Explorer Style to "Classic ribbon UI (no tabs)"
4. Restart Windows Explorer

File Explorer View -> Options now shows the Classic Explorer Bar

The Classic Explorer Bar is back albeit it is now right justified, I guess I can get used to that.
I fold up the ribbon for a cleaner view.

Disabling the Windhawk mod returns to the "Moments" update with tabs.
The "New" command bar comes back, which I find jarring. So I'm sticking with the "Classic ribbon UI (no tabs)"