Display full path and filename in Windows 7

[Diana van den Berg]

I do not have Windows 7.

What are the exact instructions to display the full path and filename in Windows 7, please?

Thank you.

[StuartR]

In what application? If you are using Windows Explorer and you want to see the full path to a file then just click in the top of the window where the foldername appears to see the full path.

[HansV]

Hi Diana,

I assume that you mean in Windows Explorer?

If the user clicks to the right of the folder name in the address bar of Window Explorer, it will show the full path:

S0768.png

If you mean in the title bar of Windows Explorer: if Windows is set to use a 'Classic' theme, the title bar will display the full path, but if Windows is set to use the default 'Aero' theme, that is not possible without using a third-party utility - see How to display full path in the title bar of Windows 7 Explorer windows when using Aero?.

If you meant something else, please clarify.

[Diana van den Berg]

Thank you for your replies. I mean by default.

In Windows XP, the answer would be:

Start\All Programs\Accessories\Windows Explorer\Tools\Folder Options\View\Display the Full Path in the Address Bar

What are the equivalent steps in Windows 7?

To set Windows XP to Classic theme:

1. Right-click an empty space on the desktop, and then click Properties.
2. On the Themes tab, click Windows Classic in the Theme box.
3. Click OK.

Or

To change the Start menu to the classic Start menu:
1. In Control Panel, double-click Appearance and Themes.
2. Click Taskbar and Start Menu.
3. On the Start Menu tab, click Classic Start menu, and then click OK.

What are the equivalent steps in Windows 7?

[HansV]

As I mentioned, it's easy to see the full path in the address box - click to the right of the folder name.
To always see the full path, one needs to install one of the third-party utilities I mentioned in my previous reply.
This also holds for classic start menu.

To set Windows to use the classic theme:
Right-click an empty part of the desktop and select Personalize from the context menu.
Scroll down and select Windows Classic.

[Diana van den Berg]

Thank you, Hans, for the steps to set Windows to the Classic theme in Windows 7.

I am stunned to hear that (without installing a third-party utility) something as simple as having the full path displayed the way it can be done in Windows XP, can't be done in Windows 7. Phew! But thanks for explaining that.

[HansV]

It has never bothered me that Windows 7 and later display a 'bread crumbs' path as shown under 1. in the screenshot above.

[Rudi]

I too have always enjoyed the bread crumb format as it allows one to go back to any level of previous directory very easily by just clicking it. If one needs the full path for copying it, etc, just click to the right of the breadcrumbs (as Hans has illustrated).