- File Explorer in Windows 11 can have extra space between elements on smaller screens like laptops
- To solve this, users can enable Compact View, reducing space in both left and right panes
- Enable Compact View through the command bar, Registry Editor, or Folder Options to adjust spacing and improve usability.
Many new users may find the File Explorer in Windows 11 to be having more space between the elements. This can be an issue if you are using a smaller screen like that of a laptop. If you are working on a smaller screen then using a compact view can help you solve the problem of extra space between the elements. It decreases the space between the elements in File Explorer in the right pane as well as in the left pane. This mode isn’t enabled by default, and you will have to enable it manually in Windows 11.
Enable or Disable Compact View in File Explorer on Windows 11
We have discussed the steps to enable File Explorer Compact View in Windows 11.
Turn On File Explorer Compact View From The Command Bar In File Explorer
The very first method to enable the File Explorer is from the command bar in the File Explorer. Notably, this is one of the easiest methods that you may find to turn on File Explorer compact view in Windows 11. To enable File Explorer compact view using the command bar in File Explorer, follow the steps given below-
- Firstly, open File Explorer on your PC. You can do so by pressing the Windows + E key combo or by clicking on the File Explorer icon from the taskbar or in the start menu.
- Now, on the command bar in the File Explorer, you will see a View button. Click on it.
- This will open up a context menu. From this context menu, click on compact view to enable File Explorer Compact View In Windows 11.
If the compact view is already enabled in the File Explorer, then you will see a dot right next to the compact view option in the context menu. If you want to disable it, click on compact view again, and the dot will disappear which means the Compact View has been disabled.
Enabling File Explorer Compact View Using The Registry Editor
The last method to enable the compact view in the File Explorer is by using the Registry Editor. You will have to make some tweaks in the Registry settings, and you will be able to enable compact view without any problem on your PC.
- Open the Registry Editor on your PC. You can either search for Registry Editor in the start menu, or press the Windows + R key combo, type Regedit in the Run dialog box, and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
- Head to the following location/address in the Registry Editor-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- You can either paste the above location in the navigation bar or manually head to the location by clicking on the given registry key.
- Now in the right-side screen, double-click on the UseCompactMode DWORD value to edit it.
- Set the Base of the DWORD to Hexadecimal. Change The Value Data to 1 if you want to enable the compact view.
- Once done, click on OK.
- Now close the Registry Editor, and restart your PC to ensure the changes are made to the File Explorer.
If you want to disable the Compact view again, then simply change the value of the UseCompactMode in the Registry Editor to 0 . Restart your PC to save the changes and the compact view will be disabled.
Enable File Explorer Compact View From The Folder Options Screen
You can either use the Folder Options to enable the File Explorer compact view. You can use this option to enable File Explorer compact view by following the steps given below-
- Open the Run dialog box on your PC by pressing the Windows + R key combo.
- In the run dialog box, type Control Folders and click on OK or hit Enter to open up Folder Options. Head to the view tab in the Folder Options.
- Now under the advanced settings check the checkbox which says decrease space between items (compact view). You will find this option under the Files and folder in the advanced settings.
- Once done, click on apply. Close the Folder Options window, and the Compact view will be enabled on the File Explorer on your PC having Windows 11.
In case, if you have to disable File Explorer Compact View again, then simply head to the Folder options . Here head to the view tab, and then under the advanced settings , uncheck the checkbox saying decrease space between items (compact view).
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- How To Enable Or Disable Notifications On Windows 11
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Final Words
That’s how you can enable the compact view in the File Explorer. We have discussed three methods to enable File Explorer compact view- using command bar, folder options, and registry editor. Following the above steps, you will be able to enable or disable the File Explorer compact view in Windows 11.
- Printer spooler error in Windows 11 is a common issue caused by an overloaded spooler with printing tasks.
- Solutions to fix the error include restarting your PC, updating Windows, running the printer troubleshooter, clearing the printer queue, using a different printing app, and reinstalling the printer.
- Additional fixes involve fixing print spooler services, clearing the printer queue, and using the command prompt to stop and restart the spooler.
Many times when wanting to take a printout from the printer, you may get a certain error that may cancel the print. This can be frustrating when you have to take a printout, but due to certain errors, you are not able to do so. Printer spooler error is a common error in Windows 11 that you may encounter. The printer spooler organizes the printing tasks. Moreover, it queues them for being sent to other printers and printing services. When the printer spooler is overloaded with tasks then you may face this error.
Fix Printer Spooler Errors in Windows 11
If you are facing Printer Spooler Errors in Windows 11, then there is nothing to worry about it. In this article, we will be discussing how you can fix Printer Spooler Errors in Windows 11.
Fix 1: Restart Your PC
Many times this error may be associated with random and temporary bugs on your system. Such errors can easily be solved by restarting your PC. You should try restarting your PC, and then check if you still get the error or not.
Fix 2: Update Your Windows
You should try updating your Windows 11. If this is a bug in Windows 11, then it will get fixed in the latest update of Windows 11. You should try updating your PC, and then check if you still get the Printer spooler errors in Windows 11 download .
Fix 3: Run The Printer Troubleshooter
The next thing that you can do is running the printer troubleshooter. The printer troubleshooter will identify any problems with your printer and will fix them. To run the printer troubleshooter, follow the steps given below-
- Open the Settings on your PC by pressing the Windows + I key combo.
- By default, you will be headed to the System section in Settings. If you are not on the System section, then you can click on System in the left sidebar in the settings.
- Here, click on troubleshoot and then click on other troubleshooters. Now click on the run option next to the printer. This will run the printer troubleshooter.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to scan your printer for any problem and fix it.
Fix 4: Clear The Printer Queue
As we have discussed, you may encounter this issue when the Printer Spooler is overloaded with various printing jobs. To fix this issue, you must try clearing the printer queue. After you clear the printer queue, the Printer Spooler will no longer be overloaded, and you will not face the issue.
Fix 5: Use Another App And Remove All Other Printers
If you still face this issue, then you should try using any other printing app. You may face this error due to some bug in the app you are using. Try using any other app for printing and the issue should be fixed.
You may also face this issue if multiple printers are connected to your PC. Multiple printers may conflict with the PC and may cause Printer Spooler errors in Windows 11. You may try removing all the other printers that may be causing the error, and check if the error persists or not. If you still get the Printer Spooler error, then you should move to the next step.
Fix 6: Reinstall The Printer
You should try removing the printer that you are using for printing. Remove the printers along with the drivers, and the software. Once done, reinstall the printer, and try printing again. You should now not face the issue.
Fix 7: Fix Print Spooler Services
Another thing that you can try doing is fixing the Print Spooler Services. To do so, follow the steps given below-
- Press the Windows + R key combo on your keyboard. In the run dialog box, type services.msc and hit Enter.
- This will open Services windows on your PC.
- Here search for Print Spooler services. Right-click on it, and then click on the Properties option.
- Head to the General tab in the properties, and then click on Stop.
- After doing so, press the Windows + R key combo, and type C:\Windows\System32\spool\printers, and hit Enter.
- Now select everything in the printers folder, and delete them.
- Now head back to the Print Spooler Properties window in the Services.
- Now click on the start button to start the service again. Once done, click on OK.
Now try printing from the printer, and you should now not encounter the Printer Spooler errors in Windows 11.
Fix 8: Fixing Print Spooler Using Command Prompt
If the above methods didn’t help you fix the issue that you were facing, then you should try using the Command prompt to fix it. Follow the steps given below to fix the issue-
- In the start menu, search for CMD . Right-click on the command prompt and then click on run as administrator.
- Now in the command prompt, type the following commands, and execute them- net stop spooler del /Q /F /S “%systemroot%\System32\Spool\Printers*.*” net start spooler
Once done, you should now no longer face the issue. This method is the same as the previous method. Instead of the Services app, you will be using the command prompt here to fix the issue.
RELATED GUIDES:
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Final Words
If you are facing Printer Spooler errors in Windows 11, then you can follow the steps given in this article. Following the above steps mentioned in this article, you will be able to troubleshoot the error.
