Keyboard shortcut to hide/show Explorer navigation

Here is how I do it:

1) Alt+D (puts the focus in the Address bar, so works wherever it was before)

2) Tab, Tab

3) Space

4) L

5) N

This is optimized for speed of typing; you can save a Tab if you use Ctrl+E or Ctrl+F to put the focus in the search box instead.

If you've just opened the window, three presses of Tab will get you to the Organize button in step 3.

In Windows 8.1 (maybe Windows 8 & 7 too, one needs to verify this), you can add the Navigation Pane option to the Quick Access Toolbar. You can then use the Alt+{NumberKey} shortcut followed by the Enter key to show/hide the Navigation Pane.

For example: in my case, the Navigation Pane icon is the third item in the Quick Access Toolbar, so I would press Alt+3 and then Enter to turn the pane on/off.

This has improved my workflow tremendously. Hope it helps you too.

HowTo: Configure

1. open Windows File Explorer
2. right-click View tab
3. right-click Navigation Pane toolbar button
4. click Add to Quick Access Toolbar menu item

Screen Shots

Figure1: Right-Click Menu

Figure2: Quick Access Toolbar with Navigation Pane

Related Notes

With respect to the Quick Access Toolbar, it is important to note that:

• Shortcuts are assigned left to right. For example, with reference to Figure2:
  • Alt+1 = show properties
  • Alt+2 = create new folder
  • Alt+3 = show/hide Navigation Pane
• Shortcuts only work with the number keys at the top of a QWERTY keyboard. They do not work with the number pad number keys.

here is a autohotkey script

Win+A toggles the navi pane

/*
Author:  
Date:    
Contact: 
*/

#NoTrayIcon
#Persistent
#NoEnv
#SingleInstance, Force

#IfWinActive ahk_class CabinetWClass
#a::
Send !d{tab}{tab}{enter}ln