How to display Windows Explorer Column Headers in “List” mode?

Question

Windows Vista File Explorer used to display column headers regardless of whether it was in the Details or List view.

However Windows 7 displays column headers only in the Details view.

• Details View - column headers are present

• List View - column headers are missing

How can I display column headers in the List view mode as it did in Windows Vista?

Answer 1

I don't understand why do you need this... But you could achieve a similar view with the details view by removing every details except name. (Right click the header)

Answer 2

In Vista it was considered a feature. It must have confused some people though - for example,

pray do tell, why oh why does an icon based list view have column titles !!!!!!

So for Windows 7, Explorer reverted back to the behavior of XP - to quote Microsoft:

Note that column headings are available only in Details view.

So the bottom line is that displaying column headers in List View is not possible (without some serious hacking).

You can however still filter and sort via the Search Box and the menu.

Answer 3

The solution (open source, freeware, so you can see how it does what it does): go to https://github.com/ijprest/Explorer7Fixes

and download latest version (Explorer7Fixes.1.0.0.2.zip), register dll, then logoff or restart to see changes.

Answer 4

I guess it's a one way to solve your problem: Open "Folder Settings" under "Control Center". When the window appears, select general tab and click default setting button below. It works In Windows 7 which is based on Vista. Good luck!