Today, I would like to share with you one very special keyboard shortcut, which will improve your productivity and save a lot of time when you have to deal with columns, grids and tables. Using this shortcut, you will be able to size all columns to fit automatically in Windows File Explorer, Registry Editor, Task Manager or any other 3rd party application which support this tricky feature. Let's discover it!
Advertisеment
Here are the simple instructions:
- Run File Explorer (formerly called Windows Explorer in pre-Windows 8 versions).
- Click the View tab of the Ribbon, and enable the "Details" view:
Note: In the screenshot above, you can see a customized This PC folder with custom folders added inside. You can also add or remove any folder in This PC using the following tutorial: How to add custom folders in This PC in Windows 8.1 or remove the defaults. - As you can see from the picture above, my column sizes are larger than necessary to fit all the displayed text. I would like to quickly resize them so all of them fit to size. Click on any file or folder and press Ctrl + + hotkeys (Ctrl and the plus key) on your keyboard. All columns will be resized to fit!
Note that you may have to press the '+' key on the numeric keypad of your keyboard. If you have a keyboard without a dedicated numeric keypad as some laptops have, then you may need to use the Fn key along with Ctrl to input the '+' key correctly. The + key on the key with the 'equals to' sign (=) does not work for this trick.
This handy trick works in many places and apps in Windows. It is applicable to Windows Explorer in Windows XP as well.
When you run Registry Editor, with Ctrl++ shortcut you will be able to resize the right pane with values quickly. This screenshot below is taken before I pressed the shortcut:
And this one is right after I pressed the shortcut:
Look how neatly all the columns are automatically resized to fit.
Don't forget, this trick works for most apps with grid/details view.
If you have any questions, see the following video:
A small note about Task Manager. In Windows 8/8.1, there is a new Task Manager app, which allows you to copy process details and has new useful features like startup impact calculation. While in the old, classic Task Manager you were able to resize columns in the same manner on any tab using this Ctrl++ key combination, the new Task Manager only allows you to use this on the Details tab. On other tabs, Microsoft has implemented the ability to show the data as a hierarchical list, i.e. "treeview". That treeview is a completely different control, so it does not allow you to use this keyboard shortcut. Just for note: if you are not happy with new Task Manager, get the old one back using this tutorial: How to restore the good old Task Manager in Windows 8.
Support us
Winaero greatly relies on your support. You can help the site keep bringing you interesting and useful content and software by using these options:
If you like this article, please share it using the buttons below. It won't take a lot from you, but it will help us grow. Thanks for your support!
Advertisеment
I already knew that!
Bummer, it doesn’t work on tablets–which is strangely ironic considering that a small screen is where this would be most useful.
You can add the appropriate command to the Quick Access Toolbar.
It is located at the View tab, called “Size all columns to fit”.
Then you can use this command with a single tap.
Unfortunately, there is no solution for third-party apps.
Useful, thanks.
Yep, one of my favorite shortcuts
Works on Windows 7 also.
Correct.
how to disable the alien ware themes for windows 8 using keyboard choetcut?
I have no idea.
How did you figure this out?! THank you so much for this tip. Microsoft is so annoying, and I have been grumbling about having to click View, move the mouse to click “Size all columns…” so many many times, for years… Now you just made it quick and simple. I just went to Microsoft’s support, and found a page of all the keyboard short-cuts, and it DOES NOT list this simple and useful short-cut that obviously one of the slob microsoft programmers coded into the system for their own benefit, no doubt… but didnt bother including it for the user community to know about… go figure… Leave it to Russian programmers to help this frustrated community! Thanks Sergey!! :D
Nice shortcut but it would be the best if always the columns width is set to the needed maximum!