How to Auto-Hide or Disable Command Bar (aka Folder Band) in Windows Vista and 7 Explorer?

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NOTE: This tutorial has been featured by Microsoft. AskVG.com was the first website posting this unique trick.

Recently an AskVG reader "Nick C" asked following question via e-mail:

Is there a way to hide the 'organize' bar in windows 7 explorer? I can hide everything else, but unlike Vista there isn't an option to hide that bar.

Its not the first time we received this query. Lots of people want to hide the Command Bar aka Folder Band in Windows Vista and 7 Explorer so that they can get more free space in the Explorer window.

Today in this tutorial, we'll tell you how to set the Command Bar auto-hidden in Explorer window. In this way, it'll only appear when you hover your mouse cursor over it as shown in following screenshot:

Auto-Hidden Command Bar aka Folder Band:

To make the Command Bar auto-hidden, you'll have to edit the "Shellstyle.dll" file which is present in Theme directory.

For example, if you are using default Window Aero theme, you'll get the "Shellstyle.dll" file in following directory:

%windir%\Resources\Themes\Aero\Shell\NormalColor

NOTE: If you are using Windows Classic theme, you'll need to edit "Shellstyle.dll" file present in "Windows\System32" folder.

You just need to follow these simple steps to make Command Bar auto-hidden:

1. Open "Shellstyle.dll" file in Resource Hacker.

2. Now go to "UIFILE -> 1 -> 1033".

3. Press <Ctrl>+F or click on "View -> Find Text..." option and type following in "Find what" textbox:

<style resid="FolderBandStyle">

4. It'll go to following line of code:

<style resid="FolderBandStyle">
<Element
background="argb(0, 0, 0, 0)"
/>

5. Now add following code after <style resid="FolderBandStyle"> line:

<if mousefocused="false" mousewithin="false"><Element padding="rect(0rp,0rp,0rp,-28rp)"/></if>

So that it'll look as following:

<style resid="FolderBandStyle">
<if mousefocused="false" mousewithin="false"><Element padding="rect(0rp,0rp,0rp,-28rp)"/></if>
<Element
background="argb(0, 0, 0, 0)"
/>

PS: To permanently disable or hide Command Bar, add following code after <style resid="FolderBandStyle"> line:

<Element padding="rect(0rp,0rp,0rp,-28rp)"/>

6. Now click on "Compile Script" button and save the file.

7. Log off or restart to see the changes OR re-apply the theme.

PS: This method will work for all 3rd party themes as well. Simply modify the "Shellstyle.dll" file present in custom theme folder.

NOTE: If you want a ready-made modified "shellstyle.dll" file, you can download it using following link and replace the default file in your system with it. You might need to take ownership of default "shellstyle.dll" file before replacing it.

Download Link

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This article was posted by VG in following section: Resource Hacker, Windows 7, Windows Vista.

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Shane

Nice, thanks
Ronald

Great idea!

except, it doesn't work for me..
when I try it, it doesnt show any of the details pane/preview pane/ navigation pane anymore (nor the folder band, which is actually a good thing)
so actually it hides a bit too much for my likes..

also on mouseover where the folder band should be, it doesn't reappear, and when browsing, i cant go further than 2 random folders, because then explorer.exe needs to restart.

I am using a unofficial VS and modified browseui.dll, maybe that has something to do with it..

Do you have any ideas how to solve this?

thanks in advance, Ronald
VG

^^ You must be editing something else otherwise it'll definitely work. Make sure you are editing the write code cause its very risky.
Ronald

thanks for your quick response, and i guess i was doing something wrong.. don't know exactly what, but ive replaced the complete shellstyle.dll with one from a theme that did autohide, and now its working results are great, so thanks!
Daniel

Doesn't work for me, either. Same problem as Ronald: details pane and navigation pane are also gone and don't appear on hovering.
And explorer.exe crashes. Also appearance settings don't work anymore. What did I wrong? Has the line break to be there?
VG

^^ Can you try the code again? I have made a minor change in the code. :)
Daniel

I tried it today three times!

I have SP1 installed and uxtheme.dll patched...can one of this can be the problem?
VG

^^ Nope. I'm using this hack and its working absolutely fine in SP1. I have made a minor change in the code after your post, so can you please try it one more time and let me know whether it works or not?
Daniel

I love you ;)...it works....GREAT! Thank you. No this silly thing is gone!
VG

I'm really glad it worked for you. :)