diff --git a/reactos/base/shell/explorer/shell/mainframe.cpp b/reactos/base/shell/explorer/shell/mainframe.cpp
index c83655323ae..a19fcf6b623 100644
--- a/reactos/base/shell/explorer/shell/mainframe.cpp
+++ b/reactos/base/shell/explorer/shell/mainframe.cpp
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ int MainFrameBase::OpenShellFolders(LPIDA pida, HWND hFrameWnd)
 					XMLPos explorer_options = g_Globals.get_cfg("general/explorer");
 
 					bool mdi = XMLBool(explorer_options, "mdi", true);
-					bool separateFolders = XMLBool(explorer_options, "separate-folders", true);
+					bool separateFolders = XMLBool(explorer_options, "separate-folders", false);
 
 					ShellPath pidl_abs = ShellPath(pidl).create_absolute_pidl(parent_pidl);
 					LOG(FmtString(TEXT("MainFrameBase::OpenShellFolders(): pidl_abs=%s"), (LPCTSTR)FileSysShellPath(pidl_abs)));