Personalization Add or Remove Folders under This PC in File Explorer in Windows 11

dacrone · Oct 6, 2024

if you're asking if it will corrupt the link to the target folders or create duplicate entries in explorer "folders" pane, then i doubt anyone can confirm nor deny it. your best bet is to make a win 10 vm and test it

antspants · Oct 6, 2024

leeuniverse said:
I'm NOT asking how to add and remove folders from Windows 10, I'm asking if adding the code for THIS Tutorial to a Windows 10 Registry, if it will hurt anything or not.
Like I said, I'm using an Unattended.xml when installing windows that changes lots of things, including adding Registry entries, and so I'm wondering if adding THESE Reg entries if it will do anything to hurt Win10?
But thank you...

I thought the title of the Tutorial would of made it obvious why I posted it to you.

SimonORorke · Jan 16, 2025

As of Windows 11 24H2, the folders have again disappeared from This PC, and the updated scripts you kindly provided on 13th May 2024 no longer work to bring them back. It would be great if you can provide a new update. Thanks.

SimonORorke · Jan 16, 2025

Update to the comment I posted just now. I've found a workaround to the folders having again disappeared from This PC as of Windows 11 24H2. In File Explorer Options I switch from opening File Explorer in This PC to opening it in Home, then I switched back to opening it in This PC. The folders have reappeared! I've then rebooted my PC, and the folders are still there. So this appears to be a robust fix (for now).

click click · Feb 15, 2025

Microsoft keeps futzing around with the windows folders that I do not want to see. Methods to hide thes folders only last until Ms updates something in namespaces, etc. For my usage, Gallery, Home, Libraries, Music, Pictures, and Videos are useless. I managed to remove these from the explorer navigation pane, but this crap still keeps popping up in open/save/select dialogs. This tutorial doesn't seem to affect those areas. I would like to reduce the clutter there too. Is that possible?

Desktop is a bit strange in the dialogs. The toplevel Destop entry shows what I don't want to see and the other Desktop entry below shows what's actually on the desktop which is okay. I'm on Windows 11 version 24H2 (OS Build 26100 2605)

dacrone · Feb 15, 2025

click click said:
Microsoft keeps futzing around with the windows folders that I do not want to see. Methods to hide thes folders only last until Ms updates something in namespaces, etc. For my usage, Gallery, Home, Libraries, Music, Pictures, and Videos are useless. I managed to remove these from the explorer navigation pane, but this crap still keeps popping up in open/save/select dialogs. This tutorial doesn't seem to affect those areas. I would like to reduce the clutter there too. Is that possible?

Desktop is a bit strange in the dialogs. The toplevel Destop entry shows what I don't want to see and the other Desktop entry below shows what's actually on the desktop which is okay. I'm on Windows 11 version 24H2 (OS Build 26100 2605)

you can check for corresponding keys under

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Classes\CLSID\

as well.. but since its only 64bit now, i believe that key is a shortcut to the other now...

ft4ik90j387 · Feb 18, 2025

dacrone said:
If you want them in alphabetical order, I’ve resorted to using “This PC Tweaker” from winaero and manually adding them back. That will put Desktop as the first folder instead of the last.. which I don’t understand why it is last when restoring via reg entries anyways…

Check this fix

it worked in version 24H2, since Winaero is doing the same as the reg files.

Peter Njeim said:
Edit 2: I solved the issue by going to the Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}\ShellFolder, right clicking it and clicking Permissions. Then I clicked Advanced, Change (at the top to change the owner), then changed it from SYSTEM to Administrators (just typed "administrators" the box then clicked "Check Names"). Clicked OK, then OK again. Then I clicked on Administrators and checked the Full Control check box on the Allow column, then OK again. I then double clicked on the SortOrderIndex DWORD, and changed it to 0 (was 0x48 (72) initially). Then I reversed the permission changes by right clicking the Key (the ShellFolder folder in the left pane), clicking Permissions, then clicking Administrators and unchecking the Full Control checkbox in the Allow column. Then clicked Advanced, then Change at the top, then typed "SYSTEM" in the text box, then clicked Check Names, then clicked OK, then OK, then OK, and that was it, Desktop is now the first folder as it should be.

Edit 1: unfortunately it seems that the Folders section doesn't respect the Sort by option, however it does respect Ascending vs Descending, and the Group by option. So the question is how to make the Folders section respect the Sort type, however knowing that Microsoft is deprecating the Folders section, maybe the section will be gone for good before this bug gets fixed.

Hello, this works, however there is a new problem. Earlier (before the tabbed layout) the Desktop folder was the first folder (top left) (ignoring 3D Objects folder which I disable). After applying these registry keys, the Desktop folder is now the last folder (bottom right). I don't see any way I could change the order. I tried to add and remove the DWORDS in different orders to no avail. Do you know of any way to make the Desktop folder the first folder again? Version 22621.675

ft4ik90j387 · Feb 18, 2025

paraphrasing the quote above:
In Registry Editor go to (copy & paste in directory bar):

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}\ShellFolder

right click "ShellFolder" then Permissions>Advanced>Change (right top corner in blue), In the text box type: [administrators] , then press "Check Names" and Press OK, now you should see "Administrators <your_pc_name>\Administrators)" next to "Change", press ok on this window.

Now on the window named "Premissions for ShellFolder" under "Group or user names" press on "Administrators <your_pc_name>\Administrators)" then look down for "Full Control" and check the allow box, after that press ok.

On the "Registry Editor" window press "ShellFolder" and on right pane double click on "SortOrderIndex", in the text box change the number from 72 to 0, hit OK.

Now before the last step check "This PC" folder for any changes (try refresh or close and reopen).

Back to Registry Editor: right click "ShellFolder" then Permissions, under "Group or user names" press on "Administrators <your_pc_name>\Administrators)" then look down for "Full Control" and uncheck the allow box, on the same window click on Advanced>Change (right top corner in blue), In the text box type: [SYSTEM] , then press "Check Names" and Press OK, now you should see "SYSTEM" next to "Change", press ok on this window and the other one, you can close Registry Editor now.

dacrone · Mar 6, 2025

ft4ik90j387 said:
paraphrasing the quote above:
In Registry Editor go to (copy & paste in directory bar):

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}\ShellFolder

right click "ShellFolder" then Permissions>Advanced>Change (right top corner in blue), In the text box type: [administrators] , then press "Check Names" and Press OK, now you should see "Administrators <your_pc_name>\Administrators)" next to "Change", press ok on this window.

Now on the window named "Premissions for ShellFolder" under "Group or user names" press on "Administrators <your_pc_name>\Administrators)" then look down for "Full Control" and check the allow box, after that press ok.

On the "Registry Editor" window press "ShellFolder" and on right pane double click on "SortOrderIndex", in the text box change the number from 72 to 0, hit OK.

Now before the last step check "This PC" folder for any changes (try refresh or close and reopen).

Back to Registry Editor: right click "ShellFolder" then Permissions, under "Group or user names" press on "Administrators <your_pc_name>\Administrators)" then look down for "Full Control" and uncheck the allow box, on the same window click on Advanced>Change (right top corner in blue), In the text box type: [SYSTEM] , then press "Check Names" and Press OK, now you should see "SYSTEM" next to "Change", press ok on this window and the other one, you can close Registry Editor now.

sorry forgot to write back. yeah i had seen that a while back and forgot to leave that tab open so i forgot to annotate that fix. tested on a dummy laptop and works perfectly. thanks for bringing that back to the forefront. i'll write a .bat script to automate restoring all folders and fixing the alphabetical sort order tomorrow and post back with a batch file script.

dacrone · Mar 6, 2025

here ya go. no editing permissions in the registry necessary. either extract attached zip and run .bat inside (it self elevates to admin, so just double click it)... or compile it yourself. it will restore Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos to ThisPC and navigation pane... and in that alphabetical order too.
save the .bat to your DESKTOP, or change the location in this line :
SchTasks /Create /SC MONTHLY /TN "This PC Folders" /TR "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\Add_all_folders_to_This_PC.bat" /RL HIGHEST /f"

Script:

Code:

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: Automatically check & get admin rights V2
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
@echo off
CLS
ECHO.
ECHO =============================
ECHO Running Admin shell
ECHO =============================

:init
setlocal DisableDelayedExpansion
set "batchPath=%~0"
for %%k in (%0) do set batchName=%%~nk
set "vbsGetPrivileges=%temp%\OEgetPriv_%batchName%.vbs"
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

:checkPrivileges
NET FILE 1>NUL 2>NUL
if '%errorlevel%' == '0' ( goto gotPrivileges ) else ( goto getPrivileges )

:getPrivileges
if '%1'=='ELEV' (echo ELEV & shift /1 & goto gotPrivileges)
ECHO.
ECHO **************************************
ECHO Invoking UAC for Privilege Escalation
ECHO **************************************

ECHO Set UAC = CreateObject^("Shell.Application"^) > "%vbsGetPrivileges%"
ECHO args = "ELEV " >> "%vbsGetPrivileges%"
ECHO For Each strArg in WScript.Arguments >> "%vbsGetPrivileges%"
ECHO args = args ^& strArg ^& " "  >> "%vbsGetPrivileges%"
ECHO Next >> "%vbsGetPrivileges%"
ECHO UAC.ShellExecute "!batchPath!", args, "", "runas", 1 >> "%vbsGetPrivileges%"
"%SystemRoot%\System32\WScript.exe" "%vbsGetPrivileges%" %*
exit /B

:gotPrivileges
setlocal & pushd .
cd /d %~dp0
if '%1'=='ELEV' (del "%vbsGetPrivileges%" 1>nul 2>nul  &  shift /1)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::START
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
REM Run shell as admin (example) - put here code as you like
ECHO %batchName% Arguments: %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9
@Echo Off
SchTasks /Create /SC MONTHLY /TN "This PC Folders" /TR "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\Add_all_folders_to_This_PC.bat" /RL HIGHEST /f
schtasks /Run /TN "This PC Folders" /f

cd %systemroot%\system32

REM ; Desktop
Reg.exe delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}" /v "HideIfEnabled" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}" /v "HiddenByDefault" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
REM ; Documents
Reg.exe delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{d3162b92-9365-467a-956b-92703aca08af}" /v "HideIfEnabled" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{d3162b92-9365-467a-956b-92703aca08af}" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{d3162b92-9365-467a-956b-92703aca08af}" /v "HiddenByDefault" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
REM ; Downloads
Reg.exe delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{088e3905-0323-4b02-9826-5d99428e115f}" /v "HideIfEnabled" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{088e3905-0323-4b02-9826-5d99428e115f}" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{088e3905-0323-4b02-9826-5d99428e115f}" /v "HiddenByDefault" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
REM ; Music
Reg.exe delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{3dfdf296-dbec-4fb4-81d1-6a3438bcf4de}" /v "HideIfEnabled" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{3dfdf296-dbec-4fb4-81d1-6a3438bcf4de}" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{1CF1260C-4DD0-4ebb-811F-33C572699FDE}" /v "HiddenByDefault" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{3dfdf296-dbec-4fb4-81d1-6a3438bcf4de}" /v "HiddenByDefault" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
REM ; Pictures
Reg.exe delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{24ad3ad4-a569-4530-98e1-ab02f9417aa8}" /v "HideIfEnabled" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{24ad3ad4-a569-4530-98e1-ab02f9417aa8}" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{24ad3ad4-a569-4530-98e1-ab02f9417aa8}" /v "HiddenByDefault" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
REM ; Videos
Reg.exe delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{f86fa3ab-70d2-4fc7-9c99-fcbf05467f3a}" /v "HideIfEnabled" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{f86fa3ab-70d2-4fc7-9c99-fcbf05467f3a}" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{f86fa3ab-70d2-4fc7-9c99-fcbf05467f3a}" /v "HiddenByDefault" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
REM ; FixOrderDesktop
Reg.exe add "HKCR\CLSID\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}\ShellFolder" /v "SortOrderIndex" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
SchTasks /Delete /TN "This PC Folders" /f
Exit

ittay1 · Mar 27, 2025

And how about REMOVING those libraries?
They are useless to me and thus clutter. thx!

dacrone said:
here ya go. no editing permissions in the registry necessary. either extract attached zip and run .bat inside (it self elevates to admin, so just double click it)... or compile it yourself. it will restore Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos to ThisPC and navigation pane... and in that alphabetical order too.
save the .bat to your DESKTOP, or change the location in this line :
SchTasks /Create /SC MONTHLY /TN "This PC Folders" /TR "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\Add_all_folders_to_This_PC.bat" /RL HIGHEST /f"

Script:

Code:

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: [/QUOTE]

dacrone · Apr 1, 2025

ittay1 said:
And how about REMOVING those libraries?
They are useless to me and thus clutter. thx!

Add or Remove Libraries in File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove Libraries in the navigation pane of File Explorer for your account or all users in Windows 11. Libraries are virtual containers which provide users with a single coherent view of their files even when those files are stored in different...

www.elevenforum.com

Personalization Add or Remove Folders under This PC in File Explorer in Windows 11

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