This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to open Folder Options for specific or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
You can use Folder Options (aka: File Explorer Options) to change the way files and folders function and how items are displayed in Windows.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Folder Options.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Folder Options for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Folder Options for All Users using REG file
EXAMPLE: Folder Options
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two to configure the same policy.
1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer
3 In the right pane of the File Explorer policy, double click/tap on Do not allow Folder Options to be opened from the Options button on the View tab of the ribbon to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.
5 Enable Folder Options for All or Specific Users
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)
6 Disable Folder Options for All or Specific Users
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)
7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 Enable Folder Options for All Users
This is the default setting
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_Folder_Options_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoFolderOptions"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoFolderOptions"=-3 Disable Folder Options for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_Folder_Options_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoFolderOptions"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoFolderOptions"=dword:000000014 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
