Latest Windows update has reset my folder options. Can I set them back en masse?

MrYossu · Mar 16, 2025

Sigh, another Windows update, another blanket "reset all the user's customisation, 'cos what does the user know about what they want?"

I had my music folder (and all the zillions of folders underneath it) set to show details, which includes the meta tags and duration, ordered by track number. All other user folders were set to show in list view, ordered by name.

My PC installed the latest updates a few days ago, and now my music folders are mostly showing as regular/general folders, ie no meta tags. A few still show as they did before, but even these are ordered by something random that I haven't worked out. Many of the ones that now show as regular/general folders don't seem to be able to show as music folders. If I right-click the folder and choose Properties, then Customise, the "Optimise this folder for..." shows "General items" and if I change it to "Music" and click Apply or OK, my choice is ignored.

Many of my picture folders are now grouped by date, instead of not being grouped, and are showing in details view instead of small icons as they were before.

Anyone know how I can set these folders back to the way they were without having to pen each one individually? There used to be a way of setting one folder how you wanted it, then setting all folders of the same type to use the same choice, but I can't find that now. I don't know if Microsoft removed it, thinking that there was a danger that someone might actually disagree with their (stupid in my opinion) default choice of view. Either way, I can't see it now, and it's really hacking me off!

Anyone able to help? Thanks

Tester · Mar 16, 2025

Maybe you could use WinSetView of user @LesFerch from this forum.

LesFerch · Mar 16, 2025

MrYossu said:
Sigh, another Windows update, another blanket "reset all the user's customisation, 'cos what does the user know about what they want?"

I had my music folder (and all the zillions of folders underneath it) set to show details, which includes the meta tags and duration, ordered by track number. All other user folders were set to show in list view, ordered by name.

My PC installed the latest updates a few days ago, and now my music folders are mostly showing as regular/general folders, ie no meta tags. A few still show as they did before, but even these are ordered by something random that I haven't worked out. Many of the ones that now show as regular/general folders don't seem to be able to show as music folders. If I right-click the folder and choose Properties, then Customise, the "Optimise this folder for..." shows "General items" and if I change it to "Music" and click Apply or OK, my choice is ignored.

Many of my picture folders are now grouped by date, instead of not being grouped, and are showing in details view instead of small icons as they were before.

Anyone know how I can set these folders back to the way they were without having to pen each one individually? There used to be a way of setting one folder how you wanted it, then setting all folders of the same type to use the same choice, but I can't find that now. I don't know if Microsoft removed it, thinking that there was a danger that someone might actually disagree with their (stupid in my opinion) default choice of view. Either way, I can't see it now, and it's really hacking me off!

Anyone able to help? Thanks

The "Optimize this folder for..." is mostly broken in Windows 11 (unless you use the Windows 10 Explorer). The option "Also apply this template to all subfolders" doesn't work and even setting the folder type for an individual folder is unreliable.

Your best bet is to use WinSetView to set all the default folder views to your preferences. Then, should a major update (or repair via Windows Update) revert to Microsoft's defaults, you can reapply your preferences with one click. Note that it can only set defaults on a folder TYPE basis, but that sounds like what you're requesting.

Rollback_Jockey · Mar 17, 2025

@LesFerch Why does Control Panel Add /Remove Programs revert to medium Icons and then on my switching to 'Details' are the default columns lost?

MrYossu · Mar 17, 2025

Rollback_Jockey said:
Why does Control Panel Add /Remove Programs revert to medium Icons and then on my switching to 'Details' are the default columns lost?

Because that's what someone at Microsoft decided you wanted. Just because you think you want something else doesn't mean you're right. Don't you realise, we are all too stupid to know what we want, so need Mummy Microsoft to set things up for us

.

MrYossu · Mar 17, 2025

@Tester and @LesFerch thanks for the recommendation of WinSetView. It's a shame that we need it, but it did exactly what I wanted (and some more!).

Rollback_Jockey · Mar 17, 2025

MrYossu said:
Because that's what someone at Microsoft decided you wanted. Just because you think you want something else doesn't mean you're right. Don't you realise, we are all too stupid to know what we want, so need Mummy Microsoft to set things up for us .

I don't know what you're ranting about, this has nothing to do with Microsoft, it's an effect of using WinSetView.

LesFerch · Mar 17, 2025

Rollback_Jockey said:
I don't know what you're ranting about, this has nothing to do with Microsoft, it's an effect of using WinSetView.

That is correct. If you enable both "Use General Items column settings for connected devices" and "Make all folders Generic", an unavoidable side effect is that special folders such as "Programs and features" and "Recycle Bin" will be displayed with the General items column settings.

I added a warning in the manual about that in January and version 3.1.3 pops up a warning if you select both of those options. If you're interested, I'll post a full explanation why this happens, but the recommendation is to not use those features together or live with the General items view in special folders if you do.

MrYossu · Mar 17, 2025

Rollback_Jockey said:
I don't know what you're ranting about, this has nothing to do with Microsoft, it's an effect of using WinSetView.

Sorry, misread the post and thought it was a complaint about MS mucking up the settings!

Reminder to self: Don't reply to posts before reading twice!

Rollback_Jockey · Mar 17, 2025

LesFerch said:
That is correct. If you enable both "Use General Items column settings for connected devices" and "Make all folders Generic", an unavoidable side effect is that special folders such as "Programs and features" and "Recycle Bin" will be displayed with the General items column settings.

Thanks for responding, i'll bare that in mind. (Who reads manuals :) )

LesFerch · Mar 17, 2025

Rollback_Jockey said:
Thanks for responding, i'll bare that in mind. (Who reads manuals :) )

Yeah, that's why I added a pop-up warning for that issue.

Rollback_Jockey · Mar 17, 2025

LesFerch said:
Yeah, that's why I added a pop-up warning for that issue.

Idiot-proofing you mean

Winuser · Mar 17, 2025

Rollback_Jockey said:
(Who reads manuals :) )

Manuals and directions are for reading after the fact.

Rollback_Jockey · Mar 20, 2025

As for custom folder icons, my personal take is to show hidden files, starting at the root copy all custom folders to a folder maintaining the tree structure then delete all but the deskop.ini file, come update day just copy the whole structure back.

Latest Windows update has reset my folder options. Can I set them back en masse?

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