Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10  

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    Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10

    Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10

    Published by Category: Customization
    13 Aug 2023
    Designer Media Ltd

    Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10


    In Windows 10, File Explorer opens to Quick access by default which shows your Frequent folders and Recent files.
    • Frequent folders = Displays up to ten folders that you frequently opened on the system.
    • Recent files = Displays up to twenty files that you most recently opened.

    This PC displays your Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, and Videos folders in addition to the usual devices and drives (hard drives, optical drives, and removable devices) and network locations.

    This tutorial will show you how to set File Explorer to open to either This PC, Quick access, Downloads, or a custom location by default for your user account in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: Change Open File Explorer to This PC or Quick access by Default in Folder Options
    • Option Two: Change Open File Explorer to This PC, Quick access, or Downloads by Default in Folder Options using REG File
    • Option Three: Set File Explorer to Open to Custom Location by Default



    EXAMPLE: File Explorer opened to "This PC" and "Quick access"
    Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10-this_pc.jpg
    Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10-quick_access.jpg
    Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10-downloads.png





    OPTION ONE

    Change Open File Explorer to This PC or Quick access by Default in Folder Options


    1 Open File Explorer Options.

    2 In the General tab, select Quick access (default) or This PC in the Open File Explorer to drop menu for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10-file_explorer_options-general.jpg






    OPTION TWO

    Change Open File Explorer to This PC, Quick access, or Downloads by Default in Folder Options using REG File


    The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value below in the registry key below.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

    LaunchTo DWORD

    1 = This PC
    2 = Quick access
    3 = Downloads


    1 Do step 2 (Quick access), step 3 (This PC), or step 4 (Downloads) below for what you would like to do.


    2 To Open File Explorer to Quick access

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Open_File_Explorer_to_Quick_access.reg

    Download


    3 To Open File Explorer to This PC

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Open_File_Explorer_to_This_PC.reg

    Download


    4 To Open File Explorer to Downloads

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Open_File_Explorer_to_Downloads.reg

    Download

    5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.





    OPTION Three

    Set File Explorer to Open to Custom Location by Default


    1 Do step 2 (custom) or step 3 (undo) below for what you want.

     2. Set File Explorer to Open to Custom Location by Default

    This will override Option One and Option Two.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below.

    This REG file will add the required registry keys and values for you so you will just need to edit it starting at step 2F below for the custom folder path you want instead.

    Set_File_Explorer_to_open_to_custom_location.reg

    Download

    (Contents of REG file for reference)
    Code:
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    
    [[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{52205fd8-5dfb-447d-801a-d0b52f2e83e1}\shell\opennewwindow\command]
    @="Explorer \"C:\\Windows\""
    "DelegateExecute"=""

    B) Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    C) Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    D) When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    E) You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

    F) Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe).

    G) Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{52205fd8-5dfb-447d-801a-d0b52f2e83e1}\shell\opennewwindow\command
    Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10-file_explorer_open-1.png

    H) In the right pane of the command key, double click/tap on the (Default) string value (REG_SZ) to modify it. (see screenshot above)

    I) Change the red part of the Explorer "C:\Windows" path to the folder or drive path you want File Explorer to open to by default, and click/tap on OK.

    For example: Explorer "C:\Users\Brink\Downloads"


    Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10-file_explorer_open-2.png

    J) You can now close Registry Editor if you like.

     3. Undo Set File Explorer to Open to Custom Location by Default

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below.

    Undo_set_File_Explorer_to_open_to_custom_location.reg

    Download

    (Contents of REG file for reference)
    Code:
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    
    [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{52205fd8-5dfb-447d-801a-d0b52f2e83e1}]

    B) Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    C) Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    D) When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    E) You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 17,838
    Windows 10
       #1

    Just for info:
    Remove 'Folders' from 'This PC' tweaks work okay in TP Build 10061.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/6...dows-10-a.html
    Last edited by Brink; 21 Jan 2016 at 22:09. Reason: updated link
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,367
    W10 Pro x64/W7 Ultimate x64 dual boot main - W11 Triple Boot Pending
       #2

    Found another method that not only sees any new File Explorer windows open direct to the This PC but also eliminate all clutter seen for folders above drives as well as cleaning things up under Quick Access and the navigation pane all rolls into one simple task.

    Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10-create-pc-shortcut.jpg

    When someone was asking how to find the This PC this method was part of the replies posted which is quite basic to see done as you will notice.
    1) go to the Windows directory and locate the "explorer.exe" file which is for the main Windows shell.
    2) right click and choose the create new shortcut option which is when the prompt seen there will appear indicating the new shortcut can only be made on the desktop since that is in a protected OS system folder.
    3)Once created you simply right click to rename the shortcut to File Explorer, Explorer, or "This PC" as you will arrive at when clicking on it.

    In the past when having accidentally nuked the pre-pinned shortcut for Explorer I saw this done as a replacement. And now in 10 with these two Quick Access, This PC, and additional folders being clutter in the drive pane this was a fast solution. In previous versions this would have appeared as the My Computer or Computer icon you would have seen on the default desktop or pinned as the WE in 7. And if you have need for multiples you can easily see the new shortcut dragged into a new Quick Launch type toolbar added onto the main taskbar as well as being pinned.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #3

    Just tried the Open_File_Explorer_to_Quick_access.reg and it doesn't work in Win 10 2004 19041.331. File Explorer still opens in This PC which is what I had it set to before running the reg hack. I'd like it to open in Quick Access.

    Registry did change:

    Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10-image.png
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Ztruker said:
    Just tried the Open_File_Explorer_to_Quick_access.reg and it doesn't work in Win 10 2004 19041.331. File Explorer still opens in This PC which is what I had it set to before running the reg hack. I'd like it to open in Quick Access.
    Hello Rich,

    I just tested on my Windows 10 v2004 system to see if anything may have changed, but it's still working for me.

    Does it still change for you using option 1?
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #5

    No. It's already set to Quick access there as well:

    Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10-image.png
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Ztruker said:
    No. It's already set to Quick access there as well:
    As a test, toggle it to "This PC", click on Apply, select "Quick access", and click on OK to if it will change.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #7

    Nope, keeps opening to This PC. Probably something I've done some time but I can't remember what or when.

    I check my Tips database, maybe I recorded it in there.

    Thanks for trying.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Ztruker said:
    Nope, keeps opening to This PC. Probably something I've done some time but I can't remember what or when.

    I check my Tips database, maybe I recorded it in there.

    Thanks for trying.
    Please let us know the culprit if found.

    If you have any 3rd party tweaking type programs installed, that would be a good place to check to see if it may be overriding this.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #9

    Turns out I am the culprit

    I was opening This PC on the desktop instead of File Explorer, so naturally it would open to This PC no matter what changes I made. Just tried it with a real, yell, File Explorer icon and it works perfectly.

    My apologies Shawn. I've gotten so used to using them interchangeably I never thought about it.
      My Computers


 

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