How does Windows decide on what view should be used in file explorer?

I think it uses Folder Template:

Change Folder Template in Windows 10

It also uses Automatic Folder Type Discovery unless you turn it off. (Option 3)

MajorFoley said:

Well thats the weird thing, if i go into a certain folder via file explorer it opens up as optimised for pictures, however say if i downloaded a file via web browser then opened a file from the browser to the same folder it then opens up as a detailed list and is then optimized for documents and sometimes even happens the other way around, hence my confusion.

Correct. This is part of the Automatic Folder Type Discovery feature. It usually determines the folder template based on the latest files saved into it.

MajorFoley said:

Ahhh i see. It does make a helluva lot more sense, just tested with a txt file and a photo file and when opening explorer manually it did as you said but i wonder why web browsers like chrome don't seem to follow that little logic though hmmm.

Yeah, the Save as type dialogs seem to follow their own special agenda.

Try save as all file types?

Personally I set all folders and libraries to "General Items" and if I want specific per folder views then I use a third party utility.
(Not recommended)

Just my preference.

Thanks for the advice guys. So yeah from what i can see, as an example my downloads folder whenever i just normally explore into it it will appear as a detailed list. HOWEVER if i download anything into said folder and then proceed to open the folder via chromes option to do so (right click the downloaded thing and open to view folder) either picture or text and it will open up as large icons no matter what. However a folder in the downloads folder itself is different. If i open it up via file explorer it will be large icons, however if i open it via chrome it appears details and i have no clue as to why. Interesting though.

EDIT: I think i know why it does that small theory gonna test more tomorrow or today, its nearly 4AM after all :). So using the sidebar shortcuts will take you straight to like, This PC > Downloads while if you do it via Chrome It goes the whole directory. C:\ users\Username\downloads from there and they seem to register two different instructions if you choose the view option as well as the customise tab. Funnily enough when i do it the long way for this specific folder customise is set to documents but shows large icons and the This PC is set to pictures and views in detail :) I guess those customise presets don't really do much if you change the view manually anyway... But at least i seem to have figured out what was going on i actually did a system restore to undo a system update to see what it does. That being said i should probably redo that, gotta get ready for the first windows update im looking forward to in ages. Hopefully proper multi monitor support for gaming...