Customising File Explorer?  

How can I get file explorer columns to always open in the configuration I want? So, I want columns to be in a specific order. Size - length - date - etc. When I set them and close explorer they revert back to their original order, how do I stop that? And how do i set it to always open to details and not thumbnail? Thanks.

Berton said:

There's several adjustments one can make on the ribbon of File Explorer. One thing is to open the View tab and look at Options and another is to change to Details, icon sizes, etc.

Thanks, but there is nothing apparent in those options that provide the solution.

I found that this post here on TenForums worked for me to change the default folder view settings to 'Details'. The PowerShell script deletes the Bags and BagMRU registry keys in which are stored each folder settings... up to the default maximum of 5,000 folders per user.

I opened a PowerShell console window and copy/paste/entered this command:

Code:

((gp "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU").Nodeslots).count

This showed me that I had hit the default limit of 5,000 folders... so no more folder settings were being stored.:



I used the following .REG file to increase the limit from 5,000 folders to the maximum 20,000:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Change the default 5,000 folder limit to maximum (20,000)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell]
"BagMRU Size"=dword:00004e20

Afterwards I used the PowerShell script mentioned earlier (in first sentence) to change the default folder view to Mode 4 (Details).

Hope this helps...

RickC said:

I found that this post here on TenForums worked for me to change the default folder view settings to 'Details'. The PowerShell script deletes the Bags and BagMRU registry keys in which are stored each folder settings... up to the default maximum of 5,000 folders per user.

Thanks for the plug, @RickC.

@amancandance;: Apply to Folders will copy the view settings of the folder you are viewing and save them as a custom template for all folders [U]of that FolderType.[/ U] The most familiar FolderTypes are found in the droplist of the Customize tab in a folder's Properties dialog:

Each type has its own default view and thus each can have its own custom view. You have to set the folder view & theen execute Apply to Folders from a folder of each type to ensure a "complete set" of custom templates. And that droplist isn't a complete list. The Downloads folder has its own type (source of all the Group by Date fun).
As you accumulate custom templates, they are saved in the registry under HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults
as GUID-named binary arrays. The name comes from the FolderTypeID found under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes
where the system-wide defaults are defined. This bit of PowerShell will list the FolderTypes you've customized by their human-friendly names:

Code:

(Get-Item 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults').Property |
   %{(Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\$_").CanonicalName}

Code:

PS C:\...\keith>(Get-Item 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults').Property |
>>    %{(Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\$_").CanonicalName}
>>
Pictures
Downloads
PS C:\...\keith>