Want to change File Explorer default View from "Details" to "List"

Open File Explorer, in the menu bar click view > choose your view (mine is medium icons)

To get the menu bar (if you don't have it showing) put the cursor in the top window bar, right click, click Menu bar. On mine it's the first choice.

There are default views for each folder type (General, Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos)

To change the default view, navigate to the User folder of that type
Arrange the view how you want it (list, details, columns, sort .... )
Press the BLUE File menu
Select options
Press the view tab
Press the Apply to Folders button

This only applies your preferences to folders of that type - it does not affect folders of other types.

Follow the same procedure for all folder types that you want to change.

Navigate to your Downloads folder to set your preferences on a General folder type.

Close File Explorer

Test if the changes stuck. You might have to restart Windows Exlporer
Task manager
Scroll down to Explorer
press the restart button in the lower right

Test to see if the changes stuck

Thanks for posting a clarification Slartybart, I don't remember ever having done that.

I set mine to medium icons via the "view" on File Explorer at some point in the past and they've stayed that way.

CmmTch said:

Thanks for posting a clarification Slartybart, I don't remember ever having done that.

I set mine to medium icons via the "view" on File Explorer at some point in the past and they've stayed that way.

You're welcome - I think 925bum wants more customization. If it's just a matter of list versus icons, then your method works.

Windows might make a determination of the folder view if pictures are in a documents folder and change the view - there's a way to stop that in the tutorial section.

Please see the tool in Option 2 here:
Set Default Folder View for all Folders in Windows 10

Developed by memder LesFerch especially to address setting file explorer default view.