How to change default Folder View of Search Results

Edwin said:

Just apply the settings to each parent folder and it will apply to all folders and sub-folders that reside within each. The setting will carry over to newly created folders.

It isn't. A search on the Desktop is in Detail view, yet searches in folders on the Desktop remain Content View.

Slartybart said:

Navigate to This PC and type a period - . - into the search box (the period is a wildcard for any character)
Select and arrange the columns, sorting, grouping, etc to what you want
Select Save search from the Search tab menu
any name is fine - all you want are the customized settings in the saved search file.

No effect. Double-clicking the saved search even opens the search results in Content View, apparently completely ignoring the viewMode="details" setting in the file.

It seems clear that the settings are saved on a folder by folder basis. Any idea where that is stored?

Slartybart said:

I haven't played with this for a long time, so it might not be correct for Win10

There are two standrad search files in the Searches folder under your user folder

Everywhere

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<persistedQuery version="1.0">

<query>

<kindList>

<kind name="item"/>

</kindList>

<scope knownScopeID="{7c61d0a6-af7e-483a-b705-d2c5c2264656}" />
</query>

</persistedQuery>

Indexed Locations

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<persistedQuery version="1.0">

<query>

<kindList>

<kind name="item"/>

</kindList>

<scope knownScopeID="{f60163ce-2b8d-458d-ab2c-40f215767514}" />
</query>

</persistedQuery>

I used to modify those files to include customized presentation

Copy the existing files ... just in case

Navigate to This PC and type a period - . - into the search box (the period is a wildcard for any character)
Select and arrange the columns, sorting, grouping, etc to what you want
Select Save search from the Search tab menu
any name is fine - all you want are the customized settings in the saved search file.

<viewInfo viewMode="details" iconSize="16" stackIconSize="0" displayName="Search Results in This PC" autoListFlags="0">

<visibleColumns>

<column viewField="System.ItemTypeText"/>
<column viewField="System.ItemNameDisplay"/>
<column viewField="System.DateModified"/>
<column viewField="System.Size"/>
<column viewField="System.ItemFolderPathDisplay"/>

</visibleColumns>
<sortList>

<sort viewField="System.DateModified" direction="descending"/>

</sortList>

</viewInfo>

You can then paste your customized view into the two standard search files between
<persistedQuery version="1.0">
and
<query>

Once you get the hang of the syntax, it's not that bad

Worked like a charm for me! I still want to punch whoever at Microsoft decided "Folder" should be the default detail (and not "Folder Path"), but this has saved my sanity.

Edit: Oh no wait, it was working because I was in the same folder I had originally saved a custom search for. So sad

SoulkeepHL said:

Edit: Oh no wait, it was working because I was in the same folder I had originally saved a custom search for. So sad

Yep, it does not work. At least on Windows 10 Anniversary Update.

This was something that annoyed the crap out of me too.

I found the solution here.
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/se...ls-windows-10/
Credit to winhelponline.
Create an empty registry file with the following code and apply it to your registry.
This locks it to detail view when searching.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;Fixes search results defaults to Content view.
;Sets Details view as default search results view for Generic folders.


[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]


[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{7fde1a1e-8b31-49a5-93b8-6be14cfa4943}]
"LogicalViewMode"=dword:00000001
"Mode"=dword:00000004

That's perfect! Thank you so much, basically saved my sanity when I was about to destroy all the computer equipment in the office ! :)

djlongy said:

This was something that annoyed the crap out of me too.

I found the solution here.
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/se...ls-windows-10/
Credit to winhelponline.
Create an empty registry file with the following code and apply it to your registry.
This locks it to detail view when searching.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;Fixes search results defaults to Content view.
;Sets Details view as default search results view for Generic folders.


[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]


[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{7fde1a1e-8b31-49a5-93b8-6be14cfa4943}]
"LogicalViewMode"=dword:00000001
"Mode"=dword:00000004

I created an account just to say "THANKS"! This problem haunted me for two years! This fix took me all of about one minute! Worked immediately on all my folders, both local and NAS. Didn't need to restart explorer, log off/log on, reboot or anything. (BTW, don't recall this being so difficult in prior installs to my current Win10 Home)

Hallelujah!! Made my evening...

djlongy said:

This was something that annoyed the crap out of me too.

I found the solution here.
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/se...ls-windows-10/
Credit to winhelponline.
Create an empty registry file with the following code and apply it to your registry.
This locks it to detail view when searching.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;Fixes search results defaults to Content view.
;Sets Details view as default search results view for Generic folders.


[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]


[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{7fde1a1e-8b31-49a5-93b8-6be14cfa4943}]
"LogicalViewMode"=dword:00000001
"Mode"=dword:00000004

I used Slartybart's solution. Saved a search and then copied the <viewInfo> into the two standard files. I did not work right away. But after restarting the SearchUI proces twice, it did.

The advantage is to have a clear overview of what I am doing. I formatted the xml file in Visual Studio and was then able to easily check and copy the settings.

My initial purpose was to have de detail view and the entire path instead of the folder.

By the way, never knew about saved searches anyway.