Hide or Show User Profile Personal Folders in Windows 10 File Explorer  

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    Hide or Show User Profile Personal Folders in Windows 10 File Explorer

    Hide or Show User Profile Personal Folders in Windows 10 File Explorer

    How to Hide or Show User Profile Personal Folders in Windows 10 File Explorer
    Published by Category: User Accounts
    28 May 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Hide or Show User Profile Personal Folders in Windows 10 File Explorer

    The user profile of each account includes the 3D Objects, Contacts, Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Favorites, Links, Music, OneDrive, Pictures, Saved Games, Searches, and Videos personal folders by default in Windows 10.

    If you like, you can hide any one of these personal folders from showing in the navigation pane and main window for the user profile group and This PC in File Explorer.

    This tutorial will show you how to hide or show the user profile personal folders in File Explorer and navigation pane for all accounts in Windows 10.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to hide or show user profile personal folders.

    This will not affect these folders in the users' actual C:\Users\<user name> folder.

    This will not affect folders in Quick access.



    Contents

    • Option One: To Hide User Profile Personal Folders in File Explorer
    • Option Two: To Show User Profile Personal Folders in File Explorer



    EXAMPLE: User profile personal folders in File Explorer
    Hide or Show User Profile Personal Folders in Windows 10 File Explorer-user_profile_group_in_navigation_pane.png Hide or Show User Profile Personal Folders in Windows 10 File Explorer-user_profile_group_in_navigation_pane_save_as.png
    Hide or Show User Profile Personal Folders in Windows 10 File Explorer-this_pc_folders.jpg Hide or Show User Profile Personal Folders in Windows 10 File Explorer-this_pc_folders_save_as.jpg






    OPTION ONE

    To Hide User Profile Personal Folders in File Explorer


    1 Do step 2 (3D Objects), step 3 (Contacts), step 4 (Desktop), step 5 (Documents), step 6 (Downloads), step 7 (Favorites), step 8 (Links), step 9 (Music), step 10 (OneDrive), step 11 (Pictures), step 12 (Saved Games), step 13 (Searches), or step 14 (Videos) for what you would like to do.


     2. To Hide 3D Objects Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    The "3D Objects" folder will no longer be shown as a special folder in File Explorer by default starting with Windows 10 build 21322.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_3D-Objects_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_3D-Objects_folder.reg

    Download


     3. To Hide Contacts Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_Contacts_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_Contacts_folder.reg

    Download


     4. To Hide Desktop Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_Desktop_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_Desktop_folder.reg

    Download


     5. To Hide Documents Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_Documents_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_Documents_folder.reg

    Download


     6. To Hide Downloads Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_Downloads_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_Downloads_folder.reg

    Download


     7. To Hide Favorites Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_Favorites_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_Favorites_folder.reg

    Download


     8. To Hide Links Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_Links_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_Links_folder.reg

    Download


     9. To Hide Music Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_Music_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_Music_folder.reg

    Download


     10. To Hide OneDrive Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_OneDrive_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_OneDrive_folder.reg

    Download


     11. To Hide Pictures Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_Pictures_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_Pictures_folder.reg

    Download


     12. To Hide Saved Games Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_Saved_Games_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_Saved_Games_folder.reg

    Download


     13. To Hide Searches Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_Searches_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_Searches_folder.reg

    Download


     14. To Hide Videos Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10, and go to step 15 below.

    32-bit_Hide_Videos_folder.reg

    Download


    64-bit_Hide_Videos_folder.reg

    Download


    15 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

    18 Restart the explorer process, or restart the computer to apply.

    19 If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file(s) if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    To Show User Profile Personal Folders in File Explorer


    This is the default setting.


    1 Do step 2 (3D Objects), step 3 (Contacts), step 4 (Desktop), step 5 (Documents), step 6 (Downloads), step 7 (Favorites), step 8 (Links), step 9 (Music), step 10 (OneDrive), step 11 (Pictures), step 12 (Saved Games), step 13 (Searches), or step 14 (Videos) for what you would like to do.


     2. To Show 3D Objects Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    The "3D Objects" folder will no longer be shown as a special folder in File Explorer by default starting with Windows 10 build 21322.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_3D-Objects_folder.reg

    Download


     3. To Show Contacts Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    This will not show in "This PC".

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_Contacts_folder.reg

    Download


     4. To Show Desktop Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_Desktop_folder.reg

    Download


     5. To Show Documents Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_Documents_folder.reg

    Download


     6. To Show Downloads Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_Downloads_folder.reg

    Download


     7. To Show Favorites Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    This will not show in "This PC".

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_Favorites_folder.reg

    Download


     8. To Show Links Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    This will not show in "This PC".

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_Links_folder.reg

    Download


     9. To Show Music Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_Music_folder.reg

    Download


     10. To Show OneDrive Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    This will not show in "This PC".

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_OneDrive_folder.reg

    Download


     11. To Hide Pictures Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_Pictures_folder.reg

    Download


     12. To Show Saved Games Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    This will not show in "This PC".

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_Saved_Games_folder.reg

    Download


     13. To Show Searches Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    This will not show in "This PC".

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_Searches_folder.reg

    Download


     14. To Show Videos Folder in File Explorer for All Users

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 15 below.

    Show_Videos_folder.reg

    Download


    15 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

    18 Restart the explorer process, or restart the computer to apply.

    19 If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file(s) if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 15,477
    Windows10
       #1

    The link for 64-bit_Hide_Downloads_folder.reg is incorrect. It downloads the wrong reg file.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Thank you @cereberus. Link now fixed. :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Professional
       #3

    Hi Shawn,

    Tried the above links on my system - Windows 10 Professional - build 1803.

    Although the links are registered in the registry, they don't seem to work as the folders still show.

    FYI - I double clicked the registry files in the order specified and then restarted the system.

    Mike
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello Mike, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    When you merged the .reg files, did you get all the approval prompts in step 17?

    In addition, did you use the correct 32-bit or 64-bit version .reg file that's the same as your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10?
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Professional
       #5

    Hi Shawn, thanks for the quick reply.

    Yes, I got all the warnings/approvals - 3 times for each reg file - and yes I did use the 32-bit reg files as my system is a 32-bit system.

    I did check the registry entries, and they are all there.

    I never really wanted to to upgrade to W10 (having tried it once before and rolling back to W7), but my hard disk was dying on me and it seemed a good idea to shift to W10 Pro from W7Pro

    Regards

    Mike
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Professional
       #6

    Brink said:
    Hello Mike, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    When you merged the .reg files, did you get all the approval prompts in step 17?

    In addition, did you use the correct 32-bit or 64-bit version .reg file that's the same as your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10?
    BTW - I would have liked to post some screenshots - but having come to the conclusion that W10 is as bad as W8 and Vista, I have since gone back to W7. I still have the disk containing W10, but will only use it once in a blue moon - if required.

    The screenshots referred to - show that when I click on the "user", it shows the subfolders/files on the right hand side of File Explorer - and when I click on any of the subfolders, the "Hide" icon in the ribbon is already depressed.

    Mike
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7

    If you like, the tutorial below can show you different ways on how to take a screenshot in Windows 10.

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

    ...and how to post them if needed.

    How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums | Windows 10 Tutorials
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Professional
       #8

    Brink said:
    If you like, the tutorial below can show you different ways on how to take a screenshot in Windows 10.

    Take Screenshot in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

    ...and how to post them if needed.

    How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums | Windows 10 Tutorials
    Thanks Shawn,

    I had edited my last post as follows :

    "The screenshots referred to - show that when I click on the "user", it shows the subfolders/files on the right hand side of File Explorer - and when I click on any of the subfolders, the "Hide" icon in the ribbon is already depressed."
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,836
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    I just tested on my system to see if anything may have changed, and they're still working for me.

    If you don't mind, post a screenshot showing this to see if anything may stand out.
      My Computers


 

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