How to Enable or Disable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box in Windows


The common open file dialog box is the window that opens when you click/tap on File (menu bar) in a program (ex: Registry Editor), and click/tap on Open, Save as, Import, or Export.

The older Windows XP style common open file dialog box has a places bar (aka: shortcut bar) in the left pane to select a location you want.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the places bar in the common open file dialog box for all or specific users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable the places bar in the common open file dialog box.


 CONTENTS:

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box for All Users using a REG file


EXAMPLE: Places bar enabled and disable in common open file dialog box
Enable or Disable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box in Windows-common_dialog_box_places_bar_enabled.png Enable or Disable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box in Windows-common_dialog_box_places_bar_disabled.png






OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor


The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two below.

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, File Explorer, and Common Open File Dialog. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box in Windows-common_dialog_box_places_bar_gpedit-1.png

3. In the right pane of Common Open File Dialog, double click/tap on the Hide the common dialog places bar policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 5. To Enable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box

A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.


 6. To Disable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box in Windows-common_dialog_box_places_bar_gpedit-2.png

7. You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.






OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box for All Users using a REG file


The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Comdlg32

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Comdlg32

NoPlacesBar DWORD

(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable


1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


 2. To Enable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box for All Users

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_common_dialog_box_places_bar_for_all_users.reg

Download


 3. To Disable Places Bar in Common Dialog Box for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_common_dialog_box_places_bar_for_all_users.reg

Download

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

7. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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