Reset Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 10  

Page 1 of 6 123 ... LastLast
    Reset Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 10

    Reset Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 10

    How to Reset Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Customization
    09 May 2024
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Reset Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 10


    In Windows, you can change the File Explorer window size, template (not for folders on the Desktop), column width, Group by, Sort by, and layout view of items in your folders to how you like.

    This tutorial will show you how to reset folder view settings, details and preview pane width, details and preview pane size, navigation pane width, and Open and Save as dialogs back to default for your account in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: To Reset Folder View Settings of All Folders using a BAT file
    • Option Two: To Only Reset Folder View Settings of All Folders with Same Template Type as Current Folder






    OPTION ONE

    To Reset Folder View Settings of All Folders using a BAT file


    1 Open Notepad.exe.

    2 Copy and paste the code below into Notepad.

    Code:
    @echo off

:: Resets folder view settings, window size and position of all folders
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F

Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU" /F

Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F

Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F


:: To reset "Apply to Folders" views to default for all folder types
REG Delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults" /F


:: To reset size of details, navigation, preview panes to default for all folders
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\Sizer" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\NavPane" /F


:: To reset size of Save as and Open panes to default for all folders
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CIDOpen" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CIDSave" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32" /F


:: To kill and restart explorer process
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

    3 Save the TXT file as a BAT file with the Reset_Folder_View_Settings_of_All_Folders_to_Default.bat name.

    Be sure to rename the the TXT file extension to BAT.


    4 Double click/tap on the .bat file to run it.

    5 You will now notice your screen flicker as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.






    OPTION TWO

    To Only Reset Folder View Settings of All Folders with Same Template Type as Current Folder


    1 Open a folder (ex: Pictures in This PC) in File Explorer (Win+E) that has a template (ex: Pictures template) you want to reset for all folders optimized with the same template.

    2 Click/tap on the View tab, and click/tap on the Options button in the ribbon to open Folder Options from within this folder. (see screenshot below)

    Reset Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 10-reset_folders-1.png

    3 Click/tap on the View tab in Folder Options, and click/tap on the Reset Folders button. (see screenshot below)

    Reset Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 10-reset_folders-2.png

    4 Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)

    Reset Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 10-reset_folders-3.png

    5 Click/tap on OK in Folder Option. (see screenshot below step 3)

    6 The folder view settings of the current folder and all folders optimized with the same template type has now been reset to default. (see screenshot below)

    Reset Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 10-reset_folders-4.png


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink


    Related Tutorials



  1. Windows 11 Tutorials



  2. pat0612
    Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Thx so much
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. Hellopaul
    Posts : 21
    Windoze 10 Pro
       New #2

    Thanks for that. I then went on to customise the view (changing the name/date modified/size, etc. columns) and did 'Apply to Folders'.

    I got the message 'Do you want all folders of this type to match this folder's view settings?'. Yes, I do. The folder I was configuring happened to contain some audio files, so Windows had previously shown it with the columns of Artist, Album, etc. which wasn't what I wanted. Is there a way to change the view of all folders to be this same layout? I always want all folders to open with the columns Name, Date modified, Size and Type; sorted by Date modified - regardless of whether they contain photos, After Effects documents, Cinema 4D models, audio files...anything.

    And just out of interest, does anyone know what the mysterious column "Date" does? How can this be something other than "Date Created" or "Date modified"?

    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  5. Brink
    Posts : 70,681
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Hello Paul @Hellopaul,

    Yes, you could use the method in the tutorial below to set all folders to use the same template. Afterwards, you would have to use "Apply to Folders" again for them.

    Set Default Folder View for all Folders in Windows 10 | Tutorials


    For the most part "Date" is the same as the "Date Created" field.

    However, some image files may have the "Date" field be what was assigned to the image. For example, when the picture was taken.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  6. Hellopaul
    Posts : 21
    Windoze 10 Pro
       New #4

    @Brink Thanks! I've now set ALL my folders to be wonderful.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  7. Brink
    Posts : 70,681
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Hellopaul said:
    @Brink Thanks! I've now set ALL my folders to be wonderful.
    You're most welcome Paul.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  8. Forceflow
    Posts : 73
    Win10 1809
       New #6

    @Brink: How safe is this procedure?

    I find a lot of things using this tool: Free PC cleaner & Privacy tool - Download
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  9. Brink
    Posts : 70,681
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Hello @Forceflow,

    No worries. This is 100% safe to use since it will only restore your folder views back to default.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  10. Try3
    Posts : 17,057
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       New #8

    Brink,

    A thousand thanks.

    This procedure freed up my folder view settings when they were suddenly all stuck as General items type folders. It did the same for the OP in 1903 update - all folders set back to default and can't customize them - TenForums

    Denis
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  12. Brink
    Posts : 70,681
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #9

      My Computers
    Quote Quote

 

Tutorial Categories

Reset Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 10 Tutorial Index Network & Sharing Instalation and Upgrade Browsers and Email General Tips Gaming Customization Apps and Features Virtualization BSOD System Security User Accounts Hardware and Drivers Updates and Activation Backup and Restore Performance and Maintenance Mixed Reality Phone


  Related Discussions
How to Set a Default Folder View for All Folders in Windows 10 While browsing folders in File Explorer, you can apply the view settings of the current folder to all folders on your PC that are optimized for the same folder template type. ...
How to Reset AutoPlay Settings to Default in Windows 10 AutoPlay lets you choose an action for different kinds of media when you plug in a device or insert media. You can set AutoPlay to open different kinds of content, such as photos, music,...
Hi all - Here is what I want to do and I'm not sure if it can be done. In every area of Windows settings, is it possible to set each main section back to default values? For example - Start -> Windows Settings -> System (and all...
I want to be able to set the folder view option on any folder, regardless of type (such a silly option) and have Windows 10 remember that view option when I open the folder again. I do not want to buy a third party utility. I have spent enough...
Reset folder view settings in Windows 10?
in Performance & Maintenance

To put it directly, I'm looking for the Windows 10 equivalent of this: Folder View Settings - Reset to Default in Windows 8
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 00:12.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums