Reset Folder View Settings to Default in Windows 10  

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    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
    03 Mar 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


    The downloadable .bat file in this option contains the commands below that will reset the folder view settings of all folders back to default.


    1 Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below.

    Reset_Folder_View_Settings_of_All_Folders_to_Default.bat

    Download

    (contents of .bat file for reference)
    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

    2 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

    3 Unblock the .bat file.

    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






  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #1

    Thx so much
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 21
    Windoze 10 Pro
       #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


  3. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #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


  4. Posts : 21
    Windoze 10 Pro
       #4

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


  5. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

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


  6. Posts : 73
    Win10 1809
       #6

    @Brink: How safe is this procedure?

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


  7. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Hello @Forceflow,

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


  8. Posts : 16,712
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #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


  9. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

      My Computers


 

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