How to Backup and Restore Folder View Settings in Windows 10


In Windows, you can change the template, column width, Group by, Sort by, and layout view of the content of your folders to how you like.

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



Here's How:

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

Backup_and_Restore_Folder_View_Settings_Tool.bat

Download

This .bat file will only apply a backup and restore for the current account.

This below is the contents of this .bat file for reference:

Code:

@ECHO OFF

Set "+=HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders"
For /F "tokens=* " %%# in ('Reg Query "%+%" /V Desktop') Do (Set "#=%%#")
Set "#=%#:*REG_EXPAND_SZ    =%"
For /F "delims=" %%# in ('Echo "%#%"') Do (Set "#=%%#")
Set "[Desktop]=%#:~1,-1%"


title Backup and Restore Folder View Settings Tool
:choice
cls
echo.
echo OPTIONS:
echo.
echo 1. Back up your folder view settings.
echo 2. Restore folder view settings from backup.
echo 3. Cancel
echo.
echo.
set /P c=Type the option number you would like to do, and press Enter?
if /I "%c%" EQU "1" goto :verify1
if /I "%c%" EQU "2" goto :verify2
if /I "%c%" EQU "3" exit
goto :choice


:verify1
IF EXIST "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup" goto :response1
goto :backup

:response1
echo.
echo.
echo You already have a "Folder View Settings Backup" folder on your desktop.
echo Please move it to another location, and try again.
echo.
pause
goto :choice


:backup
mkdir "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup"
REG EXPORT "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults" "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Explorer_Streams_Defaults.reg" /y
REG EXPORT "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Microsoft_Windows_Shell_BagMRU.reg" /y
REG EXPORT "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Microsoft_Windows_Shell_Bags.reg" /y
REG EXPORT "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags" "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Microsoft_Windows_ShellNoRoam_Bags.reg" /y
REG EXPORT "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU" "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Microsoft_Windows_ShellNoRoam_BagMRU.reg" /y
REG EXPORT "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Classes_LocalSettings_Software_Microsoft_Windows_Shell_BagMRU.reg" /y
REG EXPORT "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Classes_LocalSettings_Software_Microsoft_Windows_Shell_Bags.reg" /y
REG EXPORT "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\Sizer" "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Explorer_Modules_GlobalSettings_Sizer.reg" /y
REG EXPORT "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\NavPane" "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Explorer_Modules_NavPane.reg" /y
REG EXPORT "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CIDOpen" "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Explorer_CIDOpen.reg" /y 
REG EXPORT "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CIDSave" "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Explorer_CIDSave.reg" /y
REG EXPORT "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32" "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Explorer_ComDlg32.reg" /y
cls
echo.
echo Backup of folder view settings successfully completed.
echo.
pause 
exit

:verify2
IF NOT EXIST "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup" goto :response
goto :restore

:response
echo.
echo.
echo You do not have a "Folder View Settings Backup" folder on your desktop.
echo Please place the backup folder on your desktop, and try again.
echo.
pause
goto :choice


:restore 
REG Delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults" /F
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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\Sizer" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\NavPane" /F
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

REG IMPORT "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Explorer_Streams_Defaults.reg"
REG IMPORT "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Microsoft_Windows_Shell_BagMRU.reg"
REG IMPORT "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Microsoft_Windows_Shell_Bags.reg"
REG IMPORT "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Microsoft_Windows_ShellNoRoam_Bags.reg"
REG IMPORT "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Microsoft_Windows_ShellNoRoam_BagMRU.reg"
REG IMPORT "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Classes_LocalSettings_Software_Microsoft_Windows_Shell_BagMRU.reg"
REG IMPORT "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Classes_LocalSettings_Software_Microsoft_Windows_Shell_Bags.reg"
REG IMPORT "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Explorer_Modules_GlobalSettings_Sizer.reg"
REG IMPORT "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Explorer_Modules_NavPane.reg"
REG IMPORT "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Explorer_CIDOpen.reg"
REG IMPORT "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Explorer_CIDSave.reg"
REG IMPORT "%[Desktop]%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_SOFTWARE_Microsoft_Windows_CurrentVersion_Explorer_ComDlg32.reg"

cls
echo.
echo Backup of folder view settings successfully restored.
echo.
echo Waiting to restart explorer to apply.
echo Your screen will flash as explorer is restarted.
echo.
echo.
pause
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe 
exit

2 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

3 Unblock the .bat file.

4 Run the .bat file.

5 Do what you would like to do in the Backup and Restore Folder View Settings Tool. (see screenshots below)

BACKUP:
When you create a backup of your folder view settings, a Folder View Settings Backup folder will be saved to your desktop containing the exported .reg files from the registry for your folder view settings. You can save this folder where you like for safe keeping.

RESTORE:
When you wish to restore a back up of your folder view settings, you will need to first have the Folder View Settings Backup folder on your desktop with this exact same name to do so.

That's it,
Shawn Brink

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