Backup and Restore Folder View Settings in Windows 10  

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    Backup and Restore Folder View Settings in Windows 10

    Backup and Restore Folder View Settings in Windows 10

    How to Backup and Restore Folder View Settings in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Backup & Restore
    19 Mar 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    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.


    Backup and Restore Folder View Settings in Windows 10-backup_and_restore_folder_view_settings_tool-1.png
    Backup and Restore Folder View Settings in Windows 10-backup_and_restore_folder_view_settings_tool-2.png
    Backup and Restore Folder View Settings in Windows 10-backup_and_restore_folder_view_settings_tool-3.png


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 61
    Windows 10 home 1607
       #1

    Plz I don't speak english very well, but I m asking about if I took a back up of folders sorts & views for all my system
    and after that i ll make a clean install windows , after I install new windows if i restore this back up as u shown us , it ll return all folders sorts & views as I took before ? even i dont change the rename of this folders ?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Ahmmad, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    It will only restore the folder views to how they were when backed up. It will not rename or create folders.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 61
    Windows 10 home 1607
       #3

    Thank U Brink for your quick reply :)
    I see, but I mean now i must make clean install of windows 10 , and I ll re install a new one , i ll not change any folder name .
    i mean that if i restore this back up after clean installation of windows it ll return back the folders sorts and views i made before ?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    The backup will only be able to restore the folder views of the folders that exist now and were included in the backup.

    If the folders are not the same, then their folder views will not be restored since they were not included in the backup.
    Last edited by Brink; 29 Apr 2017 at 16:30. Reason: typo
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 61
    Windows 10 home 1607
       #5

    I cant believe it , really after clean installation of windows ? oh my god
    thank alot Brink , u r really a genius
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

      My Computers


  7. Posts : 34
    Windows 10
       #7

    This sounded like the solution to my disappearing settings on my Acer laptop -Other laptops don't have this problem. After removing "Type" and ordering name, date, size for "General Items"and "Documents", I ran the restore operation. The next day after waking/rebooting it's back to the original settings - but the Restore function does not change it back. First, why can't Windows remember these settings, and why does your batch program not work on my system?
    Acer Aspire SW3-013 Notebook ~~ drive C: 32GB SSD ~~ drive D: 64GB SD card
    Windows 10 Home 32-bit v1607 b14393.479
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hello WaterCat, :)

    When you tried to restore your backed up folder view settings, did you do this below first? Just have to verify.

    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.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 34
    Windows 10
       #9

    I moved the folder Folder View Settings Backup to D:\Tools\Folder View Settings Backup and edited the script (example below). When Explorer exits, the screen blanks, but it does not restart (running the command from a command prompt works fine.)
    set FFF=D:\TOOLS
    ...
    IF EXIST "%FFF%\Folder View Settings Backup" goto :response1
    ...
    REG IMPORT "%FFF%\Folder View Settings Backup\HKCU_Software_Microsoft_Windows_Shell_BagMRU.reg"
      My Computer


 

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