Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 10
In Windows 10, File Explorer opens to Quick access by default which shows your Frequent folders and Recent files.
- Frequent folders = Displays up to ten folders that you frequently opened on the system.
- Recent files = Displays up to twenty files that you most recently opened.
This PC displays your Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, and Videos folders in addition to the usual devices and drives (hard drives, optical drives, and removable devices) and network locations.
This tutorial will show you how to set File Explorer to open to either This PC, Quick access, Downloads, or a custom location by default for your user account in Windows 10.
Contents
- Option One: Change Open File Explorer to This PC or Quick access by Default in Folder Options
- Option Two: Change Open File Explorer to This PC, Quick access, or Downloads by Default in Folder Options using REG File
- Option Three: Set File Explorer to Open to Custom Location by Default
EXAMPLE: File Explorer opened to "This PC" and "Quick access"
1 Open File Explorer Options.
2 In the General tab, select Quick access (default) or This PC in the Open File Explorer to drop menu for what you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value below in the registry key below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
LaunchTo DWORD
1 = This PC
2 = Quick access
3 = Downloads
1 Do step 2 (Quick access), step 3 (This PC), or step 4 (Downloads) below for what you would like to do.
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Open_File_Explorer_to_Quick_access.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Open_File_Explorer_to_This_PC.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Open_File_Explorer_to_Downloads.reg
Download
5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
1 Do step 2 (custom) or step 3 (undo) below for what you want.
This will override Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below.
This REG file will add the required registry keys and values for you so you will just need to edit it starting at step 2F below for the custom folder path you want instead.
Set_File_Explorer_to_open_to_custom_location.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{52205fd8-5dfb-447d-801a-d0b52f2e83e1}\shell\opennewwindow\command] @="Explorer \"C:\\Windows\"" "DelegateExecute"=""
B) Save the .reg file to your desktop.
C) Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
D) When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
E) You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
F) Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe).
G) Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{52205fd8-5dfb-447d-801a-d0b52f2e83e1}\shell\opennewwindow\command
H) In the right pane of the command key, double click/tap on the (Default) string value (REG_SZ) to modify it. (see screenshot above)
I) Change the red part of the Explorer "C:\Windows" path to the folder or drive path you want File Explorer to open to by default, and click/tap on OK.
For example: Explorer "C:\Users\Brink\Downloads"
J) You can now close Registry Editor if you like.
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below.
Undo_set_File_Explorer_to_open_to_custom_location.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{52205fd8-5dfb-447d-801a-d0b52f2e83e1}]
B) Save the .reg file to your desktop.
C) Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
D) When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
E) You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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