Personalization Add or Remove Folders in File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 11


  • Staff
Navigation_pane_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Libraries, Music, Pictures, and/or Videos folder(s) in the File Explorer navigation pane when using "Show all folders" for all users in Windows 11.

The navigation pane is the far left pane in File Explorer used to find files, folders, and drives on your PC or network.

When you turn on Show all folders in the navigation pane, the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Libraries, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders will always show in the navigation pane by default.

If you like, you can add and remove the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Libraries, Music, Pictures, and/or Videos folder(s) in the File Explorer navigation pane with "Show all folders" turned on.


You must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove folders in the File Explorer navigation pane with "Show all folders" turned on.


Thank you to JeepWillys58 for providing the idea and registry location used for this tutorial.




Contents

  • Option One: Add Folders in File Explorer Navigation Pane with "Show all folders" On
  • Option Two: Remove Folders in File Explorer Navigation Pane with "Show all folders" On


EXAMPLE: Folders in File Explorer Navigation Pane with "Show all folders"

Navigation_pane_folders-added.png
Navigation_pane_folders-removed.png





Option One

Add Folders in File Explorer Navigation Pane with "Show all folders" On


This is the default setting.


1 Do step 2 (Desktop), step 3 (Documents), step 4 (Downloads), step 5 (Libraries), step 6 (Music), step 7 (Pictures), or step 8 (Videos) for the folder(s) you want to add (restore).


 2. Add Desktop folder to "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Add_Desktop_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}"=-


 3. Add Documents folder to "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Add_Documents_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{A8CDFF1C-4878-43be-B5FD-F8091C1C60D0}"=-


 4. Add Downloads folder to "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Add_Downloads_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}"=-


 5. Add Libraries to "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Add_Libraries_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}"=-


 6. Add Music folder to "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Add_Music_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{1CF1260C-4DD0-4ebb-811F-33C572699FDE}"=-


 7. Add Pictures folder to "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Add_Pictures_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{3ADD1653-EB32-4cb0-BBD7-DFA0ABB5ACCA}"=-


 8. Add Videos folder to "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Add_Videos_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{A0953C92-50DC-43bf-BE83-3742FED03C9C}"=-

9 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

10 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

11 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

12 Either restart explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.

13 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file(s) if you like.




Option Two

Remove Folders in File Explorer Navigation Pane with "Show all folders" On


1 Do step 2 (Desktop), step 3 (Documents), step 4 (Downloads), step 5 (Libraries), step 6 (Music), step 7 (Pictures), or step 8 (Videos) for the folder(s) you want to remove.


 2. Remove Desktop folder from "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Remove_Desktop_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}"=dword:00000001


 3. Remove Documents folder from "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Remove_Documents_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{A8CDFF1C-4878-43be-B5FD-F8091C1C60D0}"=dword:00000001


 4. Remove Downloads folder from "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Remove_Downloads_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}"=dword:00000001


 5. Remove Libraries from "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Remove_Libraries_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}"=dword:00000001


 6. Remove Music folder from "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Remove_Music_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{1CF1260C-4DD0-4ebb-811F-33C572699FDE}"=dword:00000001


 7. Remove Pictures folder from "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Remove_Pictures_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{3ADD1653-EB32-4cb0-BBD7-DFA0ABB5ACCA}"=dword:00000001


 8. Remove Videos folder from "Show all folders" Navigation Pane

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 9 below.​

Remove_Videos_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{A0953C92-50DC-43bf-BE83-3742FED03C9C}"=dword:00000001

9 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

10 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

11 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

12 Either restart explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.

13 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file(s) if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

  • Navigation_pane.png
    Navigation_pane.png
    1.9 KB · Views: 59
  • Add_Desktop_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    682 bytes · Views: 137
  • Add_Documents_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    682 bytes · Views: 116
  • Add_Downloads_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    682 bytes · Views: 105
  • Add_Libraries_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    682 bytes · Views: 134
  • Add_Music_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    682 bytes · Views: 111
  • Add_Pictures_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    682 bytes · Views: 122
  • Add_Videos_folder_to_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    682 bytes · Views: 141
  • Remove_Desktop_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    708 bytes · Views: 151
  • Remove_Documents_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    708 bytes · Views: 95
  • Remove_Downloads_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    708 bytes · Views: 94
  • Remove_Libraries_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    708 bytes · Views: 80
  • Remove_Music_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    708 bytes · Views: 96
  • Remove_Pictures_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    708 bytes · Views: 110
  • Remove_Videos_folder_from_File_Explorer_Navigation_Pane_with_show_all_folders.reg
    708 bytes · Views: 102
Last edited:
Click to expand...
this two has been bugging me since it was introduced. thank you so much.

reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum" /v "{1CF1260C-4DD0-4ebb-811F-33C572699FDE}" /t REG_DWORD /d "1" /f
# Music
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum" /v "{A0953C92-50DC-43bf-BE83-3742FED03C9C}" /t REG_DWORD /d "1" /f
# Videos
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
I don't think those registry keys apply anymore, at least on my machine. I tried to remove the libraries, for example, and that key didn't exist. So, I added it, and just for good measure, I tried dword values of both 0 and 1. It didn't have any effect. Anyone know how to do this now?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Georgia_ said:
I don't think those registry keys apply anymore, at least on my machine. I tried to remove the libraries, for example, and that key didn't exist. So, I added it, and just for good measure, I tried dword values of both 0 and 1. It didn't have any effect. Anyone know how to do this now?
Click to expand...
Hello Georgia, :alien:

Just to note, these only apply when "Show all folders" is turned on for the navigation pane.

Just to confirm, did you restart the explorer process or restart the computer afterwards to apply?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
I did have "Show all folders" turned on, and after adding the registry entry, I restarted File Explorer. I didn't restart the computer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Georgia_ said:
I did have "Show all folders" turned on, and after adding the registry entry, I restarted File Explorer. I didn't restart the computer.
Click to expand...
Does it apply after restarting the computer?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
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