General Add or Remove This PC in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11

Windows 11 shows the This PC icon in the navigation pane of File Explorer by default. This makes it easy to browse your Devices and drives and Network locations in one location.

If you prefer not to have This PC show in the navigation pane of File Explorer, you can remove it.

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove This PC in the navigation pane of File Explorer for your account in Windows 11.

If you turn on Show all folders in the navigation pane, This PC will always show in the navigation pane.

This will not remove the This PC icon from the older Open and Save as type common item dialog boxes like below. If wanted, you can manually change the places bar items in common dialog boxes to remove This PC from them.

EXAMPLE: This PC in the navigation pane of File Explorer

If you select to open File Explorer to This PC by default, it will automatically add This PC back to the navigation pane.

1 Open File Explorer (Win+E).

2 Right click or press and hold on an empty area inside the navigation pane, and click/tap on Show This PC to toggle add (checked - default) or remove (unchecked) for what you want. (see screenshot below)

If you select to open File Explorer to This PC by default, it will automatically add This PC back to the navigation pane.

1 Open Folder Options.

2 Click/tap on the View tab. (see screenshot below)

3 Under the Navigation pane section, check (add - default) or uncheck (remove) Show This PC for what you want.

4 Click/tap on OK.







1 Do step 2 (add), step 3 (remove), or step 4 (default) below for what you would like to do.

This will override Option One and Option Two.

(Contents of REG file for reference)

This will override Option One and Option Two.

If you select to open File Explorer to This PC by default, File Explorer will still open to This PC without adding This PC back to the navigation pane.

(Contents of REG file for reference)

This is the default setting.

This will allow you to use what is set in Option One or Option Two.

(Contents of REG file for reference)

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 If File Explorer is currently open, then close and reopen File Explorer to apply.

9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink