Personalization Add "Show Linux" on Navigation Pane to Folder Options in Windows 11

Brink · Aug 2, 2024

This tutorial will show you how to add the "Show Linux" on File Explorer Navigation Pane setting to Folder Options for all users in Windows 11.

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) lets developers run a GNU/Linux environment -- including most command-line tools, utilities, and applications -- directly on Windows, unmodified, without the overhead of a traditional virtual machine or dualboot setup.

When you install WSL, it adds Linux to the navigation pane of File Explorer for easier access to the file systems of your installed distros.

Adding the Show Linux setting to Folder Options will make it easy for users to turn on or off showing Linux on the navigation pane of File Explorer on demand without having to uninstall WSL for their account when Show all folders is turned off.

You must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove "Show Linux" in Folder Options.

If you turn on Show all folders in the navigation pane, Linux will always show in the navigation pane by default.

EXAMPLE: "Show Linux" in Folder Options, and Linux on File Explorer navigation pane

Here's How:

1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you want.

2 Add "Show Linux" to Folder Options

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Add_ShowLinux_to_Folder_Options.reg

Download

(Contents of REG file for reference)

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\NavPane\ShowLinux]
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000001
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000001
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"Id"=dword:0000000c
"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000000
"RegPath"="Software\\Classes\\CLSID\\{B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6}"
"Text"="Show Linux"
"Type"="checkbox"
"ValueName"="System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree"

3 Remove "Show Linux" from Folder Options

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Remove_ShowLinux_from_Folder_Options.reg

Download

(Contents of REG file for reference)

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\NavPane\ShowLinux]

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

7 If Folder Options is open, then close and reopen it to apply.

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

That's it,
Shawn Brink