General Apply Folder View to All Folders in Windows 11


Folder_views_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to apply view settings of a folder to all folders for your account in Windows 11.

You can change the folder view settings in Windows 11 to what you want for each separate folder.

View settings for a folder include the template, columns, column width, Group by, Sort by, and layout view.

If you like, you can apply the view settings of a folder to all folders at once without needing to manually apply one by one.


Here's How:

1 Specify a default template for all folders to be optimized for a General items (details view), Documents, Pictures, Music, or Videos type you want for them.

2 Open File Explorer (Win+E).

3 Open a folder you want to apply its view settings to all folders.

Be sure to close all other folder windows before continuing.


4 Customize this folder's columns, column width, Group by, Sort by, and layout view settings to how you want.

5 Click/tap on the See more (3 dots) button on the command bar, and click/tap on Options. (see screenshot below)

Apply_to_Folders-1.png

6 Click/tap on the View tab, and click/tap on the Apply to Folders button to apply this folder view to all folders using the same template. (see screenshot below)

If you have This PC or a library open, Apply to Folders will be grayed out.


Apply_to_Folders-2.png

7 Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)

Apply_to_Folders-3.png

8 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Apply_to_Folders-4.png


That's it,
Shawn Brink

Related Tutorials

 
Last edited:
Click to expand...
LesFerch said:
Yup, I know. The issue with file dialog views not getting updated via "Apply to Folders" is true from Windows 7 to the latest Windows 11 build. In 2021, File Explorer in Windows 11 was mostly the same as Windows 10, so it's likely that "Apply to Folders" would have only applied to the root of Downloads at that time.
Click to expand...
Sadly it is still true in 2024...

The folder view options does not work for child as long as the folder is already in a "Profile" folder (Music, etc.).
Easy to see :
Move a folder from "Documents" to the root of a drive.
Change the display setting for this folder and tick the box.
Open subfolders, it works.
Move the folder into the "library" as some of you call it, and... BOOM... The display is still "Document/Picture/etc" but the view itself will reset to the parent view...
So you can have "general" (don't know if it is the English name) view in a "Music" folder and still displayed as... Music...

Microsoft fixed that, but not for "Library" folders...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
CodeKiller said:
The folder view options does not work for child as long as the folder is already in a "Profile" folder (Music, etc.).
Easy to see :
Move a folder from "Documents" to the root of a drive.
Change the display setting for this folder and tick the box.
Open subfolders, it works.
Move the folder into the "library" as some of you call it, and... BOOM... The display is still "Document/Picture/etc" but the view itself will reset to the parent view...
So you can have "general" (don't know if it is the English name) view in a "Music" folder and still displayed as... Music...

Microsoft fixed that, but not for "Library" folders...
Click to expand...

Folder views are not applied on a subfolder (i.e. "child") basis. In your example, you've created a new folder at the root of a drive, which, upon first opening, will be assigned a particular folder type, such as "General items" or "Pictures", depending on its content. When you clicked "Apply to Folders" (and I assume that's what you meant by "tick the box") then you are telling Windows to change ALL folders of that same type to match the current folder's view. Of course, if the subfolders have similar content, they will be the same type and hence also pick up that new view. But don't be fooled into thinking you made a change to that folder tree only. You changed the view for all folders of that same type.

Library folders are just a way of seeing content from any number of folders in a single view. Nothing is actually moved to a library. When you add a folder to a library, you're just telling Windows to include that additional folder to the list of folders that are displayed for that library. The view that is used is whatever view you have set for the library. The library is its own folder type, so, unfortunately, "Apply to Folders" on a "Documents" type folder doesn't affect the "Documents" library. And to make things even more painful, "Apply to Folders" is grayed out in Libraries, which makes it rather difficult to change the Library's view for all folders.

Microsoft could make things less confusing, but I wouldn't count on that happening any time soon. At least you can use WinSetView to set all the folder types, including Libraries, to your preferred defaults views.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10/11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
LesFerch said:
Folder views are not applied on a subfolder (i.e. "child") basis. In your example, you've created a new folder at the root of a drive, which, upon first opening, will be assigned a particular folder type, such as "General items" or "Pictures", depending on its content. When you clicked "Apply to Folders" (and I assume that's what you meant by "tick the box") then you are telling Windows to change ALL folders of that same type to match the current folder's view. Of course, if the subfolders have similar content, they will be the same type and hence also pick up that new view. But don't be fooled into thinking you made a change to that folder tree only. You changed the view for all folders of that same type.

Library folders are just a way of seeing content from any number of folders in a single view. Nothing is actually moved to a library. When you add a folder to a library, you're just telling Windows to include that additional folder to the list of folders that are displayed for that library. The view that is used is whatever view you have set for the library. The library is its own folder type, so, unfortunately, "Apply to Folders" on a "Documents" type folder doesn't affect the "Documents" library. And to make things even more painful, "Apply to Folders" is grayed out in Libraries, which makes it rather difficult to change the Library's view for all folders.

Microsoft could make things less confusing, but I wouldn't count on that happening any time soon. At least you can use WinSetView to set all the folder types, including Libraries, to your preferred defaults views.
Click to expand...
Wrong. :-)
I am not talking about what you are talking about... (and you are wrong in the bug description also).

English translation of the French capture attached : "Also apply this model (whatever the word you want to use instead of model) to... ALL SUB FOLDERS"
To get here ? Righ click on a folder, Properties, Personalize (right tab don't know the EN name).
Here you have the "box" to tick...
This one DOES NOT WORK FOR LIBRARY AND ONLY FOR FOLDERS LOCATED OUTSIDE LIBRARY. This is the explanaition I wrote in my previous post.
This is the real bug since Windows 10 (was working fine in Windows 7 in fact I think).
Not the "keep the current display as the default one for other same kind of folder" bug, which is... not a bug at all as it works as intended (all my pictures keep the new view if I change it the way you explain, not with the way I explain).

Thanks anyway. :-)
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
CodeKiller said:
Wrong. :-)
I am not talking about what you are talking about... (and you are wrong in the bug description also).

English translation of the French capture attached : "Also apply this model (whatever the word you want to use instead of model) to... ALL SUB FOLDERS"
To get here ? Righ click on a folder, Properties, Personalize (right tab don't know the EN name).
Here you have the "box" to tick...
This one DOES NOT WORK FOR LIBRARY AND ONLY FOR FOLDERS LOCATED OUTSIDE LIBRARY. This is the explanaition I wrote in my previous post.
This is the real bug since Windows 10 (was working fine in Windows 7 in fact I think).
Not the "keep the current display as the default one for other same kind of folder" bug, which is... not a bug at all as it works as intended (all my pictures keep the new view if I change it the way you explain, not with the way I explain).

Thanks anyway. :-)
Click to expand...

I considered that you may be referring to the "Also apply this template to all subfolders" (since you mentioned a "box"), but you quoted my statement about "Apply to Folders". Hence my confusion. I should have asked for clarification first. :wink:

So, now that I know what you're talking about, there's a simpler point to be made...

The option "Also apply this template to all subfolders" does not work at all in Windows 11 (unless you use the Windows 10 Explorer).

It doesn't matter where the folder is located. The feature is completely broken. I made a video about the issue and have made several Feedback Hub reports. It's still broken for almost two years now and no sign from Microsoft that it will be fixed. The forum owner at answers.microsoft.com told me that the "engineers are aware of the issue" and are "working on a fix", but that was almost a year ago, so who knows.

Also the folder option tab "Customize" is not available for Library folders. Libraries are a special folder type (really just a combined view), so the "Optimize this folder for" option is not applicable. The same is true for "Downloads" except that the option is shown but just doesn't do anything.

Anyhow, I should know what I'm talking about when it comes to folder views in Windows. It goes with the territory of spending hundreds of hours researching, writing and updating a tool to control those views. If you could clarify what you mean by "you are wrong in the bug description also" I'm sure we can sort out any misunderstanding there as well.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10/11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
Thank you, Shawn. I'm new to Windows 11, and I was getting really frustrated because I'd forgotten how to do this, and the method that I was trying wasn't working.

ajk1962f
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
ajk1962f said:
Thank you, Shawn. I'm new to Windows 11, and I was getting really frustrated because I'd forgotten how to do this, and the method that I was trying wasn't working.

ajk1962f
Click to expand...
You're most welcome, and welcome. :alien:
 

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
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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