General Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 11

JACKSPRATNYC · Feb 8, 2024

JACKSPRATNYC said:
Say Brink: Thanks for the reg file. I "merged" the file. No go. Still defaulting to that darn "MyPC". Amazing how the ability to fine-tune some of these features can vanish so quickly with a version 'upgrade' on the same OS. Microsoft sure seems to love MyPC in File Explorer, eh? BTW, Out of the 3 options in "Folder Options": 'This PC', 'Home' & 'Downloads', wouldn't it have been smart for the developers to have added a "browse" option so that the user could have selected a default start folder of their choice? Would have made this issue a non-issue.

Hello Brink: Okay, I stumbled on what the problem was. In File Explorer's Options/View/Advanced Settings, the "Show all folders" box was unchecked. I restarted File Explorer and it defaulted to C:\. Problem solved. Big thanks to you for helping to troubleshoot this issue. Have a great evening.

Brink · Feb 8, 2024

JACKSPRATNYC said:
Hello Brink: Okay, I stumbled on what the problem was. In File Explorer's Options/View/Advanced Settings, the "Show all folders" box was unchecked. I restarted File Explorer and it defaulted to C:\. Problem solved. Big thanks to you for helping to troubleshoot this issue. Have a great evening.

Great news. Thank you for posting back with your findings. :party:

happybluekoala · Jul 9, 2024

Just wanted to share that using method 3, running explorer.exe directly (in command) starts it as another process. If you have old hardware like i do you can tell it also takes longer and is visually more jarring. You can work around that if you wish by using the "start" command instead, which will open up explorer from an already running instance/process. But using "start" is not possible unless we already are running a cmd instance, and cmd instances can't really be started hidden easily so this is what i did;

Create this vbscript and save it as explorer.vbs:

Code:

WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell").Run "cmd.exe /c start %userprofile%", 0, True

The point of vbscript is that it can run cmd without a conhost window (the window normally associated with cmd). There is other ways of achieving this, of course.

If using this method the replace Explorer "C:\" in command with wscript c:/path/to/explorer.vbs (and adjust path to your liking). You could probably edit the command to actually run the content from the file inline instead, negating the need for a separate file, but personally i like to have a file that i can edit and such laying around.

happybluekoala · Jul 11, 2024

I must follow up my previous reply with a simplified version as i couldn't figure out how to edit my previous post. The vbscript can be simplified to

Code:

CreateObject("WScript.Shell").Run "%userprofile%"

This yields the same benefits but is less convoluted. Obvisouly you should edit the path to you liking.

Mistergom · Jun 6, 2025

Since one or two Windows 11 updates, these tricks don't seem to work anymore... I tried everything, but nothing worked—back to square one...

dacrone · Jun 6, 2025

Mistergom said:
Since one or two Windows 11 updates, these tricks don't seem to work anymore... I tried everything, but nothing worked—back to square one...

24H2 handles it differently in the registry. you can only set ThisPC, Home, Onedrive or Downloads as the default LaunchTo. i have an autohotkey script made that i can customize for the path you want if you send it. it'll just run in your tray and intercept all new instances of explorer that are launched and redirect them to whatever path you want.
...or you can use windhawk

Mistergom · Jun 6, 2025

dacrone said:
24H2 handles it differently in the registry. you can only set ThisPC, Home, Onedrive or Downloads as the default LaunchTo. i have an autohotkey script made that i can customize for the path you want if you send it. it'll just run in your tray and intercept all new instances of explorer that are launched and redirect them to whatever path you want.
...or you can use windhawk

WOW! Great, I would be very happy to try your solution, thanks!

dacrone · Jun 6, 2025

Mistergom said:
WOW! Great, I would be very happy to try your solution, thanks!

what path do you want it to launch to?

Mistergom · Jun 6, 2025

F:

(and I can edit autohoetkey files)

dacrone · Jun 6, 2025

oh well that makes it easy then lol. i'll let you compile it... edit as desired. the bottom portion will redirect CTRL+T new tabs (havent gotten the + new tabs to work correctly yet, without intercepting new instances of FE too)

Code:

#Persistent
SetTitleMatchMode, 2
DetectedWindows := {}

GroupAdd, ExplorerWindows, ahk_class CabinetWClass
GroupAdd, ExplorerWindows, ahk_class ExploreWClass

SetTimer, CheckExplorerWindows, 500
return

CheckExplorerWindows:
    WinGet, idList, List, ahk_group ExplorerWindows
    Loop, %idList%
    {
        hwnd := idList%A_Index%
        if !DetectedWindows[hwnd]
        {
            DetectedWindows[hwnd] := true
            WinActivate, ahk_id %hwnd%
            SendInput, ^l
            SendInput, C:{Enter}
        }
    }

    ; Cleanup closed windows
    for hwnd in DetectedWindows
    {
        if !WinExist("ahk_id " hwnd)
            DetectedWindows.Delete(hwnd)
    }
return

; New Tabs CTRL T
~^t::
Sleep, 200  ; Allow tab to fully open
SendInput, ^l
SendInput, C:\Users{Enter} 
return

Mistergom · Jun 6, 2025

Thanks, but I get this, is it ok? :

dacrone · Jun 6, 2025

Mistergom said:
Thanks, but I get this, is it ok? :

yeah. just install v1.1
then you can run scripts that are based on v1 or v2

AutoHotkey Downloads

www.autohotkey.com

Mistergom · Jun 6, 2025

It works like a charm! Thanks a lot! SUPER handy, phew

It’s crazy because there was a time when everyone was talking about improved accessibility—getting to the information you need in no more than 3 clicks (maximum!). And now we’re stuck navigating useless hierarchies, menus and submenus that only get in the way of the user experience.
Okay, okay, 3 clicks or a bit more mightnot sound like much, but as always, in the end, it starts to weigh on...

Mistergom · Jun 7, 2025

Hello! After a few hours of use, the script works very well overall, but I noticed two slightly problematic things:

If I click on a specific folder to open it in a new tab in Explorer, I see the targeted folder for a short moment, and then—bam—it's immediately replaced by the F: folder mentioned earlier ^^
Similarly, if I try to open the Windows Recycle Bin, I see it for a short moment, and then I'm taken back to the same F: folder.

I get the feeling that no matter what I do, as soon as it detects a Windows Explorer window, it redirects straight to F:. Would it be possible to limit the script so that it only runs on the first opening of Explorer? That way, it wouldn't interfere once you're navigating inside?

dacrone · Jun 7, 2025

Mistergom said:
Hello! After a few hours of use, the script works very well overall, but I noticed two slightly problematic things:

If I click on a specific folder to open it in a new tab in Explorer, I see the targeted folder for a short moment, and then—bam—it's immediately replaced by the F: folder mentioned earlier ^^

Similarly, if I try to open the Windows Recycle Bin, I see it for a short moment, and then I'm taken back to the same F: folder.

I get the feeling that no matter what I do, as soon as it detects a Windows Explorer window, it redirects straight to F:. Would it be possible to limit the script so that it only runs on the first opening of Explorer? That way, it wouldn't interfere once you're navigating inside?

yeah i'll tweak it to do that. didnt think of that offhand as i had other stuff i was working on simultaneously. what that one does is redirect each new instance of FE to your path, thus if you open, lets say recycle bin in a new window and not a new tab of that same FE instance, it will redirect it. i can make it either exclude any instance after the first instance of FE... OR... exclude specific paths such as recycle bin, autoplay launches, etc. which works best for your implementation?

Mistergom · Jun 8, 2025

Thanks for your help!

I think that "exclude any instance after the first instance of FE" sounds better.

LesFerch · Aug 2, 2025

@Brink Option 3 no longer works as of 26100.4202.

Brink · Aug 3, 2025

LesFerch said:
@Brink Option 3 no longer works as of 26100.4652 (maybe earlier).

It does work with build 26100.3194.

Thank you. I added a warning to option three for this. :shawn:

LesFerch · Aug 4, 2025

@Brink I tested the updates and found that option three no longer works starting with 26100.4202.

LesFerch · Aug 7, 2025

@Brink It turns out the change is more subtle. Option 3 only fails to work with a typical Explorer taskbar shortcut. If you create your own shortcut to Explorer (with no additional arguments) it still works fine. It also still works fine by Run > Explorer.

Specifically...

Shortcut added via "File Explorer" search (does not work with Option 3 in build 26100.4202 or higher):
1. Type "File Explorer" in the search bar.
2. Right-click on the "File Explorer" app in the search results.
3. Select "Pin to taskbar".
From an Open File Explorer Window (does not work with Option 3 in build 26100.4202 or higher):
1. Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
2. Locate the File Explorer icon on the taskbar.
3. Right-click the icon, then choose "Pin to taskbar".
Drag and drop or right-click the Exe (still works with Option 3):
1. Locate the explorer.exe file (found in C:\Windows).
2. Drag and drop the explorer.exe file onto the taskbar or right-click explorer.exe and select "Pin to taskbar".
Creating a Shortcut (still works with Option 3):
1. Right-click on your desktop, then select "New" > "Shortcut".
2. Type "explorer" in the box and click "Next".
3. Name the shortcut "Explorer" and click "Finish".
4. Right-click on the newly created shortcut on your desktop.
5. Choose "Pin to taskbar".

General Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Windows 11

Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default in Folder Options

Change Folder to Open File Explorer to by Default using REG File

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