General Enable or Disable Folder Options in Windows 11


  • Staff
Folder_Options_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to open Folder Options for specific or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

You can use Folder Options (aka: File Explorer Options) to change the way files and folders function and how items are displayed in Windows.


You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Folder Options.



Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Folder Options for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Folder Options for All Users using REG file


EXAMPLE: Folder Options

Folder_Options-1.png
Folder_Options-2.png
Folder_Options-3.png





Option One

Enable or Disable Folder Options for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor


The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two to configure the same policy.


1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer

Folder_Options_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of the File Explorer policy, double click/tap on Do not allow Folder Options to be opened from the Options button on the View tab of the ribbon to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.

5 Enable Folder Options for All or Specific Users

This is the default setting.


A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)​

Folder_Options_gpedit-2.png

6 Disable Folder Options for All or Specific Users

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)​

Folder_Options_gpedit-3.png

7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.




Option Two

Enable or Disable Folder Options for All Users using REG file


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.

2 Enable Folder Options for All Users

This is the default setting


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

Enable_Folder_Options_for_all_users.reg


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

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoFolderOptions"=-

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoFolderOptions"=-

3 Disable Folder Options for All Users

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

Disable_Folder_Options_for_all_users.reg


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

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoFolderOptions"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoFolderOptions"=dword:00000001

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 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

Attachments

  • Folder_Options.png
    Folder_Options.png
    5.6 KB · Views: 128
  • Disable_Folder_Options_for_all_users.reg
    866 bytes · Views: 286
  • Enable_Folder_Options_for_all_users.reg
    814 bytes · Views: 295
Last edited:
So I am going to look over all this today, my huge issue has been if i open file explorer and i have alot of files in say the download folder. I have repeatedly tried to remove columns from appearing. like, I dont want the Date Modified, Type or Size columns to show ever. well ive tried setting individual folder settings but they always revert back to system defaults after a reboot. So this here tutorial will it help me with that? or do you know of a different on to show me how to do what i want?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro Version 22H2(OS Build 22621.963)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    AMD
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 8 Core
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte X570 Aorus Pro WiFi
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    PCI Express 3.0 x16: PowerColor RX Vega 56 Red Dragon
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220 and AMD Greenland - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 - 27 inch Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    2 SSD - 2 TB each
    1 HDD - 2 TB
    Keyboard
    logitech
    Mouse
    logitech
    Internet Speed
    1 GB
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Avast Premium
So I am going to look over all this today, my huge issue has been if i open file explorer and i have alot of files in say the download folder. I have repeatedly tried to remove columns from appearing. like, I dont want the Date Modified, Type or Size columns to show ever. well ive tried setting individual folder settings but they always revert back to system defaults after a reboot. So this here tutorial will it help me with that? or do you know of a different on to show me how to do what i want?

Hello, :)

I'm afraid this will not help with what you are wanting. This will only enable or disable the ability to open Folder Options instead.

Please go ahead and post this in the forum area to see what we can do to help though.
 

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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