How can I return File Explorer to original settings?


L

lbeck

Well-known member
Member
Local time
4:42 PM
Posts
72
OS
Windows 11
I'm in the pocess of consolidating my files to one main computer. I have two computers. In the process I copied numerous files from my old computer onto a portable SSD, then attempted to move those files to my new computer. I changed several file explorer settings after the move process stopped with the notation that a certain file couldn't be moved. I clicked "Skip" and "do this for all files like this". I did this several times for files that halted the process and also changed settings in popup windows I didn't note settings that I changed or which were the errant files.

Now the "move" process appears to have completed but the destination folder is much smaller than the source. I've tried repeating the move process and File Explorer continues to claim that the move is complete. I believe that some setting that I changed must have messed up my File Explorer move settings.

How can I return File Explorer to original settings?
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 1113th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-13400F 2.50 GHz32.0 GBNVIDIA Gforce RTX 4060
    OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Device name CyberPowerPC
    CPU
    13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-13400F 2.50 GHz
    Memory
    32.0 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Gforce RTX 4060
    Hard Drives
    2 TB ADATA Legend 800 Gold SSD and several HDDs
    PSU
    650W
    Browser
    Chrome
    Other Info
    Windows 11 23H2 10.0.26100 Build 26100

  • At a glance

    Windows 10 Home 22H2 19045.4123Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz32.0 GBGforce GTX 745
    Operating System
    Windows 10 Home 22H2 19045.4123
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer_Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
    Memory
    32.0 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Gforce GTX 745
    Sound Card
    ONN24
    Hard Drives
    Many
    Keyboard
    JLAB supports 2 computers/monitors
    Mouse
    Acer wired USB
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Only what W10 installed
    Other Info
    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
  • OS Windows 11 Home 25H2, 26200.8894, 5/‎20/‎2025

    Computer type = PC/Laptop

    Manufacturer/Model = HP

    Device name = Victus

    CPU = 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700H (2.30 GHz)

    Motherboard

    Memory = 16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)

    Graphics Card = NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU (4 GB)

    Sound Card = Internal

    Monitor(s) Displays = Attached

    Screen Resolution = UNK

    Hard Drives = 954 GB and several external HDDs

    PSU = UNK

    Case = NA

    Cooling = UNK

    Keyboard = NA

    Mouse = Wireless Logitech (Touchpad also)

    Internet Speed = 31Mbps download; 8.24 Mbps upload

    Browser = Chrome

    Antivirus=Windows Defender only

    Other Info
To return File Explorer to default settings:
1. Click on 3 dots in the toolbar and select Options.
2. In the Folder Options window go to the "View" tab and click on "Reset Folders".
3. Still in the "View" tab, click on "Restore Defaults" to revert all settings to their original state.
4. Click on "Apply" and then "OK" to confirm the changes.
5. Close and reopen File Explorer or restart your computer to ensure all changes are implemented.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProIntel Series 3 Core Ultra X9 388H64GB LPDDR5x 9600 MT/sIntel Arc graphics B390 Panther Lake
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 16 DA16260
    CPU
    Intel Series 3 Core Ultra X9 388H
    Memory
    64GB LPDDR5x 9600 MT/s
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Arc graphics B390 Panther Lake
    Monitor(s) Displays
    16" 3.2K Tandem OLED Infinity Edge
    Screen Resolution
    3200 x 2000 16:10 236 PPI
    Hard Drives
    1 Terabyte M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
    Case
    Black Anodized Aluminum
    Cooling
    Vapor Chamber Cooling
    Mouse
    None
    Internet Speed
    942 Mbps Netgear Mesh + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium)
    Antivirus
    Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    NPU delivering 67 TOPS
    Microsoft 365 subscription
    Microsoft Office 365
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Visual Studio
    Microsoft Visual Studio Code
    Microsoft Sysinternals Suite
    Microsoft BitLocker
    Microsoft Copilot
    Dell Support Assist
    Dell Command | Update
    Macrium Reflect X subscription
    1Password Password Manager
    Amazon Kindle for PC
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProSnapdragon® X Elite (12 Core) with Hexagon NP...32GB LPDDR5x 8448 MT/sIntegrated Adreno GPU
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
    CPU
    Snapdragon® X Elite (12 Core) with Hexagon NPU delivering 45 TOPS
    Memory
    32GB LPDDR5x 8448 MT/s
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Adreno GPU
    Sound Card
    Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos spatial sound
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.8″ PixelSense Flow touchscreen 120 Hz 600 NIT
    Screen Resolution
    2304 × 1536 (201 PPI), 3:2 aspect ratio
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD
    Case
    Black Anodized Aluminum
    Cooling
    Vapor Chamber Cooling
    Mouse
    None
    Internet Speed
    942 Mbps Netgear Mesh + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium)
    Antivirus
    Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 subscription (Office)
    Microsoft Office 365
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Visual Studio 2026
    Microsoft Visual Studio Code
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
    1Password Password Manager
    Microsoft Sysinternals
    Amazon Kindle for PC
    Microsoft BitLocker
    Microsoft Copilot
lbeck said:
Now the "move" process appears to have completed but the destination folder is much smaller than the source. I've tried repeating the move process and File Explorer continues to claim that the move is complete. I believe that some setting that I changed must have messed up my File Explorer move settings.
Click to expand...


It could be that or perhaps you could select show hidden files & folders in File Explorer and make sure the source doesn't contain hidden files or folders.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built 2013
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    ROG SupremeFX Formula 8-Channel High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Touch Screen Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list. OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / Mx Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    2000/500Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
    TP-Link BE9300 WiFi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 (Archer TBE550E)
    TP-Link TX201 V1 2.5GB Lan

    Grandstream HT812 - VoIP
    ASUS DSL-AX82U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-AC68U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-BE88U Router

    Brother MFC-L2880DW Printer

    I’m on a horse.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168 (Wifes)13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Process...16GB LPDDR5-52001x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168 (Wifes)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7 14IRL8 - Type 82YL
    CPU
    13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Processor(Core™ i5-1340P)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5-5200
    Graphics card(s)
    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512 GB SSD PCIe
    Mouse
    Logiteck MX Master 3S
    Internet Speed
    2000/500
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.


    Wireless Network: Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above
    Ports: 1x 1 Novo button; 2 in 1 Audio Combo jack; Micro SD Card Reader; HDMI 1.4b; 2 x USB Type-C (TBT4)
    USB 3.2 Gen 2 DP 1.4a
    PD 3.0); 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A
    Camera
    1x 1080P FHD IR/RGB Hybrid with Privacy Shutter and Dual Array Microphone
    Graphics
    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Monitor
    14" WUXGA
    Form Factor
    Convertible Notebook
  • Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168 (Wifes)

    Yoga 7 2-in-1 14IML9 - Type 83DJ

    Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H Processor(Core™ Ultra 7 155H)

    Memory: 32GB LPD5X-7467

    Hard Drive: 1 TB SSD PCIe

    Wireless Network: 1x Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above

    Ports: 1 x HDMI 2.1 TMDS; 1 x Novo Button; 1 x Combo Audio Jack
    2 x USB-C (USB 4.0)
    1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1

    Camera: 1080P FHD IR Hybrid with Dual Microphone

    Graphics: Intel® Arc™ Graphics

    Monitor: 14" 2.8K

    ...Where's my horse?
As @antspants noted, showing of hidden files and folders and OS system files are the only settings that would make a difference.

I recommend getting a good comparison tool, such as Beyond Compare (paid) or WinMerge (free) so you can compare your source and target folders.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10/11
OS
Windows 10/11
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Acer
use robocopy to copy the files. using the proper swtiches etc will copy everything
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro
OS
Windows 11 Pro
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Support Threads

Latest Tutorials

Back
Top Bottom