General Reset and Restore Default Folders for File Explorer Gallery in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to clear, reset, and restore the default folders and save locations for the File Explorer Gallery for your account in Windows 11.

Starting with Windows 11 version 22H2 KB5030310 Build 22621.2361, Microsoft is introducing Gallery, a new feature in File Explorer designed to make it easy to access your photo collection. The content in Gallery is the same as what you see in the All Photos view in the Photos app. Your most recently taken photos appear at the top of Gallery. This includes photos from your phone if you have OneDrive Camera Roll Backup set up.

Your Gallery collection is shared between Gallery in File Explorer, Pictures library, and the Photos app.

You can manage your Gallery by adding or removing folders from locations across your PC. Folders added to Gallery will still be stored in their original locations.

The default save location is the folder set to save a file to when you copy, move, or save the file to the Gallery.

The public save location is the folder set to save a file to when users you set to share the Pictures library with copy, move, or save the file to the Gallery.

By default, your account's Pictures folder (ex: "C:\Users\username\Pictures") is both the default save location and public save location.

You can reset and clear all folders from your Gallery, and then have the default Pictures folder (ex: "C:\Users\username\Pictures") restored as the default save location for your Gallery. This can be a handy way to clear all added folders at once from your Gallery and restore the default folder.


EXAMPLE: Folders in File Explorer Gallery





Here's How:

1 Open File Explorer (Win+E).

2 Open Libraries in File Explorer.

3 Right click on the Pictures library, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)


4 Click/tap on the Restore Defaults button. (see screenshot below)


5 Click/tap on OK to apply. (see screenshot below)



That's it,
Shawn Brink