This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Hide empty drives for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
An empty drive is a drive with no media. For example, a connected media card reader without a SD card inserted.
File Explorer will hide empty drives by default.
If you turn on Show all folders for the navigation pane in File Explorer, empty drives will always show in the navigation pane even if you turned on Hide empty drives.
If you turn on Show hidden files, folders, and drives in Folder Options, empty drives will always show as faded (dimmed) in File Explorer > This PC even if you turned on Hide empty drives.
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Hide Empty Drives in Settings
- Option Two: Turn On or Off Hide Empty Drives in Folder Options
- Option Three: Turn On or Off Hide Empty Drives using REG file
EXAMPLE: Empty drives in File Explorer > This PC
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Privacy & security on the left side, and click/tap on For developers on the right side. (see screenshot below)
Starting with Windows 11 version 22H2 KB5030310 Build 22621.2361, For developers is now in Settings > System.
3 Click/tap on File Explorer to expand it open. (see screenshot below step 4)
4 Turn On or Off (default) Show empty drives for what you want. (see screenshot below)
5 You can now close Settings if you like.
1 Open Folder Options.
2 Click/tap on the View tab. (see screenshot below)
3 Under the Navigation pane section, check (on - default) or uncheck (off) Hide empty drives for what you want.
4 Click/tap on OK.
This option will not work when Administrator protection is turned on.
1 Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you want.
2 Turn On Hide Empty Drives
This is the default setting.
This will also turn off Show all folders and Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Hide_empty_drives_for_current_user.reg
Download
(Content of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"Hidden"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"NavPaneShowAllFolders"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideDrivesWithNoMedia"=dword:000000013 Turn Off Hide Empty Drives
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Show_empty_drives_for_current_user.reg
Download
(Content of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideDrivesWithNoMedia"=dword:000000004 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 Either restart explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
