Unable to Remove the Libraries in Explorer

BackSpace · Jul 23, 2025

I've recently had to roll my system back to 21H2 (Build 22000 2538) and
have been unable to remove unwanted objects in Explorer. I have tried . . .
Remove_Libraries_from_navigation_pane_in_File_Explorer.reg and
Remove_Quick_access_from_File_Explorer_Home_for_all_users.reg
and several older versions of individual registry tweaks by the talented
and generous Shawn Brink but still they persist in occupying real-estate.
I've also tried Winaero Tweaker but they aren't even available for removal.
I'd love to see them gone forever.

Thanks for stopping by,
Peter

Rollback_Jockey · Jul 23, 2025

Try this:- Winaero Apps - Winaero

BackSpace · Jul 23, 2025

Hi Rollback_Jockey,

That looked like a solution. I did a right-click/delete on them but "they all came back".
(wasn't that a song?) Anyway, even after a re-boot, there they are (laughing at us).
Thanks. It was a good try.

Peter

Ghot · Jul 23, 2025

@BackSpace

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Helmut · Jul 23, 2025

Update to 24H2 the Quick access yellow star has been replaced by the Home icon and Gallery icon.
To remove those others Right Click > Unpin from Quick Access.

So you win more, but lose some, scenario.

Those are special system folders not Libraries is my understanding.
The Show Libraries On/Off option > 3 dots > Options > View Tab, towards the bottom.

glasskuter · Jul 23, 2025

Did you uncheck this from control panel>file explorer options?

BackSpace · Jul 24, 2025

Hello Ghot,
Remove_all_folders_from_This_PC_in_File_Explorer.reg
Remove_Libraries_from_navigation_pane_in_File_Explorer.reg
Remove_Quick_access_from_File_Explorer_Home_for_all_users.reg
All done without success. I even opened RegEdit to make sure that
the keys had been deleted and the others were changed as per .reg

Good evening Helmut,

Re: Update to 24H2:
Other than "Security Updates" all I get from "Windows Update" is ...
"Your device is missing important security updates. Make sure to
keep your device on and plugged in so updates can complete", and
of course, nothing ever happens.

Can I jump from 21H2 to 24H2 in one gulp? . . . How? . . . Where?
Re: File Explorer Options > Show libraries: Yes, it's OFF but thanks.
I keep a dunce-cap nearby in case I miss one like that :)

Peter

Helmut · Jul 24, 2025

"Can I jump from 21H2 to 24H2 in one gulp? . . . How? . . . Where?"
I presume you mean from 23H2 as in your specs.
Either way, I never do that so cannot help, Windows updates have always worked for me, no system mods to Windows or components thereof.
24H2 had 2 holds on mine and was installed about 3/4 months late, but went through easily. I was always reading about people forcing the update complaining etc.
Some updates require previous updates to be done so doing them at the time in date order ensures minimal effort/problems.

View attachment 140308

BackSpace · Jul 26, 2025

UPDATE: 2 down, 6 to go.
I deleted the link to "OneDrive" by deleting the App itself . . .
Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Microsoft OneDrive > . . . Uninstall

And I got rid of "Quick Access" by adding ...
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"HubMode"=dword:00000001
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Now, if I could only find a way to ditch . . .
Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos

Peter ( in need to reclaim real-estate in the left-plane )

Ghot · Jul 26, 2025

BackSpace said:
Now, if I could only find a way to ditch . . .
Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos

See the threads in post #4, mainly this one...

Add or Remove Folders under This PC in File Explorer in Windows 11

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Mine looks like this...

Edwin · Jul 26, 2025

Doesn't Right Click/Unpin work?

Ghot · Jul 26, 2025

As @Edwin mentioned... the ones at the very top (in Quick Access), can just be right clicked and choose: Unpin.

BackSpace · Jul 26, 2025

Hi Ghot,

Been there. . . Done that . . . Did it again (third time) . . . All I got was another
T-shirt. Re-started Explorer.exe . . . Re-Booted CPU . . They're STILL there.
What you have is exactly what I had before my 23H2 went totally bananas.

Ghot · Jul 26, 2025

BackSpace said:
Hi Ghot,

Been there. . . Done that . . . Did it again (third time) . . . All I got was another
T-shirt. Re-started Explorer.exe . . . Re-Booted CPU . . They're STILL there.
What you have is exactly what I had before my 23H2 went totally bananas.

Many registry edits require a reboot of the computer itself, before they take effect.
Even for the ones that don't claim to need a reboot... I reboot anyway.

You could also just do an In-Place upgrade. It will "fix" Window's problems.
Do Option 2, the ISO method...

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade

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An In-Place Upgrade "compares" what is installed on the computer, with the Windows ISO image.
Then, it overwrites any corrupted Windows files, with clean copies from the ISO image.
This is how it "repairs" Windows while allowing you to keep your programs and personal files.

Helmut · Jul 26, 2025

I've said it all in posts #5,#8 and so have others.
OneDrive is uninstalled and unpinned from that File Explorer View, I choose to Pin Documents and Downloads in #8.
No need for system mods and registry edits, wasted effort.

Eventually you will update Windows and File Explorer gets better options.

Edwin · Jul 26, 2025

You have to do some tweaking...,
ideally, you should Show This PC only,
you have to remove Home and Gallery,
don't Show All Folders,
and unpin the rest..., and only pin what you desire...

BackSpace · Jul 26, 2025

So . . . Are we having fun yet? NOP! I did the . . .

. . . with the "keep-my-stuff" option and using the on-line method. What a disaster! Program Files and Program Files (x86) were
wiped clean of all my installed applications. It would take me a month to put everything back. While I was there, I noticed that
Background Slideshow won't work at all. "Solid Color" is all you get.

Now for the real kicker. NONE of Shawn Brink's reliable "REMOVE this crap . . . REG's" did anything at all. Needless to say, C: was
restored from a back-up clone. It's beginning to look like I may have to put up with Micro$oft's ever increasing appetite for Bloatware.

PhilB · Aug 7, 2025

BackSpace said:
UPDATE: 2 down, 6 to go.
I deleted the link to "OneDrive" by deleting the App itself . . .
Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Microsoft OneDrive > . . . Uninstall

And I got rid of "Quick Access" by adding ...
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"HubMode"=dword:00000001
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Now, if I could only find a way to ditch . . .
Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos

Peter ( in need to reclaim real-estate in the left-plane )

yes, I would also like to ditch some of those other folders. Anyone know all the values of the keyword CurrentVersion\Explorer?

To be clear, I'm not exactly a registry expert. Quite the opposite.

BackSpace · Aug 7, 2025

Hello x509 (any acquaintance to 007?) - Welcome to Registry Bashing 101

So far, I've succeeded in the miraculous disappearance of ALL except "Documents" (because it was passed my bedtime).
Please set a RESTORE POINT or some other complete Registry Back-up before following this amateur's instructions.

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions
From the following list of hieroglyphics, locate each of the following ...

{0ddd015d-b06c-45d5-8c4c-f59713854639} = Pictures
{24D89E24-2F19-4534-9DDE-6A6671FBB8FE} = Documents
{3214FAB5-9757-4298-BB61-92A9DEAA44FF} = Music
{33E28130-4E1E-4676-835A-98395C3BC3BB} = Pictures
{35286a68-3c57-41a1-bbb1-0eae73d76c95} = Videos
{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B} = Downloads

NOTE: I AM NOT POSITIVE ABOUT THE LIST ABOVE.
By clicking on each one, you'll be able to find the culprits.
You may also find that there's more than one for each category.

Example: How to give Pictures the boot ...
If there in NO subkey called PropertyBag, then create one.
Click on PropertyBag and go into the right plane and create a String Value
Rename the New Value #1 to ThisPCPolicy
Right-click ThisPCPolicy and Modify... its Data Value to Hide

As I recall, when you're all done, a re-boot may be necessary to see results.
Good luck. My sketchy advice usually needs it.
Peter

PS: I just found "Documents" at {f42ee2d3-909f-4907-8871-4c22fc0bf756}.

Unable to Remove the Libraries in Explorer

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