By default, Windows File Explorer displays a number of pre-set folders: these include library folders (such as Video, Downloads, Music, Documents, Pictures, Desktop, and 3D Objects), the Quick Access panel, Network environment and OneDrive icons, and recent files or folders that have been accessed.
If your users do not frequently utilise these library folders and default navigational items, there is an option to hide them within File Explorer for a cleaner, more streamlined view.
However, please note that Windows does not come pre-loaded with tools that can hide the default navigational elements and folders within File Explorer. Instead, you would need to hide these default library icons within File Explorer by manually altering the registry settings. Below is a list of registry paths for default Windows libraries:
| Library Item | Registry path |
| Pictures |
|
| Videos |
|
| Downloads |
|
| Music |
|
| Desktop |
|
| Documents |
|
| 3D Objects |
|
| Removable drives |
(this will hide the item from the navigation pane, but will not prevent access to the USB drive ) |
For example, to hide the Pictures folder in File Explorer:
- Open the registry editor (
regedit.exe); - Go to the reg key
HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerFolderDescriptions{0ddd015d-b06c-45d5-8c4c-f59713854639}PropertyBag - Change the value of the ThisPCPolicy parameter to Hide;
- Restart the computer and check that the Pictures folder has been hidden from the Explorer.
In the same way, you can hide all other library folders.
In an Active Directory domain environment, you can use Group Policies to hide library folders in File Explorer on all computers.
- Open the Group Policy Management console (GPMC.msc) and link a new GPO to the OU containing the user computers;
- Navigate to Computer Configuration -> Preferences -> Windows Settings -> Registry -> New -> Registry Item;
- Create a separate GPP entry for each of the registry keys in the table:
Action: Update
Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key Path: SOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerFolderDescriptions{0ddd015d-b06c-45d5-8c4c-f59713854639}PropertyBag
Value name: ThisPCPolicy
Value type: REG_SZ
Value date: Hide
Find out how to create or change a registry value using Group Policy. - Create a registry item for each of the library folders you want to hide;
- Restart the user’s computer to apply the new GPO settings and ensure that the libraries are hidden from File Explorer.
You can also hide the following default folders in File Explorer:
Hide the Quick Access folder in the navigation pane:
- Path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer - Type: REG_DWORD
- Parameter name:
HubMode - Value: 1
Hide the Network neighborhood icon:
- Path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerCLSID{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}ShellFolder - Parameter name:
Attributes - Type: REG_DWORD
- Value: 00100000
Hide the OneDrive icon:
- Path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesCLSID{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6} - Parameter name:
System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree - Type: REG_DWORD
- Value: 0
This way you can make the Windows Explorer interface more compact and clean.
You can also change the default folder that opens when you start File Explorer.
- Path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced - Type: REG_DWORD
- Parameter:
LaunchTo
Available values: 1 (This PC), 2 (Quick Access), 3 (Downloads folder)
This registry parameter configures the Open File Explorer to option in the Explorer properties.
You can hide the most recently opened files and folders from being displayed in the navigation pane.
- Path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer - Type: REG_DWORD
ShowFrequent= 0 (to hide recently opened folders)ShowRecent= 0 (to hide recently opened files)
This method is usable for both Windows 10/11 and Windows Server 2022/2019/2016. For instance, I have used this approach to hide the default libraries folders in File Explorer for users on the RDS server.