Windows Explorer - Folder Type Templates

How to Change a Windows Explorer Folder Type Template in Vista​

   Information

Vista has six default folder templates you can choose and change for the type of file folders you have in a Windows Explorer window. By default Vista will automatically assign a Folder Type Template to the Explorer window according to what type of files it contains.

Vista will only use the default Folder Templates for external devices each time you open them since Vista will not remember the folder view settings when you turn off or remove the external media.

   Note

You may need to reset Windows Explorer folder view settings to make Vista remember the folder template and view changes you make. For how, see: File and Folder Settings - Windows Explorer Folder View settings

EXAMPLE #1 All Items template:

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EXAMPLE #2 Contacts template:
NOTE: Only available in the C:\Users\(user name)\Contacts folder.

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EXAMPLE #3 Documents template:

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EXAMPLE #4 Pictures and Videos template:

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EXAMPLE #5 Music Details template:

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EXAMPLE #6 Music Icons template:

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Here's How:

1. Open a Explorer window that you want to change the folder type template for.​

NOTE: To change the root directory (Computer or Local Disk C: ) template, open the Users folder in Local Disk C: . The changes in Users will be applied to the root directory as well. Be sure to also do the Apply to All Folder Type Templates section below, or it will not apply to the Computer or Local Disk C: location.​

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2. If you want to change all the folders templates in the current window then:​

A) Click on View or right click in a empty area of the window.​

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B) Click on Customize This Folder. (See screenshots below)​

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3. If you want to change just a single folder template in the current window then:​

A) Right click on the folder.​

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B) Click on Properties.​

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4. Click on the Customize tab. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: Check Also apply this template to all subfolders if you want to change the templates for the subfolders in this folder as well. ​

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5. Click on the drop down menu and choose a template. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: See the template screenshots at top.​

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6. Click on OK to apply and close properties window.​

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7. Your template has been applied.​

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Option

How to Apply the Changes to All the Same Folder Type Templates

   Note

This is to apply the changes made to all windows of the same folder template as the current Windows Explorer window.

   Warning

You must open Folder Options from within the same Windows Explorer window that you are changing or it will not work.

1. Click on Tools on the Menu bar and click on Folder Options.​

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2. Click on the View tab. (See screeshot below)​

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3. Check Remember each folder's view settings.​

NOTE: If unchecked, Vista will ignore custom view settings for every folder and have every folder open using default settings instead. Only, uncheck this setting to force all folders to stop using display settings you have specified.​

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4. Click on Apply.​

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5. Click on the Apply to Folders button.​

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6. Click on Yes to the confirmation prompt. (See screenshot below)​

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7. Click on OK. (See screenshot above)​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Back Up and Restore Your Folder View Settings in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Reset Windows Explorer Folder View Settings to Make Vista Remember
• How to Change a Default Open Window Size for a Shortcut in Vista
• How to Change Windows Explorer Default Open Location
• How to Use the Windows Explorer Address Bar in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable the Menu Bar in Vista
• How to Change the Windows Explorer Columns and Sort Order in Vista
• How to Turn the Preview Pane On or Off in Vista
• How to Turn the Navigation Pane On or Off in Vista
• How to Change the Sort Order for Numbers in File and Folder Names in Vista
• How to Hide or Show File Names in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Full Row Select in Vista Windows Explorer
• How to Restore the Missing "New Contact" and "New Contact Group" Button in Vista Contacts Folder
• How to Disable Auto Arrange in Vista Windows Explorer to have Free Sorting

 

[ddfeder]

I'm sure this was addressed and I just missed it but.....

I'm going batty trying to set vista (home premium) windows explorer to display extra large icons when I open a folder/subfolder designated as pictures/templates. I made sure the always show icons never thumbnails is NOT checked.

What in the name of Gates am I missing?

Thanks,

Dov

 

[Brink]

Hello Dov, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Have you applied the Apply to Folders option at the bottom of this tutorial on the 1st page?

If you have, then you see if applying Method Two in the tutorial below will allow you to afterwards. This will reset the folder templates, so you will need to change the one you want back to Pictures afterwards.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/70819-windows-explorer-folder-view-settings.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[jthluke]

Hello everyone,

I'm having trouble changing the folder template of an exteranl device... a Sony Walkman MP3 player (2008). No "Customize" tab shows up when I go into folder properties of a folder in the device. I wish to make the "MUSIC" folder a "Music Details" template.

Thanks in advance!


Extra note: The reason I want the "Music Details" template is so I can see the ratings of my songs. This way, all the five star songs are together and it's easier to drag and drop the songs into a "PLA file Playlist" and make a "Five Star Playlist", for example. Currently, it is a pain to look through my whole list of songs and picking out songs with a certain ranking. If there is an easier way to make playlists, please reply with that info too! Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Hello Jthluke,

I'm sorry, but Vista will only use the default Folder Templates for external devices each time you open them since Vista will not remember the folder view settings when you turn off or remove the external media.

 

[jthluke]

Okay, looks like I need a different way to sort my music files.

Thanks for your speedy reply, Brink!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.

 

[PMH]

I may be the only person who doesn't know this, I guess -- but:

What's the behavior of each Folder Type Template?

(I've searched a bunch for this, but haven't found anything.)

 

[Brink]

Hello PMH, and welcome to Vista Forums.

There are six default folder templates in Vista. You can look at the example screenshots at the top of the tutorial on the first page to get a better idea if what they look like to help. Basically, a folder template is based on what type of files are in the folder for how they are view, sorted, grouped, arranged, and columns by default.

For example, .jpg files in a folder would be assigned the "Pictures" template by default.

No matter what folder template is assigned to a folder, you will always be able to manually change it to how you like instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[PMH]

Thanks, Shawn/Brink..

..but, having read the tutorial several times carefully, I know that.

What I'm trying to ask is why should one care about what Folder Type Template a given folder has?

Surely not just the icon.

I was thinking that the FTT controls what columns are displayed in Details View..
(which has driven me crazy!)

..as well as other things, which I've not gotten very clear on - such as whether New Folder is displayed as a button (as opposed to having to do it from the File menu)

I want to know all about this.

I would think that anyone who wants to change a FTT already must.

 

[Brink]

It's basically just a personal choice that just depends on how you want the folder contents to be displayed as, and what folder view options you want available. That's about it.

 

[PMH]

This is at least close to what I was looking for:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/70819-windows-explorer-folder-view-settings.html

 

[Brink]

PMH,

In addition, you should take a look at these as well to help. Some are for Windows 7, but the same in Vista except Vista doesn't have libraries.

• http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/108665-column-customize.html
• File and Folder Arrangement - Change in Windows Explorer Window - Windows 7 Forums
• File and Folder Arrangement - Group By - Sort By - Stack By - Windows 7 Forums
• Folder View - Apply to Folders - Windows 7 Forums
• Icon Size - Change in Windows Explorer Window - Windows 7 Forums

 

[PMH]

Thanks, Brink; I'll take a look at them.


BTW, I suggest that your Pages that tell how to do something - say X - be entitled "How to X", rather than just "X" (which connotes that the page explains X itself.

That caused me not a few wasted (& so, annoying) Page visits.
(not having a memory ;-)

 

[paulckruger]

Any more suggestions?

I have tried all of the above, not once but three times resetting each time to default and starting over.

Vista simply refuses to accept ANY view and reverts all folders back to detail view which I hate.

Each time I set contents to "list" and reopen that folder they are always set back to "details" view in every folder including folders with photos etc.

This is a recent ( past week ) issue but nothing I have found here or other locations including the Microsoft page works.

I tried the Microsoft Fix It but that simply won't run at all.
( ...says "Try again later" ? )

Have scanned malware...nothing. Have run chkdsk...nothing. Have defragged.
All drives have plenty of empty space.

Uninstalled a lot of older unused programs; no help other than cleaning out space.

I am at my witt's end with this so any suggestions will be appreciated short of a re-install of Vista due to the number of programs I would also have to re-install.

SP2 - Vista Home Premium 64 Bit.

 

[Brink]

Hello Paul, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If you like, you could use Option Two in METHOD TWO in the tutorial below to set a default folder view for all folders to have the same "NotSpecified" (all items) folder template (step 20) with a "List" view (step 32 and 33).

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/70819-windows-explorer-folder-view-settings.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[paulckruger]

Hello Paul, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If you like, you could use Option Two in METHOD TWO to set a default folder view for all folders to have the same "NotSpecified" (all items) folder template (step 20) with a "List" view (step 32 and 33).

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Not sure where that second option is located? I find "Option" in the tutorial but where is "Option Two"? perhaps I am blind.

 

[Brink]

Oops, sorry Paul. I forgot to include the tutorial link there.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/70819-windows-explorer-folder-view-settings.html

 

[paulckruger]

Oops, sorry Paul. I forgot to include the tutorial link there.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/70819-windows-explorer-folder-view-settings.html

Ok...yes I had done that option as well. Did nothing...

No matter...when I try to "Customize" folder the only option Vista will remember is "All files" I can set to photos and media but it no longer functions. Slide show does not work any more either. Desktop icons keep arranging themselves to the left of the screen. No setting in any folder will "stick".

I can set to view thumbnails, large thumbnails etc. but the instant I navigate away to another folder everything is right back to displaying via template "all items"

Vista is acting like no other template even exists.

Is there a location I can view the actual templates to be sure they are really there or to perhaps replace them with copies from my other computer which has exact same Vista installed?

 

[Brink]

By default a opened folder location will only have it's folder view remembered as it was when last closed when opened next from the exact same location. It will not be the same if the folder is opened from different locations. For example, from the Start Menu vs from in Windows Explorer. Folder views set in one folder do not carry over into the next folder window as you are navigating through them in Windows Explorer. Each folder as it's on separate folder view per location it's opened from.


Did you do all of it to use Option Two in METHOD TWO in the tutorial below to set a default folder view for all folders to have the same NotSpecified (all items) folder template (step 20) with a List view (step 32 and 33)? Doing all of this should set all folders to have the same "List" view.

Windows Explorer Folder View settings

 

[paulckruger]

I have about torn out the last of my hair. None of this works.

Vista 64 SP2 refuses to remember any folder settings. I have reset via regedit. I have reset with the suggested zip file. Nothing appears to work. I have manually done all of the suggested registry tweaks to no avail.

Folder view not saved. Sort by won't remember. Any arrangement of my desktop is forgotten. Absolutely nothing related to any view is remembered.

Is there anything else not in this tutorial I can try?