Windows Explorer Folder View settings

How to Reset Windows Explorer Folder View Settings to Make Vista Remember​

   Information

Vista sets the Explorer window view settings and folder type template according to what folder types are in the window. This will show you how to reset the Windows Explorer folder view settings, turn off Automatic Folder Type Discovery, and increase the folder view cache to have Vista remember the view settings, folder type template, size, or position of a specific window for when it was last closed at the specific path location.

This does not work with the sub Save As, Open With, Open in New Tab (Internet Explorer), etc.... type dialog windows through the File menu bar item though. These do not seem to be able to have their size or position remembered. For these, you can use the free program AutoSizer to resize them.

   Note

• The Windows Explorer window pane Layout settings are universal for all window templates. These are the Search Pane, Details Pane, Preview Pane, and Navigation Pane. They can only be turned on or off for all windows with the same folder template. For example, the Music Details, Music Icons, Pictures and Videos, All Items, Contacts, and Documents.
• This will have no affect on the memory for the Open, Save, and Save As dialog boxes for having them open to the same location.
• External devices (EX: USB drive) will not retain their folder view settings when turned off or disconnected from the computer.

   Tip

It has been reported that installing the Vista SP2 has helped resolved this issue of Vista forgetting folder view settings for no apparent reason.

   Warning

The exact cause of Vista losing it's memory on your folder view settings has not been found yet. This may just reset them for now to help Vista remember them again. It has been noticed that changing a lot of window folder view settings in combination with some unknown applications settings may be triggering this forgetfulness. Make sure that you do not have a setting in a 3rd party program set to clear the folder view setting cache when it is used. (EX: CCleaner - Window Size/Location cache option under Cleaner -> Advanced)

METHOD ONE

Normal Way to Reset a Folder Type View Settings

   Note

This resets the folder view settings for all folders with this same folder template type back to the default view settings. You will need to use METHOD TWO below for Vista not remembering your settings for all the folder views.

1. Open Folder Options from the Control Panel (Classic View), and click on the View tab and Reset Folders button. (See screenshot below)​

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2. Click on Yes to the confirmation pop-up.​

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3. Click on OK to close Folder Options.​

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METHOD TWO

Reset All Folder View Settings to Make Vista Remember

   Note

• This resets all current folder view settings so they will be rebuilt when you restart.
• This will also bring back the Uninstall, Change, Repair, or Uninstall/Change buttons in Programs and Features if missing.

OPTION ONE

Automatically Using a REG File Download

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1. Click on the Download button below to download the Reset_Folder_View.zip file and save it to your desktop.

   Note

This .reg download includes and does all of the Manual section below for you automatically.

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2. Open the ZIP file and extract the Reset_Folder_View.reg file to your desktop.​

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3. Right click on the downloaded Reset_Folder_View.reg file and click on Merge.​

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4. Click on Run button in the Security Warning prompt.​

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5. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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6. Click on YES in the Confirmation prompt.​

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7. Click on OK in the Success prompt.​

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8. Go to step 29 in OPTION TWO below to finish wrapping this up.​

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OPTION TWO

Manually Through Registry Editor

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Reset Folder View Settings :​

1. Open the Start Menu.​

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2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.​

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3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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4. In regedit, go to:​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

5. In the left pane, right click on Bags, and click on Delete. (See screenshot below)​

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A) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.​

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6. In the left pane, right click on BagMRU, and click on Delete. (See screenshot below)​

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A) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.​

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7. In regedit, go to:​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

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A) In the left pane, right click on BagMRU and click Delete. (See screenshot below step 8)​

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B) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.​

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C) In the left pane, right click on Bags and click on Delete.​

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D) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.​

8. In regedit, go to:​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam

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A) In the left pane, right click on BagMRU if here and click Delete. (See screenshot below step 8)​

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B) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.​

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C) In the left pane, right click on Bags if here and click on Delete.​

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D) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.​

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9. The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)​

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Disable Automatic Folder Type Discovery for Templates :​

CREDIT TO: Kristan Kenney: Confessions of a Windows Enthusiast

   Note

This will allow you to have what folder type template you set for the window instead of Vista automatically assigning a default template to it based on the contents of the window. This is when you have your folder template changed to Pictures and Videos from All Items when you put one image file in the folder.

   Note

OPTION: This is an optional section, but it is recommended. Steps 1-9 must have been done first before you do this section. If you decide to skip it, then go to step 21.​

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10. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

11. In the left pane, right click on Shell and click on New and Key.​

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12. Type Bags and press Enter. (See screenshots below)​

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13. In the left pane, right click on Bags and click New and Key.​

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14. Type AllFolders and press Enter. (See screenshots below)​

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15. In the left pane, right click AllFolders and click on New and Key.​

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16. Type Shell and press Enter. (See screenshots below)​

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17. In the right pane of Shell, right click on a empty area and click on New and String Value.​

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18. Type FolderType and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​

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19. In the right pane, right click on FolderType and click on Modify.​

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20. Type NotSpecified (or one below) and click on OK. (See screenshots below)​

   Tip

You can type any one of these values in bold below instead to apply the template as the default for all folder types. You will still be able to change a individual folder type template to what you want and have Vista remember it afterwards.

   Tip

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[TABLE=class:-grid,-width:-500][TR][TD]
Value
[/TD]
[TD]
Description
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
NotSpecified
[/TD]
[TD]
All Items folder type template
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Contacts
[/TD]
[TD]
Contacts folder type template
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Music
[/TD]
[TD]
Music Details folder type template
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
MusicIcons
[/TD]
[TD]
Music Icons folder type template
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Documents
[/TD]
[TD]
Documents folder type template
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Pictures
[/TD]
[TD]
Pictures and Videos folder type template with large icons
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

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Increase Folder View Cache Memory :

   Note

This will increase the amount of folders to be remembered for changes to the folder view settings.

   Note

OPTION: This is a optional step, but the increase will help ensure that Vista does not forget. Steps 1-9 must be done first before you do this section. If you decide to skip it, them go to step 25.​

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21. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

22. In the right pane, right click on BagMRU Size.​

NOTE: If you do not have the BagMRU Size value, then right click on a empty space in the right pane and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type in BagMRU Size and press enter.​

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23. Click on Modify.​

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24. Dot the Decimal and type 20000 (folders) and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

   Note

5000 is the default number of folders to be remembered.

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Deleting Local Group Policy Setting :​

   Note

This will show you how to check to see if this Group Policy setting has been set to not save the position of open windows or the size and position of the taskbar when users log off, and to delete if it is so that the changed will now be remembered at exit.

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25. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer​

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26. In the right pane, look to see if you have NoSaveSettings. If you do, then right click on NoSaveSettings and click on Delete and Yes to confirm deletion. (See screenshot above)​

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27. In regedit, go to:​

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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer​

28. Repeat step 26 if you have NoSaveSettings here as well.​

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Wrapping it Up :​

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29. Close regedit.​

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30. Log off and log on,or restart the computer to apply the reset and to let Vista rebuild the registry keys with a clean slate.​

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31. Open Folder Options.​

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A) Click on the View tab. (See screenshot below)​

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B) Check Remember each folder's view settings.​

   Warning

If left 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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C) Uncheck Restore previous folder windows at logon.​

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D) Click on OK.​

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32. Make the changes you want for the opened Windows Explorer windows.​

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33. To Apply These Changes to All the Same Folder Type Templates ​

   Tip

For more information on folder templates, see: How to Choose and Customize a Folder Type Template and Columns in Vista and How to Change the Windows Explorer Columns and Sort Order in Vista

A) Open Folder Options​

WARNING: Folder Options must be opened from within the same Windows Explorer window that you are changing or the Apply to Folders button will be grayed out.​

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B) Click on the View tab. (See screenshot below step 31D)​

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C) Click on the Apply to Folders button.​

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D) Click on Yes in the confirmation prompt.​

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E) Click on OK.​

34. To Apply Changes to Just this Window Template​

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A) Close the window when you make your changes to the Windows Explorer window to save the folder view settings for just that one window.

   Warning

Vista will only remember the way it is when you last closed the window.

35. To Apply Changes to All Window Templates​

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A) In step 20 above, you can change the default folder template used of (NotSpecified) to what you want instead for all folder templates without having to restart the computer again.​

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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 Change a Windows Explorer Folder Type Template in Vista
• 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 Enable or Disable Folder Options 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 Enable or Disable Auto-Hide for Vista Explorer Full Screen F11
• How to Hide or Show File Names in Vista
• How to Disable Auto Arrange in Vista Windows Explorer to have Free Sorting

 

[Lebon14]

Thanks for this Brink. I had this problem. I just followed what you said and if I get another folder restting problem, I shall post

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Lebon, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[Lebon14]

Thanks ^_^

 

[Nelez]

Hey Shawn,

I would also like to thank you for this incredibly helpful guide to overcome such an annoying windows 'feature' :P
I'll be watching this site for more handy tips I guess

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Nelez, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[irvdk]

Hi Shawn,
I also have problems with folders and have tried the steps presented through 27.
Here is where I have the problem. If you would look at the two pictures one is of my Windows Contacts in which I want the preview pane to show. The second one is off my C:\drive and if you notice no preview pane. If I sent one one way then they both go that way. I want different views for different things, and am not able to do so. What am I doing wrong?? It used to be that you could hold down the shift key and click on the red X and it would remember that window view.
Irv

 

[Brink]

Hello Irvdk, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Looking at your images, it looks like you need to change the C:\Users\(User Name)\Contacts folder template to the Contacts template instead. This way the Details template from your C:\ drive will not be affected by the changes in Contacts. When you did the steps in this tutorial on the first page, it changes all folder templates to Details by default. This tutorial will show you how to.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/77444-windows-explorer-folder-type-templates.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[irvdk]

Thanks for the reply. The problem seems to be in the Organize, Layout of the windows. When you set it to show a certain layout then they all take on that look. If you go to the View and select Apply to folders then it will make them all look like that. Very confusing!!

 

[Brink]

Irvdk,

The Preview Pane, or other pane options, is applied to all of the same folder templates when turned on in any one of them.

When you make folder view changes in a folder template type (Ex: Details) and use the Apply to folders, then is is applied to only all of the same folder template types (Ex: Details). The other ones (Ex: Contacts) will not be affected.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[irvdk]

Thanks Shawn, I think I got it to work...much appreciated. I agree that Vista rocks...I've been using it since Feb. 2007!!
Irv

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Irv.

 

[Neuspeed]

I noticed vista started having problems with folder views after I installed sp1. The registry in this article did not fix the problem i'm having. Oh well...

 

[Brink]

Hello Neuspeed, and welcome to Vista Forums.

What folder view problems are you having that you are trying to fix?

Shawn

 

[Neuspeed]

Vista is no longer saving folder view settings for any window or application I open.

 

[Brink]

Neuspeed,

Strange, in addition to Method Two, did you do the last Wrapping it up (steps 25-31) section?

Do you have any utility programs (Ex: CCleaner), that have a setting enabled to clear these folder view settings when ran?

 

[dudelidu]

Before I go through with this I just need to know if it helps for what I need. I need the folders to remember different settings inside the same type of folder. As an example, imagine the folder "my pictures" that has folder 1 and folder 2 with pictures. Then in folder 1 I want the preview pane, navigation pane and the details pane, but most importantly I want the preview pane as wide as possible (dragged to the left) so that one picture is a big preview. Then after setting it like this in folder 1, I do NOT want this setting to apply to all folder that is the pictures and video type, i.e. "my pictures" I want with no preview pane and only with thumbnail folder, maybe in folder 2 I want large thumbnails and no preview pane, and so on and so on.....

My problem is that now my adjustment is valid for all folders in the my pictures and my videos. I have hundreds of folders, and of course I don't want the huge preview pane (dragged all the way over the screen) in all the picture folders (only in the ones I do that in).

So, will this tutorial allow me to do what explained?

 

[Brink]

Hi Dudelidu,

This tutorial will help you with Vista remembering your folder view settings per window, or you can also apply them to all of the windows with that same folder template type. This tutorial will change all folder templates to Details.

It will not help you with the preview pane, navigation pane, and details pane though. These will display in all windows with the same folder template type as you turned them on in. This cannot be stopped. The only workaround is to use a different folder template on the ones you want the panes with (Ex: Pictures and Video) and another folder template for the ones you do not want panes on in (Ex: Details).

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[irvdk]

Hi Dudelidu,

The only workaround is to use a different folder template on the ones you want the panes with (Ex: Pictures and Video) and another folder template for the ones you do not want panes on in (Ex: Details).

I'm glad that someone was able to explain this better then I was. This is exactly my problem. So the question is:
How do you make a new template and then install them??

 

[dudelidu]

I'm glad that someone was able to explain this better then I was. This is exactly my problem. So the question is:
How do you make a new template and then install them??

I'm unsure if you mean an extra template in addition to the 5 templates alreaddy there (All items, documents, pictures and videos, Music details, Music icons). So if that wasn't your question, can anybody tell me that? How do I get more templates so that I can create more types of folder settings then just these 5?

Anyway, this sytem is working pretty good. Still some minor things which is not perfect, such as width of some columns keeps dropping back and Vista won't listen to my adjustements for that + some other stuff. Definetely not flawless, but it's better if anything. So basically now I just use the enlarged preview window for the folders I want to use in the same way I used filmstrip in XP, and it's actually working quite nice.

Nice tutorial this. Kudos Brink

PS: irvdk, if your question really was how to set the different templates, adjusting the view etc. on the different folders, then I could help you with that one. Just let me know in that case. I've just done that my self.

 

[irvdk]

For instance, I have an Icon on one of my toolbars for the c drive. I have it set to open like this:
C.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Now I have another folder that I want to open like this:
Tools.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
If I change one of these they both change. I have just done a new install of Vista Ultimate....before I did that it was no problem to have them the way that I wanted. All I did was hold down the Shift key as I clicked on the red X in the top right cornor and that forced it to remember that view.
So this is where I am confused. Hope this explains it better.