Windows 8.1 – Change Default View Setting for Explorer

windows-explorer

How do you make a system-wide change to the view settings in Windows Explorer? It seems every folder needs to be changed to the view setting desired.

Best Answer

In the folder with the view you want,

Go to the View tab of the ribbon
Click the Options button on the right hand side of the ribbon
Select the View tab
Click the Apply to Folders button.

If the Apply to Folders button is greyed out it could be that the view is currently in one of the following folders that can't have its view applied to all folders. Computer, Favorites or library folders.

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For the record, here is a partial workaround tested on W7 SP1 and W10 v1511.

Run the batch script Reset Folder View Settings of All Folders.
Import to registry:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;My Computer
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\ShellFolder]
"FolderType"=""

;Microsoft FTP Folder
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{63da6ec0-2e98-11cf-8d82-444553540000}\ShellFolder]
"FolderType"=""

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}]
"LogicalViewMode"=dword:00000001
"Mode"=dword:00000000

3a. Run explorer shell:mycomputerfolder and you should see My Computer opened in details view.

3b. Run explorer ftp://your.site.com and it should remain in details view as long as you do not press the site icon in the navigation pane (if present by Add Network Location).
You may create a shortcut with location explorer ftp://your.site.com for convenience.

References:
Windows 8 Desktop Icons in Tile View (configure LogicalViewMode for other view modes)
Configure default folder view for storage connected via MTP (this set all folder view to the same mode)

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Found the fix here:

Copy the text between the lines below into notepad & save as a .reg file. Watch out for line wrap -- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER...\Shell] is all one line.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
"FolderType"="NotSpecified"

Merging the .reg file will set the 'All Items' template for any folders that don't currently have a view saved with a different template. You can clear all saved views by deleting the

"HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags"

key BEFORE merging the .reg file. If any folders open with a different template after clearing the 'Bags' key & merging the .reg file, they most likely have a template specified via their desktop.ini file.

-- Good Luck,

Keith Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

Best Answer

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