Set universal default settings for folder view by registry

Question

Set universal default settings for folder view by registry

Fluid Poetry 40

I must admit, I'm getting more and more fed up with the MS Windows experience.

I want to change the folder view to a specific default. I want this universal and I want it permanent - i.e., not through whatever crap GUI is given.

How can I remove the "Group by" in Sort and make the view set to "Details" for all files? I don't want a different view for specific files, such as music or video or whatever. I want basic file information.

I am NOT interested in any answer that involves going to the ellipsis and changing some setting that gets reversed by MS in some new update. I want this permanent. How can it be done via a registry edit or group policy, etc...?

I would add that while MS forces me to use the "Windows for home" tag, I am using the barely "professional" version of Win11.

Thank you.

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Answer 1

Hi Fluid Poetry,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. I'm happy to help.

Although it can be done by Registry Editor, it's easier to achieve and manage by 3rd-party software WinSetView.

WinSetView provides an easy way to set Windows File Explorer default folder views. For example, if you want Details view, with a particular selection of column headings enabled across all folders, then WinSetView will do that for you. WinSetView sets registry values that File Explorer already supports. It does not modify Explorer or add any tasks or services.

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I hope that above information is helpful to you.

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An Dus 30 Reputation points

2026-06-24T09:06:28.8066667+00:00

Useful 3rd party info but REGEDIT frankly is the quickest. Just take your time...

Answer 2

To set universal default settings for folder views in Windows via the registry, you can follow these steps:

Open Registry Editor: Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
Navigate to the following path:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags
Delete the Bags key: This will reset all folder views to default settings. You may want to back up this key before deleting it.
Create a new key for default settings:
- Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders
- Right-click on AllFolders, select New > Key, and name it Shell.
Set the default view:
- Within the Shell key, create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named FolderType and set its value to Generic. This will enforce the details view.
- To remove the "Group by" option, you may need to adjust settings in the FolderOptions or similar keys, but specific registry entries for removing "Group by" may not be documented in the provided context.
Apply Group Policy (if applicable): If you're using Group Policy, you can set the default folder view settings through the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) if you have access to it. Look for settings related to File Explorer or Folder Options.
Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Please note that modifying the registry can cause system issues if not done correctly, so proceed with caution and ensure you have backups of your important data.

References:

Windows registry information for advanced users