Windows 10 is known for automatically changing the folder view depending on the contents of the folder. While this is useful in some cases, it can be a very annoying feature for users who prefer to configure their folder view types manually. Some users do not like the operating system automatically adjusting the view and overriding their preferences. Let's see how to disable automatic folder type discovery in Windows 10.
Some end users perceive it as a bug which causes File Explorer to not remember their customized view type for folders. Disabling automatic folder type discovery resolves this problem.
To disable automatic folder type discovery in Windows 10, do the following.
- Close File Explorer.
- Open Registry Editor.
- Go to the following Registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
Tip: See the article How to jump to the desired registry key with one click.
- Under the Shell key, you will find two subkeys Bags and BagsMRU. You need to delete them.
- Now, recreate the Bags subkey. Right click the Shell key and select "New - Key" in the context menu as shown below.
- Under the Bags subkey you need to create a new subkey, AllFolders. Right click the Bags key and select "New - Key" in the context menu. Name the new key as AllFolders.
- Finally, under the AllFolders key, create a new subkey named Shell.
You will end up with the following Registry path:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell
- Under the last subkey you created, Shell, create a new string value named FolderType and set it to NotSpecified.
- Sign out and sign in again to your user account to apply the changes you made.
You are done. Windows 10 won't forget or change the folder view type any more. You can customize your folders the way you want now.
To save your time, you can download ready-to-use Registry files:
The undo tweak is included.
You can save your time and use Winaero Tweaker instead. It comes with the following feature:
You can download it here: Download Winaero Tweaker.
Many thanks to our reader "Rensio" for sharing this useful tip.
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By the way, this tweak also works in Windows 7.
Yep, it should work in Windows 7, Windows 8 and in Windows Vista, but I have not tested it there.
The Green Bar of Death has frustrated me for years. I have tried many times to disable it without success – until now! And a bonus – I hate the way that Windows repurposes my folders based on content. I want ALL of my folders to present information in the same manner: Name, Date Modified, Type and Size (sometimes Attributes also). The Registry fix that you have presented appears to have enabled me to resolve both of these long-term problems with Windows. Many thanks!
Does not seem to permanently fix usb device file storage. When phone is plugged in, all subdirs are sharing in File Manager as music. This is what occurred before the regedit, and afterwards as well.
Same happens here; phone is a Samsung
tried this on windows 10 64 bit because i got fed up with windows resizing everything in folders on me to the way it wants to do things and not the way i want it set up.
Example, my documents i have set to ” Details ” view, and i will have videos folders set to ” large icons” and the same with pictures folder. But everytime i reboot or startup my pc, it reverts back to the way it wants to do things.
So, i tried this method and it failed! It still does things its way and not mine. So i tried doing a fresh install of windows 10 again and it still does.
So, i can see why some are perceiving this as a “Bug”, because no matter what you do to stop this automatic behaviour, it continues to do so. So, Microsoft need to change this sh~ or fix it, because it is damn annoying!
Hello and sorry for my late answer. Have you tried to use “Apply to Folders” option. It’s in folder options and View. More info here – https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-see-the-same-view-in-all-windows-7-folders/. It seems to work on Windows 10 x64 for me.
Some UX designer that thinks they understand what users want by osmosis thinks this is the best feature ever. And will never understand the simple concept that what they personally prefer should not be imposed on everyone else.
Excellent.
But this fix does NOT apply to devices, say you’re exploring the folders on your phone over usb. Is there a way to make this universal?
THANKS!
I have some TypeScript source files and the extension is .ts and that is associated with “Movies & TV” app and you cannot freely change it. Every time I open a folder containing that type of files, it changes to Large Icons view and the switch comes with an annoying delay (because Windows tries to parse the file as some multimedia file I guess). By the way, TypeScript is a language invented by Microsoft!
Typical Microsoft trying to be “smart” but ends up being dumb and annoying.
It works ! thank you !
It worked, I think. Thankssssssssssssssssssssssss!
No it does not work! Day after I started my PC, Windows 10 changed my folders back to detail view! I absolutely despise Microsoft!
Does not work, this is worthless.
This worked for one day, then windows 10 regenerated ALL of the original registry entries and once again I have that extraordinary annoying pathetic green bar back in full force.
Is there really a PERMANENT way to stop Windows 10 from annoying the crap out of me with this?
I mean permanent, no going back, shoot the b—rd 8 times in the head permanent, curse all of his ancestors, and wipe out his blood line permanent
yea turn of windows auto file and registry repair
thanks!
IT HELPS A LOT, NOW i DONT LOOS MY CUSTOMISATION!
Folders were going automatically to general files, now it doesn’t happen anymore :)
Thank you thank you thank you! This “feature” of Win 10 has driven me bonkers for years
It works! Thank you VERY MUCH!!!
I’m wondering what’s the difference between the people which say that it works and people where it does not work. For me on Windows 10 Home it does not work. The download folder always falls back to grouped by date.
Now I will try to set custom folders for those system folders and/or will try the donate ware Explorer++ https://explorerplusplus.com/
These two .reg files work on my Windows 10 Home 20H2:
disable_folder_type_autodetect.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
“FolderType”=”NotSpecified”
enable_folder_type_autodetect.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
“FolderType”=-
Also works in Windows 11. Thanks!
Just thank you for this.
Doesn’t work. All files are now shown as General, and if I change them to Video and restart the computer, they’re back to General, so it’s even worse than in the beginning :(
Thanks.. Works in My Windows 11