How do I make Windows 10's File Explorer open "This PC" by default?

279

I know how to do that on Windows Vista and Windows 7, and I know how to do that on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, but neither of the ways work with Windows 10; it always defaults into the "Home" view.

(I am basically reposting this question for Windows 10.)

kaboom1

Posted 2014-10-01T21:08:30.827

Reputation: 2 917

Answers

444

As of build 9926 (at least - it may have been an earlier build), this is configurable via the GUI.

Open Explorer and go to View, then click Options (or Change folder and search options). In General tab you can change Open File Explorer to This PC

enter image description here

Taz

Posted 2014-10-01T21:08:30.827

Reputation: 4 585

5Still working on final build 10240. – KittMedia – 2015-07-29T21:32:29.367

There was no "general" in my menu, but it opened after I clicked on the icon above the text "Options". Using W10 Pro. – Arda – 2015-08-18T20:08:33.820

1@Arda - 'General' is the name of the tab the option is on. – Taz – 2015-08-18T23:32:58.007

Oh I see it now, thanks @Taz for the clarification! – Arda – 2015-08-19T06:52:21.573

1Still working as of 8/20/2015 for Windows 10 RTM. – Daniel Eagle – 2015-08-20T14:50:16.840

Any way to do this for a user's home? e.g. "C:/Users/Bob" – Prinsig – 2015-10-14T12:41:17.243

1This works perfect on the release version too . – iGameRam – 2016-01-05T19:26:05.077

2Still works on 1511, build 10548.164. I migrated to SU just to upvote – Dallium – 2016-03-23T17:39:21.893

Works on 10 1607 – beppe9000 – 2016-09-04T01:55:18.603

1I consider this quite a design mistake by Microsoft. "Of course, let's put the file explorer settings in the folder options." ... Furthermore I want to open a complete different folder, for this you need a hack again, so why not give us an input field as an option. // Autohotkey to the rescue. – Kai Noack – 2016-09-04T08:09:25.127

The registry setting that controls this behavior is the DWORD value name LaunchTo under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Set the DWORD accordingly:

1 = This PC
2 = Quick access

Josh

Posted 2014-10-01T21:08:30.827

Reputation: 4 746

2When there is a way to do it through the UI normally, tinkering with registry seems excessive and dangerous. – ANeves – 2016-09-09T01:07:25.873

21@ANeves However, it's useful if you want to do something programmatically, which is why I included it here. – Josh – 2016-09-09T01:12:37.527

Win 8.1:

If you don't use Libraries at all, you can hide them. This makes your default "This PC".

In File Explorer, select the View tab and click the Options button.
In the General tab, under Navigation Pane, uncheck "View Libraries"
Click OK, then restart File Explorer.

Win 10:

In File Explorer, select the View tab and click the Options button.
Look at "Open File Explorer to:" and click the dropdown.
Select 'This PC'
Click OK.

cathoo

Posted 2014-10-01T21:08:30.827

Reputation: 625

1I have another path that I would like to change the target to, your first solution doesn't help with that, and the second isn't an option on 8.1, any ideas? – dylan murphy – 2015-12-04T13:25:44.450

Right-clicking in the left navigation panel will offer you several options to:

Show favorites
Show Libraries
Show all folders
Expand to current folder

I never liked my Explorer opening to Libraries, and so prefer the current look of My PC.

Irfan Zia

Posted 2014-10-01T21:08:30.827

Reputation: 21

Well, basically you can delete everything in 'Home' and attach 'This Pc' into it.

So it's more like a feature, right?

Press Windows and type regedit
Right-click and open As Administrator
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HomeFolder\NameSpace\DelegateFolders
Delete everything there (Looks like {2141241-BLABLA})
Right-click on DelegateFolders click New and choose Key
Name the new key {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
Select the new key and double-click the (Default) entry
In Value Data type This PC

The result looks like this: Enter image description here

BroVirus

Posted 2014-10-01T21:08:30.827

Reputation: 35

Does not work for me. "Home" is now empty but still opens as default. What version did you do it on? I am using the 32-bit non-Enterprise. – kaboom1 – 2014-10-04T22:55:18.850

i heard from another source that this was configurable in the latest build (1/23/2015) but i couldn't find it. Anyone hear about this? – DLeh – 2015-01-24T03:56:28.353

When there is a way to do it through the UI normally, tinkering with registry seems excessive and dangerous. – ANeves – 2016-09-09T01:07:47.107

1@ANeves This information may be useful to some. It's up to each individual to decide which method they are comfortable with. There are often many ways to skin a cat. – Josh – 2016-09-09T01:18:43.853