How to Change Windows Explorer Default Folder

Whenever users run and launch Windows Explorer, the GUI shell for Windows operating system, the Windows Explorer will open in default folder which is current user’s “My Documents” (in Windows XP or earlier) or “Documents” (in Windows Vista) in the logged on user home directory. The Windows Explorer default folder is user’s My Documents folder is the default setting in Windows that assumes most users will make use of the folder to manage their documents and files, thus having Windows Explorer opening in My Documents by default is convenient for most users.

If you’re using another folder as the working folder and need to access different folder which saves most of your files more often than My Documents using Windows Explorer, it’s possible to change Windows Explorer default folder setting and assign another folder as the default folder so that whenever Windows Explorer is started, it will display the contents of another different folder instead of My Documents folder.

How to Change Default Folder of Windows Explorer

1. Click on Start button, then go to All Programs, and finally Accessories. If you’re using Windows Explorer shortcut at other location, such as Quick Launch bar or Desktop, skip this step.
2. Right-click on Windows Explorer (or its shortcut) and then click Properties.
3. In Windows Explorer Properties, click on Shortcut tab if you’re not already there.
4. The text box after “Target” by default will shown the value as below:

   %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe

   Change the Target text box parameter to the following:

   %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, <New Path>

   where <New Path> represents the full path to the new different folder that you want Windows Explorer to open as default folder on launch. The spaces must not be omitted.

   For example, if you want Windows Explorer to run and show C:\ folder, the Target path should be like this:

   %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, C:\

   Or you if you want Windows Explorer to go directly to C:\MyFolder\ directory, the line should read as below:

   %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, C:\MyFolder\

   A special case is to change the default setting so that all top–level drives and folders are shown. To show this folder view, use the following as Target shortcut so that when Windows Explorer is opened, you can choose from all the folders and drives, not just My Documents:

   %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, /select, C:\

   The above syntax for the Target with “/select” to open parent folder of the destination folder so that you can “select” from all folders (or drives) that are available on the same level of directory structures.

5. Click OK.

The trick works on most Windows operating system, including Windows XP and Windows Vista.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, November 25th, 2007 at 12:59 am and is filed under Operating Systems. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.