Trick to Open Computer or Documents as Default Instead of Libraries Folder with Windows Explorer on Windows 7

When opening Windows Explorer on Windows 7 (Windows Explorer shortcut can be on the Start Menu or pin to Taskbar), the default folder opened by Windows 7 is “Libraries” folder view, a new feature in Windows 7 which allows several folders to be grouped or categorized together, contrary to previous version of Windows operating system, which by default will open “My Documents” or “Documents” folder.

For user who doesn’t actually use Libraries, or prefer Windows Explorer to open up My Documents, Documents, or even Computer (the highest level view that shows all drives available on the computer), this trick will set Windows Explorer to open and show the prefer folder by default.

  1. In Windows 7 Start Menu, right click on the Windows Explorer shortcut (typically store inside All Programs -> Accessories) and then select Properties.

    On Windows 7 Taskbar, hold down Shift key, and then right click on the Windows Explorer icon, and then select Properties. If you already have one or more Windows Explorer windows open, right click on the Windows Explorer icon, and then right click on the Windows Explorer link again to click on Properties, as illustrated below.

    Windows Eplorer Properties

  2. In the Target text box under Shortcut tab, change the value to one of the following to open either Documents or Computer by default.

    To Make Documents as Default Folder to Open by Windows Explorer upon Launching

    %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n,::{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}

    To Make Computer as Default Folder to Open by Windows Explorer upon Launching

    %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

    Set Windows Explorer to Open Documents on Running

  3. Click OK when done.

Now, Windows 7 Explorer will open Documents or Computer directly, skipping and bypassing Libraries, depends on what you set or configure on initial run. There are more special objects and folders that Windows Explorer can open directly to.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 7th, 2009 at 3:46 am and is filed under Windows 7. 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.

22 Responses to “Trick to Open Computer or Documents as Default Instead of Libraries Folder with Windows Explorer on Windows 7”

  1. F
    January 20th, 2010 18:16
    22

    is it possible to make it start in Favorites? I’ve already made it target the C:\Users\F\Links folder, nut its just not the same with the little arrows on the shortcuts (i know its not that big of a deal, i’m a perfectionist.) I also tried and locate the CLSID for the favorites folder, and putting that in the code. Not working either… Can anyone give me a target that will redirect me to the favorites?
    Thanks!

  2. Rod
    November 26th, 2009 14:02
    21

    “%windir%\explorer.exe /e,” Is all that I need to open my computer in windows explorer.

  3. Windows 7 Lover
    November 19th, 2009 06:31
    20

    I love you. Thank you very much, was percise and worked.

    ^_^
    <3

  4. Lee
    November 8th, 2009 17:24
    19

    Works Great for the taskbar, but…

    Is there a way to have it do the same thing when you open windows explorer by right clicking the start menu and choosing “open windows explorer?”

    Why? Becuase thats how ive been doing it for years!

  5. pNuephious
    November 6th, 2009 19:14
    18

    finally!!…thanks a million

  6. Windows 7 -- so hot right now - Page 32 - Fires of Heaven Guild Message Board
    October 30th, 2009 22:54
    17

    [...] get a pane to the left that has my computer and downloads all sorts of stuff. then follow this Trick to Open Computer or Documents as Default Instead of Libraries Folder with Windows Explorer on … and it will change the default to open up to My Computer. __________________ eRepublik Profile – [...]

  7. Yaz
    October 11th, 2009 05:45
    16

    Here is a tool to do that automatically on this thread:

    http://forums.mydigitallife.info/showthread.php?t=10559

  8. Konrad
    September 16th, 2009 10:09
    15

    how do you make it so favorites in explorer open as default?

  9. Alex
    September 7th, 2009 21:46
    14

    I love this site ;)
    tks!

  10. www.jayntguru.com » windows 7 UI annoyance.. fixed
    August 10th, 2009 23:07
    13

    [...] didn’t work with Windows 7, and the default “library” view was driving me nuts. Today I ran across this one for W7 that works well and “fixes” (masks) the problem for [...]

  11. Windows 7 and Explorer Default Behavior - James Montgomery
    June 1st, 2009 03:04
    12

    [...] whereas the Taskbar icon by default opens up the Libraries location.Credit for this goes to this page .Also learned from this that pressing shift before right clicking on an icon on the taskbar reveals [...]

  12. tds
    May 29th, 2009 21:04
    11

    I want to get the Windows-E key to open Explorer with My Documents.

    I tried all the above. Still cannot get it to work.
    So, at the moment doing the old Windows-2 until somebody comes up with something . . .

  13. kyle
    May 20th, 2009 23:56
    10

    “::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}” by itself opens my computer, but then will open drives, etc in the same window

    “/root,” causes it to open a window that opens new windows

    it seems someone confused it and it got replicated by umpteen blog sites. Thanks for bringing to my attention though!

  14. Shufflemoomin
    May 11th, 2009 22:36
    9

    Great tip! Thank you, I’d been wondering if this was possible. MS should really make this easier to do.

  15. Dan
    May 8th, 2009 20:47
    8

    Nice, thanks for the info.

    The libraries thing was really starting to annoy me.

  16. chumppi
    April 21st, 2009 17:17
    7

    Thank god for this topic, works beautifully, thank you.

  17. sander
    March 25th, 2009 23:55
    6

    It just does not work for me. For me it’s not %systemroot%\explorer.exe but %windir%\explorer.exe, and none of those lines work for me. any one knows the right ones for my pc?

  18. Urgixgax Blog » Computer öffnen, mit der Windows Explorer-Verknüpfung, in Windows 7
    March 19th, 2009 20:41
    5

    [...] Originalbeitrag, gibt es bei My Digital Life und hier nun eben für “Deutschlinge”, im Inhalt mit dem Fokus, auf das öffnen, von [...]

  19. RK
    February 24th, 2009 15:17
    4

    The best alternative I found for opening Explorer with keyboard is to use “Win+2″ instead of the regular “Win+E”.. and make sure you configure the Explorer in the taskbar to open My Computer (or whatever) by default using the instructions given here.

    Sure.. it takes some getting used to.. but at least it is a direct keyboard shortcut.

  20. Bean
    February 24th, 2009 03:32
    3

    This is great, but it only affects the windows explorer shortcuts. I almost exclusively use Win+E to bring up explorer, and it still shows me the libraries. Is there a way around that?

  21. chrisNova
    February 20th, 2009 22:27
    2

    btw u can use CTRL-ALT-E to get the windows explorer to show up!!! instead of Windows key-e it is slightly different but u can retrain your brain;) its possible;)

    wiiiiiiiiiiiiickid

  22. Lamarr
    February 7th, 2009 06:41
    1

    This one does the job for me to open Explorer in Windows 7, showing me all my drivers (Right klick explorer, properties, and ad “/e,” to the line:

    %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,

    Thats it.

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