How to Add or Remove Folders from ‘This PC’ Section in File Explorer on Windows 11

Add or remove the Desktop Documents, Downloads Music, Pictures and Videos folders from the “This PC Section’ in File Explorer on Windows 11.

When Microsoft launched Windows 8.1, it renamed My Computer This PC’. This PC in Windows 10 and 11 used to house hard drives and networks, removable devices for storage, as well as user-specific folders. However, starting in Windows 11 build 25136, the navigation pane in File Explorer will not show any of the default user folders, such as 3D Objects, Desktops Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music and Videos folders on this PC.

You are able to browse these folders from an individual section, and also under libraries in the menu bar in Windows 11. However, there isn’t an easy way to remove or add this folder in the “This PC Section’ in File Explorer on Windows 11. This can be done by using registry files, registry tweaks or third-party tools such as Winaero Tweaker. In this post we’ll look at how to add or delete the folder from the this PC section in the Navigation pane File Explorer on Windows 11.

Create Folders under this PC Section of File Explorer

You can use registry keys to include all folders in the This PC section in File Explorer or you can also add various directories to the This PC section. You can create manually registry keys using the provided code, or simply download the appropriate registry files and then run them to add folders to the This PC section.

For creating a registry file simply copy the code into Notepad or another text editor, and save the file using the ‘.reg’ extension.

For instance you can open a new notepad file and paste any of the following codes. After that, select File and then the option to save.

Name your registry file using the ‘.reg’ extension at the end of the. Select All Files (*. *) option from the “Save as type” drop-down menu.

Then, select the destination you want to save and then select Save for saving the document to the desired destination.

To join the registry file and to create a Windows registry, just double-click the saved or the downloaded file.

If you get that User Account Control prompt, select ‘Yes’, and after that, click the ‘Yes’ button in The Registry Editor warning box to accept the merging.

Then you can click OK to proceed.

After that Close File Explorer. Once you’re done, close File Explorer (if it is open) and then re-launch and apply the modifications.

Add All Library Folders to This PC

Utilize the script/code below to create your registry file , or download the registry file that we have already created that we designed.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 ; 3D Folders [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace0DB7E03F-FC29-4DC6-9020-FF41B59E513A] ; Desktop [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpaceB4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641] "HideIfEnabled"=- ; Documents [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpaced3162b92-9365-467a-956b-92703aca08af] "HideIfEnabled"=- ; Downloads [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace088e3905-0323-4b02-9826-5d99428e115f] "HideIfEnabled"=- ; Music [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace3dfdf296-dbec-4fb4-81d1-6a3438bcf4de] "HideIfEnabled"=- ; Pictures [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace24ad3ad4-a569-4530-98e1-ab02f9417aa8] "HideIfEnabled"=- ; Videos [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpacef86fa3ab-70d2-4fc7-9c99-fcbf05467f3a] "HideIfEnabled"=- 

Registry File

Include to the 3D Objects folder to This PC

Utilize the script or code below to create your registry file , or download the registry file that is already created.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace0DB7E03F-FC29-4DC6-9020-FF41B59E513A]

Registry file

Include to the Desktop folder to this PC

Utilize the script/code below to create your registry file , or download the registry file that is already created.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpaceB4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641] "HideIfEnabled"=-

Registry File

Include the Documents folder on this PC

Utilize the script or code below to create your registry file , or download the registry file that is already created.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpaced3162b92-9365-467a-956b-92703aca08af] "HideIfEnabled"=-

Registry File

Upload the Downloads folder to this PC

Utilize the script or code below to create your registry file , or download the registry file that is already created.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace088e3905-0323-4b02-9826-5d99428e115f] "HideIfEnabled"=-

Registry File

Include the Music folder on This PC

Utilize the script/code below to create your registry file , or download the registry file that is already created.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace3dfdf296-dbec-4fb4-81d1-6a3438bcf4de] "HideIfEnabled"=-

Registry File

Upload the Pictures folder to this PC

Utilize the script/code below to create your registry file , or download the registry file that is already created.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace24ad3ad4-a569-4530-98e1-ab02f9417aa8] "HideIfEnabled"=-

Registry File

Upload the folder Videos to this PC

Utilize the script/code below to create your registry file , or download the registry file that is already created.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpacef86fa3ab-70d2-4fc7-9c99-fcbf05467f3a] "HideIfEnabled"=-

Registry File

Take out the Library Folders in the This PC Section of File Explorer

The removal of folders on This PC is just as simple to add them. You can make an own file in registry to delete folders on this PC by with the code provided here or install the registry (.reg) files to eliminate folders.

Eliminate all Library Folders from this PC

Utilize the script or code below to create your registry file , or download our registry file that is already made.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 ; 3D Folders [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace0DB7E03F-FC29-4DC6-9020-FF41B59E513A] ; Desktop [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpaceB4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641] "HideIfEnabled"=dword:022ab9b9 ; Documents [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpaced3162b92-9365-467a-956b-92703aca08af] "HideIfEnabled"=dword:022ab9b9 ; Downloads [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace088e3905-0323-4b02-9826-5d99428e115f] "HideIfEnabled"=dword:022ab9b9 ; Music [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace3dfdf296-dbec-4fb4-81d1-6a3438bcf4de] "HideIfEnabled"=dword:022ab9b9 ; Pictures [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace24ad3ad4-a569-4530-98e1-ab02f9417aa8] "HideIfEnabled"=dword:022ab9b9 ; Videos [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpacef86fa3ab-70d2-4fc7-9c99-fcbf05467f3a] "HideIfEnabled"=dword:022ab9b9 

Registry File

Eliminate from the 3D Objects folder from This PC

Utilize the script/code below to create your registry file , or download our registry file that is already made.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace0DB7E03F-FC29-4DC6-9020-FF41B59E513A]

Registry File

Take out from the Desktop folder from this PC

Utilize the script/code below to create your registry file , or download our registry file that is already made.

Code/Script:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpaceB4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641] "HideIfEnabled"=dword:022ab9b9

Registry File

Eliminate the folder Documents from this PC

Utilize the script/code below to create your registry file , or download our registry file that is already made.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpaced3162b92-9365-467a-956b-92703aca08af] "HideIfEnabled"=dword:022ab9b9

Registry File

Uninstall the downloads directory from this PC

Utilize the script or code below to create your registry file , or download our registry file that is already made.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace088e3905-0323-4b02-9826-5d99428e115f] "HideIfEnabled"=dword:022ab9b9

Registry File

Take the music folder off this PC

Utilize the script/code below to create your registry file , or download our registry file that is already made.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace3dfdf296-dbec-4fb4-81d1-6a3438bcf4de] "HideIfEnabled"=dword:022ab9b9

Registry File

Take the pictures folder off this PC

Utilize the script/code below to create your registry file , or download our registry file that is already made.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpace24ad3ad4-a569-4530-98e1-ab02f9417aa8] "HideIfEnabled"=dword:022ab9b9

Registry File

Remove the folder for Videos from this PC

Utilize the script/code below to create your registry file , or download our registry file that is already made.

Code/Script:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMyComputerNameSpacef86fa3ab-70d2-4fc7-9c99-fcbf05467f3a] "HideIfEnabled"=dword:022ab9b9

Registry File

Hide This PC’s Folders by Changing ThisPCPolicy Registry Values

Another method to hide folders in the This PC is to edit the ThisPCPolicy values for GUID keys. Here’s how to accomplish this:

Start the Run dialog box (Win+R) and type in’regedit” and press Enter to start Registry editor. Registry editor.

If the Registry Editor pops up you can navigate to the next URL or paste the path into your address bar in order to reach it quicker. Choose any of the following paths to the folder you wish to delete.

Desktop Folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerFolderDescriptionsB4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641PropertyBag

Documents Folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerFolderDescriptionsf42ee2d3-909f-4907-8871-4c22fc0bf756PropertyBag

Downloads Folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerFolderDescriptions7d83ee9b-2244-4e70-b1f5-5393042af1e4PropertyBag

Pictures Folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerFolderDescriptions0ddd015d-b06c-45d5-8c4c-f59713854639PropertyBag

Music Folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerFolderDescriptionsa0c69a99-21c8-4671-8703-7934162fcf1dPropertyBag

Videos Folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerFolderDescriptions35286a68-3c57-41a1-bbb1-0eae73d76c95PropertyBag

If you click the PropertyBag subkey on the pane on left, you’ll find the entry ‘ThisPCPolicy’ in the right side. Double-click “ThisPCPolicy” entry to alter the value.

The default value of ThisPCPolicy is Show.

Then, change the value data to ‘Hideto ‘ and then click OK to confirm.

Then, close the window completely and then reopen File Explorer. It is possible to see that the folder in this PC window has been deleted.

To restore any folder, click the appropriate PropertyBag subkey, and then change the value of ‘ThisPCPolicy” to show”. This will display the folders once more.

But, even when you hide the folders on This PC in File Explorer however, they will still appear in the Browse as, save, Save to, and the Open dialog boxes.

To hide the folders from any of the dialog boxes for Browse follow the below keys and change the ‘ThisPCPolicy’ text to the word ‘Hide’ within the registry editor.

for Desktop directory:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion ExplorerFolderDescriptionsB4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641PropertyBag

To Documents Folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion ExplorerFolderDescriptionsf42ee2d3-909f-4907-8871-4c22fc0bf756PropertyBag

To downloads the folders for:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion ExplorerFolderDescriptions7d83ee9b-2244-4e70-b1f5-5393042af1e4PropertyBag

To Music Folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion ExplorerFolderDescriptionsa0c69a99-21c8-4671-8703-7934162fcf1dPropertyBag

for Pictures Folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion ExplorerFolderDescriptions0ddd015d-b06c-45d5-8c4c-f59713854639PropertyBag

For Videos folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion ExplorerFolderDescriptions35286a68-3c57-41a1-bbb1-0eae73d76c95PropertyBag

Deleting GUID Keys to Remove folders under the this PC section

If you wish to delete the folders on This PC permanently, you can erase the GUID keys or GUID keys using Registry Editor. To do this, you need to open Registry Editor and follow the following link:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerFolderDescriptions


Create the FolderDescriptions folder and delete one of these keys from the folder you wish to eliminate:

• Desktop: B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641
• Documents: f42ee2d3-909f-4907-8871-4c22fc0bf756
• Downloads: 7d83ee9b-2244-4e70-b1f5-5393042af1e4
• Music: a0c69a99-21c8-4671-8703-7934162fcf1d
• Pictures: 0ddd015d-b06c-45d5-8c4c-f59713854639
• Videos: 35286a68-3c57-41a1-bbb1-0eae73d76c95

Right-click on a directory (key) and choose “Delete” to delete it.

After that, confirm your decision by clicking Yes.

However, if you wish to restore your folders in the near future it is necessary to back up your GUID keys (for specific folders) or the whole FolderDescriptions folder.

Remove the Frequent folders and recent files in Windows 11 Quick Access

In Windows it is possible to look up your most frequently used folders as well as recently used files in File Explorer. If you wish to deactivate frequently used folders or files from Quick Access, follow these steps:

Within File Explorer, click the three dots menu button , then choose ‘Options’ in order for the Folder Options dialog window.

On the tab General of the Folder Options, uncheck the following options:

• To block recent documents to be displayed on Quick Access Uncheck the box “Show files that were recently used” in the Privacy section.
• To prevent often used file to be displayed on Quick Access Uncheck the box “Show frequently used files” in the Privacy section.

After that, select “Apply” and then click OK.

Display Libraries On Windows 11

You can choose to enable or deactivate the library folders that show in the navigation panel of File Explorer.

Start your File Explorer by hitting the Windows+E shortcut key. On the File Explorer menu bar, click on the three dots (three dots) button, then select the option ‘Option’. This will bring up an option window. Folder Options window.

Within the Folder Options window, navigate to the tab ‘View. Scroll through the choices under Advanced settings, and then check the box for “Show Libraries”. Then, click “Apply” and then click OK.

You will now be able to see your Libraries in the Navigation section in File Explorer as shown below.

Hide Libraries in the Navigation Pane of File Explorer

If you don’t need the library section, you can make libraries invisible or removed out of your File Explorer Navigation pane. This is how to do it:

Open File Explorer with the Windows+E shortcut. After that, click on the horizontal three ellipses (three dots) on the menu bar of File Explorer and choose the option ‘Options’.

Within the Folder Options window, navigate to the tab ‘View. Scroll through the choices under Advanced settings, and then uncheck the option ‘Show Libraries. Then, click “Apply” and then click OK.

Add Folders to The Libraries On Windows 11

If you have folders you frequently use You could add them to libraries to increase their accessibility. Use these instructions to include the folders to the library for Windows 11:

Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder you wish include in Libraries. After that, right-click on the folder and choose “Show More options’.

In the next context menu, select “Include in Library Select the Library folder that you wish to include the folder.

You will now see the folder that you created in the library.

You can add the folder to an existing Library folder, or create a brand new Library folder by choosing the ‘Create a new library option from the context menu right-click.

To delete the Library folder from the Libraries you need to right-click the folder within Libraries you wish to delete and choose the option to delete.

Eliminate OneDrive Folder in File Explorer

If you’d like to delete OneDrive from File Explorer, follow these steps: OneDrive Folder out of File Explorer, follow these steps:

Then, you must start Registry Editor, and then go to the following route:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6

With the above subkey selected, double click on the ‘System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree’ entry on the right pane.

Set the value to then set the Value data to‘0 then select OK.

Then, click the key below.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTWow6432NodeCLSID018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6

Then, double click on the ‘System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree’ entry on the right pane.

Then, set the Value value to the format of‘0 then select OK.

Add or remove Custom Folders from this PC by using a third-party tool (Winaero Tweaker)

There isn’t a direct way for adding custom folders on This PC within File Explorer on Windows 11 You can make use of an external software (Winaero tweaker) to create or remove custom folders from This PC quickly.

The first step is to first download first. You must install the Winaero Tweaker software on your PC from the following link. Visit the Winaero Tweaker website and click the download Winaero Tweaker’ link to download the software.

Once the ‘winaerotweaker.zip’ file, extract the file and run the ‘WinaeroTweaker-X.XX.X.X-setup.exe’ to install the app.

The wizard’s Welcome screen, select Next to begin the installation.

Follow the instructions on screen to finish the installation. On the Startup screen, select the method you would like to install the application (Normal or portable app) and then click Next.

In the screen for Additional Tasks, select whether you wish to make the software available to all users, or just for the current user . Then select Next..

Then, click ‘Install’ to install the application.

Add Custom Folders to This PC

Start the installed Winaero Tweaker app, go to the File Explorer section of the left-side navigation panel, then select the ‘Customize This Computer Folders option in the File Explorer tree.

On the right-hand side on the right-hand side of Customize The PC Folders tab, select the Add custom folder button.

Within the Add Folder dialog box, click on “Browse” to select the folder you wish to add to this PC.

Then, select the appropriate folder on your computer, and then click the “Select Folder” button.

You can show the folder with the same name, or to give an alternative name for the folder to avoid display in This PC. The name of the folder, but it shows the folder with the name given under the section ‘This PC’ in File Explorer. Enter the name of the display in the field ‘Display as’ and then click ‘Add Folder’.

After that after that, shut down the Winaero tool, and then relaunch the File Explorer, and you will find the folder you created under this PC.

Eliminate Custom Folders and Other Folders from this PC

You can also delete the custom folders and additional library folders (Documents Documents, Music Videos, Documents and more.) from this PC.

Start your Winaero Tweaker app on your PC and go to the File Explorer tab in the menu bar. Select ‘Customize This PC Folders’ beneath it.

On the rightside, choose the folder you wish to delete and then select the ‘Remove Selected’ tab.

If you wish to reset the default directory on This PC, simply, click the ‘Reset this Page to defaults’ link on near the bottom of page ‘Customize This PC Folders’ page.

That’s it.