File Explorer Customization

Enhance the Windows File Explorer with classic features, improved visibility, and powerful context menu additions. Winhance gives you complete control over how File Explorer looks and behaves.

Registry Details

Each setting below includes expandable registry details for power users. Click "Registry Details" to see the exact registry keys and values that are modified.

Customize the right-click context menu with classic features and useful additions.

Use Classic Context Menu explorer-customization-context-menu Windows 11 Only

Use the Windows 10-style right-click menu with all options visible instead of the simplified Windows 11 menu.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32`
Value	`(Default)`
Type	String
Enabled	Empty string
Disabled	Key deleted
Default	Key absent

Note: Requires Explorer restart.

Add 'Take Ownership' to Context Menu explorer-take-ownership

Adds a right-click option to take ownership of files, folders, and drives with automatic permission elevation.

Registry Details

This setting creates multiple registry keys under:

HKCR\*\shell\TakeOwnership
HKCR\Directory\shell\TakeOwnership
HKCR\Drive\shell\runas

Requires elevation to install. Based on script by Shawn Brink (TenForums).

Add 'Show/Hide Extensions' to Context Menu explorer-context-menu-toggle-extensions

Adds a right-click menu option to quickly toggle file extension visibility in File Explorer (only visible on the Classic Context Menu or Show More Options Menu in Windows 11).

Registry Details

Path	`HKCR\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\Windows.ShowFileExtensions`
Values	`CommandStateSync`, `Description`, `ExplorerCommandHandler`, `MUIVerb`

Path	`HKCR\Directory\Background\shell\Windows.ShowFileExtensions`
Handler	`{4ac6c205-2853-4bf5-b47c-919a42a48a16}`

Show 'Open in Windows Terminal' in Context Menu explorer-context-menu-windows-terminal Windows 11 Only

Displays the Windows Terminal option when right-clicking folders and backgrounds in File Explorer.

Registry Details

Path	`HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked`
Value	`{9F156763-7844-4DC4-B2B1-901F640F5155}`
Type	String
Enabled (show)	Key deleted
Disabled (hide)	Empty string
Default	Key absent (Absence = Enabled)

Remove '- Shortcut' suffix from new shortcuts explorer-customization-shortcut-suffix

Prevents Windows from appending '- Shortcut' text to newly created shortcut file names.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer`
Value	`link`
Type	Binary
Enabled (no suffix)	00 00 00 00
Disabled (suffix)	Key deleted
Default	Key absent

Note: Requires Explorer restart.

Devices and Peripherals

Settings for device lighting and printer management.

Use Dynamic Lighting on my devices devices-dynamic-lighting-ambient Windows 11 Only

Allow Windows Dynamic Lighting to control ambient RGB effects on compatible devices.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Lighting`
Value	`AmbientLightingEnabled`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1

Compatible apps in the foreground always control lighting devices-dynamic-lighting-foreground-app Windows 11 Only

Allow compatible apps to control device lighting effects.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Lighting`
Value	`ControlledByForegroundApp`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1 (Absence = Enabled)

Disable Automatic Default Printer Management devices-default-printer-management

Prevents Windows from automatically changing your default printer based on location or last used printer.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows`
Value	`LegacyDefaultPrinterMode`
Type	DWORD
Enabled (manual)	1
Disabled (auto)	0
Default	0

General

General File Explorer behavior settings.

Open File Explorer to explorer-customization-launch-to

Choose what happens when File Explorer is opened. Options: Home, This PC.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`LaunchTo`
Type	DWORD
Home	2
This PC	1
Default	2

Browse folders explorer-customization-browse-folders

Choose whether each folder opens in the same window or in its own window.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState`
Value	`Settings` (byte index 4)
Type	Binary
Same window	0x0A
Own window	0x2A
Default	0x2A

Note: Requires Explorer restart.

Click items as follows explorer-customization-click-items

Choose whether to open files and folders with a single click (like web links) or double-click (traditional).

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer`
Values	`ShellState` (byte index 4), `IconUnderline`
Double-click	ShellState=0x3E, IconUnderline=3
Single-click (consistent)	ShellState=0x1E, IconUnderline=3
Single-click (pointing)	ShellState=0x1E, IconUnderline=2
Default	Double-click

Note: Requires Explorer restart.

Show recently used files explorer-customization-show-recent-files

Displays recently accessed files and recommendations in Quick Access.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer`
Values	`ShowRecent`, `ShowRecommendations`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1 (Absence = Enabled)

Show frequently used folders explorer-customization-show-frequent-folders

Displays your most accessed folders in Quick Access section.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer`
Value	`ShowFrequent`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1 (Absence = Enabled)

Show files from Office.com explorer-customization-show-office-files Windows 11 Only

Displays cloud files from your Office.com account in Quick Access.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer`
Value	`ShowCloudFilesInQuickAccess`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1 (Absence = Enabled)

Files and Folders

Settings for file and folder display, visibility, and behavior.

Show file extensions explorer-customization-show-file-ext

Displays file type extensions (like .txt, .pdf) after file names.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`HideFileExt`
Type	DWORD
Enabled (show)	0
Disabled (hide)	1
Default	1

Show hidden files, folders & drives explorer-customization-show-hidden-files

Displays items with the hidden attribute set.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`Hidden`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

Show protected operating system files explorer-customization-hide-protected-files

Displays system files marked with the SuperHidden attribute.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`ShowSuperHidden`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

Always show icons, never thumbnails explorer-customization-show-thumbnails

Displays generic file icons instead of image/document previews.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`IconsOnly`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

Decrease space between items (compact view) explorer-customization-item-space Windows 11 Only

Reduces vertical spacing between files and folders for denser view.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`UseCompactMode`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

Display the full path in the title bar explorer-customization-full-path

Shows complete directory path in window title instead of folder name only.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState`
Value	`FullPath`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1

Show drive letters explorer-customization-show-drive-letters

Displays drive letters (C:, D:) before drive names in This PC.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`ShowDriveLettersFirst`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	4
Disabled	2
Default	4 (Absence = Enabled)

Hide empty drives explorer-customization-hide-empty-drives

Hides drives with no media inserted like empty card readers or optical drives.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`HideDrivesWithNoMedia`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0 (Absence = Enabled)

Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color explorer-customization-compressed-color

Displays encrypted files in green and compressed files in blue.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`ShowEncryptCompressedColor`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1

Use check boxes to select items explorer-customization-checkbox-select

Adds checkboxes next to items for easier multi-selection.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`AutoCheckSelect`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

Launch folder windows in a separate process explorer-customization-separate-process

Runs each Explorer window in its own process to prevent crashes affecting all windows.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`SeparateProcess`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

Enable Long File Paths explorer-long-file-paths

Enables support for file paths with up to 32,767 characters instead of the traditional 260-character limit.

Registry Details

Path	`HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem`
Value	`LongPathsEnabled`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

Always show menus explorer-customization-show-menus Windows 10 Only

Shows the Menu bar (File, Edit etc.) on all windows that support it.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`AlwaysShowMenus`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

Display file icon on thumbnails explorer-customization-icon-thumbnails

Shows file type icon overlay on bottom-right corner of thumbnail previews.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`ShowTypeOverlay`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

Display file size information in folder tips explorer-customization-folder-tips

Shows total size and file count when hovering over folders.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`FolderContentsInfoTip`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1 (Absence = Enabled)

Hide folder merge conflicts explorer-customization-hide-merge-conflicts

Automatically merges folders with same name without confirmation dialog.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`HideMergeConflicts`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0 (Absence = Enabled)

Restore previous folder windows at logon explorer-customization-persist-browsers

Reopens Explorer windows that were open when you last shut down or logged off.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`PersistBrowsers`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items explorer-customization-popup-descriptions

Displays tooltip with item details when hovering over files and folders.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`ShowInfoTip`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1

Show preview handlers in preview pane explorer-customization-preview-handlers

Enables file content preview when selecting files in Explorer.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`ShowPreviewHandlers`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1 (Absence = Enabled)

Show status bar explorer-customization-status-bar

Displays bar at bottom showing item count and selected file sizes.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`ShowStatusBar`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1

Show sync provider notifications explorer-customization-disable-sync-provider-notifications

Displays cloud sync status notifications from OneDrive and other sync providers.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`ShowSyncProviderNotifications`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1 (Absence = Enabled)

Use sharing wizard explorer-customization-sharing-wizard

Shows simplified sharing dialog instead of advanced security permissions.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`SharingWizardOn`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1 (Absence = Enabled)

When typing into list view explorer-customization-typing-behavior

Chooses whether typing selects matching items or searches automatically.

Options: Select the typed item in the view, Automatically type into the Search Box

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`TypeAhead`
Type	DWORD
Select typed item	0
Type into Search Box	1
Default	0

Control what appears in the File Explorer navigation pane (left sidebar).

Show Home Folder explorer-customization-home-folder Windows 11 Only

Display the Home folder in the navigation pane as a shortcut to your user profile folder.

Registry Details

Path	`HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{f874310e-b6b7-47dc-bc84-b9e6b38f5903}`
Enabled	Key exists
Disabled	Key deleted

Show Gallery explorer-customization-gallery Windows 11 Only

Display the Gallery folder in the navigation pane for quick access to all your photos and videos.

Registry Details

Path	`HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{e88865ea-0e1c-4e20-9aa6-edcd0212c87c}`
Enabled	Key exists
Disabled	Key deleted

Show 3D Objects explorer-customization-3d-objects Windows 10 Only

Display the 3D Objects folder alongside Documents, Pictures, and other default folders.

Registry Details

Path	`HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{0DB7E03F-FC29-4DC6-9020-FF41B59E513A}`
Enabled	Key exists
Disabled	Key deleted

Show libraries explorer-customization-nav-show-libraries

Displays Libraries container grouping Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}`
Value	`System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

Expand to open folder explorer-customization-nav-expand-current

Automatically expands navigation tree to highlight current folder location.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`NavPaneExpandToCurrentFolder`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	1

Show all folders explorer-customization-nav-show-all-folders

Shows all folders in the navigation pane.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`NavPaneShowAllFolders`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

Always show availability status explorer-customization-show-availability-status

Shows cloud sync status icons for OneDrive files in navigation pane.

Registry Details

Path	`HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`
Value	`NavPaneShowAllCloudStates`
Type	DWORD
Enabled	1
Disabled	0
Default	0

File Associations

Configure default applications for file types.

Enable Windows Photo Viewer explorer-enable-photo-viewer

Restore the legacy Windows Photo Viewer and set it as the default program for common image file formats (.bmp, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tiff, and more).

Registry Details

This setting associates the following file types with PhotoViewer.FileAssoc.Tiff:

.bmp, .cr2, .dib, .gif, .ico, .jfif, .jpe, .jpeg, .jpg, .jxr, .png, .tif, .tiff, .wdp

Registry keys created under:

HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\.[ext]
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.[ext]\OpenWithProgids

Winhance Docs

File Explorer Customization

Context Menu

Devices and Peripherals

General

Files and Folders

Navigation Pane

File Associations