How to Apply Folder View to All Folders of Same Template Type in Windows 11

Windows 11 File Explorer lets you customize how your files look. You can change the layout, sort order, and column widths. If you want these changes to apply to every folder that uses the same template, you can use the Apply to Folders feature. This saves time by keeping your folder view settings consistent.

Why use this feature?

You might want all your folders to look the same. For example, you may want all folders containing pictures to show large icons. Applying this setting ensures that every folder of that type looks exactly how you prefer without manual changes.

What happens when you apply these settings?

When you click Apply to Folders, Windows 11 saves your current view settings as the default for that specific folder template. Every folder on your computer that uses that same template will immediately adopt these settings.

Step-by-Step: Apply Folder View to All Folders

Follow these steps to customize your folder view settings:

1. Open File Explorer by pressing Win + E.
2. Open a folder that uses the template you want to change (e.g., General Items).
3. Close all other open folder windows.
4. Adjust the Layout, Sort by, Group by, and Column settings to your liking.

Apply Folder View

1. Click the See more (three dots) icon in the top toolbar.
2. Select Options from the menu.

3. In the Folder Options window, click the View tab.
4. Click the Apply to Folders button.

5. Click OK to close the window.

Understanding Folder Templates vs. Folder Views

Folder templates are pre-defined layouts for different types of content, such as Documents, Pictures, or Music. Folder views are the specific settings you apply to those templates. When you change a view, you are telling Windows how to display that specific template type across your entire system.

Troubleshooting: Why ‘Apply to Folders’ Fails

If the Apply to Folders button is grayed out, you are likely inside a special system folder like This PC or a Library. These locations do not support custom template views. Ensure you are inside a standard folder on your drive to enable this button.

Registry Editor Workaround (Advanced)

Warning: Modifying the registry can cause system issues if done incorrectly. Always back up your registry before proceeding. Admin privileges required.

To manually reset or adjust these settings via the registry:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags.
3. You can delete the Bags and BagMRU keys to reset all folder views to default.
4. Restart Windows Explorer via Task Manager to apply changes.

Summary

Customizing your folder views in Windows 11 helps you stay organized. By using the Apply to Folders feature, you can quickly set a consistent look for all folders of the same type. If you run into issues, remember that you can reset your views through the Folder Options menu or by clearing the Bags registry key.