How to Change File Explorer Layout in Windows 11

You change the File Explorer layout in Windows 11 to personalize how you view and manage your files and folders.

File Explorer’s layout refers to the visual arrangement and information displayed for items within a folder, such as large icons, detailed lists, or small thumbnails.

For example, you might switch to “Large icons” view for a folder containing many images, allowing you to quickly preview them. Alternatively, “Details” view shows crucial information like file size, type, and modification date, which is perfect for organizing documents.

Windows 11 remembers your chosen layout for each specific folder, so your preferred view automatically reappears when you open it again.

Comparison of File Explorer Layouts

Layout Type	Best For
Extra Large/Large Icons	Photos and Videos
Medium Icons	General file browsing
List	Quick scanning of many files
Details	Sorting by date, size, or type
Tiles	Seeing file info with larger icons
Content	Detailed file metadata view

Using the View Menu and Apply to Folders

To make a specific layout the default for all folders of a certain type, use the Apply to Folders feature.

1. Open File Explorer and set your preferred view (e.g., Details).
2. Click the View menu in the top command bar.
3. Select Options at the bottom of the menu.
4. In the Folder Options window, click the View tab.
5. Click Apply to Folders.

Pro Tip: This feature forces Windows to adopt your current view settings for all folders that share the same template, effectively solving issues where Windows resets your view preferences.

Troubleshooting: Why Windows Resets Folder Views

Windows sometimes forgets your settings because the BagMRU registry keys have reached their limit. To fix this, you may need to reset your folder views.

How to Reset Folder Views

1. Open Folder Options via the View menu.
2. Go to the View tab.
3. Click Reset Folders.

Advanced Customization via Registry Editor

Note: This step requires admin privileges. You can manually clear view settings by editing the registry.

1. Press WIN + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.

2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

3. Delete the BagMRU and Bags keys to reset all custom folder views to the system default.

Summary

Customizing your File Explorer layout is a simple way to improve your file management efficiency. By using the View menu, keyboard shortcuts, or the Apply to Folders feature, you can ensure your folders always look exactly how you want them. If you encounter issues with settings not saving, use the Reset Folders tool or the registry steps provided to clear out old configurations.