How to Add or Remove the Windows 11 Gallery Folder
The Windows 11 Gallery folder is a dedicated picture viewer built into File Explorer (the file management app in Windows) that puts all your stored images into one central feed. Windows 11 introduced this feature in build 22621 to make photo browsing faster without opening a separate app.
You can customize this view by adding specific folders that contain your pictures or removing unwanted folders to keep your photo collection tidy.
Open File Explorer , click Gallery, then Collection, and Manage collection. Use the Add button to include folders or select and click Remove to exclude them. This customizes where File Explorer finds your photos without moving files.
Add or remove folders in File Explorer
Windows 11 Gallery management lets you choose which pictures appear in your photo feed by adding or removing folders directly from File Explorer . Open File Explorer, click Gallery on the left side, and use the Collection menu to pick the folders you want to see. This controls which local folders show up without deleting your actual image files from your computer.
- Open File Explorer and click on Gallery in the side menu.
- Select Collection and then Manage collection in the top menu bar.
- Click the Add button to pick a folder from your PC. The files will stay in their original location, such as
C:\Users\Username\Pictures\NewFolder.
- Select the folder you want and click Include folder.
To remove a folder later:
- Go back to Collection and then Manage collection in the File Explorer command bar.
- Select the folder you want to remove and click Remove.
Advanced Management: Registry and PowerShell
Windows 11 Gallery management through the Registry Editor lets you completely hide the photo shortcut from the File Explorer side menu. You need to open the Registry Editor, go to 🗝️HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
To hide the Gallery from the navigation pane, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer. Create a new DWORD value and name it DisableGallery. Then, set its value to 1.
Cloud Integration: OneDrive and iCloud
Your Gallery works automatically with OneDrive's Camera Roll Backup feature. If you use iCloud for Windows, ensure your iCloud Photos folder is included in your collection settings to see those images in the Gallery.
Summary
Managing the Windows 11 Gallery keeps digital decluttering efforts on track. Whether you use the File Explorer interface or advanced Registry tweaks, you have full control over your media management. The Gallery is a view; your files stay exactly where you put them.
Does removing the Gallery from the navigation pane delete my photos?
No. Removing a folder from the Gallery view or hiding the Gallery itself only changes how files display in File Explorer. Actual image files remain safely stored in their original folders on the hard drive or cloud storage.
Can I customize which folders appear in the Gallery view?
Yes. Customize the Gallery by using the Manage Collection feature. This allows you to manually add or remove specific folders from the PC, ensuring that only the directories you care about appear in the aggregated photo view.
Is the Gallery feature available in all versions of 🪟 Windows 11?
The Gallery feature was introduced in Windows 11 build 23435. It is available in all current versions of Windows 11 that received the latest feature updates. If it does not appear, ensure the system is fully updated via Windows Update.
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Richard
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Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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