How to Reset File Explorer Folder View in Windows 11

What happens when you reset?

A reset removes custom settings such as column widths, sort orders, grouping and icon sizes. Folders go back to how they looked when Windows was first installed.

Your files are not touched. Only the display preferences change. Both methods below work the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro.

Method 1Using Folder Options (GUI)

Use it first. It fixes messed-up folder layouts, odd column widths and wrong icon sizes without touching advanced system settings.

You open the File Explorer options, go to the View tab, and click the button that puts the folder views back to default. The whole thing takes under a minute, and you do not need to restart.

1. Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E. A File Explorer window opens, usually on Home or This PC.
2. Click the three dots (the ellipsis) in the top menu bar. A dropdown menu opens. If your window is narrow, the dots may sit further right, so widen the window if you can't see them.
3. Select Options from the dropdown menu. This is near the bottom of the list. The File Explorer Options window opens (older Windows versions call it Folder Options).

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5. Click on the View tab in the File Explorer Options window. You will see a list of advanced settings and, above it, a Folder views section with two buttons.
6. Click the Reset Folders button. A confirmation box appears asking if you want to reset all folders of this type to their default view settings.

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8. Click Yes in the confirmation box to restore the default view for all folders of this type. Then click OK in the options window to close it.

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Method 2Using Registry Editor

If the standard Reset Folders button does not help, you can delete the saved view keys in the Registry Editor. This is the more advanced fix. It clears folder customizations that are stuck or corrupted, and Windows rebuilds them from scratch the next time you open a folder.

Back up first. Deleting registry keys cannot be undone with Ctrl+Z, so in Registry Editor you can use File › Export on the Shell key before you change anything. To undo later, double-click the saved .reg file and confirm the merge.

1. Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click Yes if User Account Control asks for permission. Registry Editor opens.
2. Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell. You can paste it into the address bar at the top of Registry Editor. When it works, the Shell key is selected and you see BagMRU and Bags beneath it in the left pane.
3. Right-click the BagMRU folder and select Delete. Confirm the prompt that asks if you want to delete the key and all of its subkeys.
4. Right-click the Bags folder and select Delete. Confirm the prompt again. Both keys should now be gone from the left pane.
5. Restart your computer to apply the changes. After you sign back in, open a few folders. They should show the default view, and File Explorer will start saving your new choices.

Troubleshooting

Problems with a reset are most often found in the Registry Editor method, and they usually come down to permissions and ownership.

• If you get an access denied error or Delete is greyed out, you are probably signed in with a standard account or the key has restricted permissions. Sign in with an administrator account and try again.
• If it still fails, right-click the key, select Permissions, and check that your account has Full Control. If it doesn't, use Advanced to check the owner of the key and change it to your account.
• If the keys come back with your old settings after a restart, make sure you deleted them from the HKEY_CURRENT_USER path above, and that you were signed in as the user who has the problem.
• If folders still look wrong after the Reset Folders button, try the registry method. For other File Explorer behavior, the Restore Defaults button on the same View tab resets the advanced settings list.

Summary

Resetting your File Explorer view is a simple way to fix display problems and restore the default folder layouts, and your files are never at risk. Start with the Reset Folders button, which is quick and safe. Use the registry method only if that does not work, and export a backup before you delete anything.