How to Show or Hide Libraries Folder in Windows 11

Before you begin: Back up your Registry

Before you try any of the advanced steps, create a restore point or export the registry key you plan to change. If something goes wrong, you can then roll back. The File Explorer 📁 method needs no backup, so try it first.

Show the Libraries folder via File Explorer

The simplest way to show the Libraries folder is through File Explorer 📁’s own settings. Open File Explorer, click the three dots at the top of the window, choose Options, and turn on the setting that shows libraries. The folder then appears in the sidebar, and you can reach all your grouped files from one place.

The Show libraries option is only in recent versions of Windows 11. If you can’t find it, run Windows Update 🔃 and check again. The Registry method further down works as a fallback.

1. Open File Explorer 📁. You can also press Win+E. A File Explorer 📁 window opens.
2. Click the three dots (ellipsis) in the top menu bar. A menu drops down.
3. Select Options. The Folder Options window opens on the General tab.

4. Click the View tab. A list of settings appears under Advanced settings.
5. Under Advanced settings, scroll down and check the box that says Show libraries. The list is long, and this option is near the navigation pane settings.

Click Apply, then OK. The Libraries folder now shows up in the navigation pane on the left. You don’t need to restart. If it doesn’t appear right away, close File Explorer 📁 and open it again.

Hide the Libraries folder

If you prefer a minimalist look, you can hide the folder. This uses the same window, and you can undo it at any time by checking the box again.

1. Open File Explorer 📁 and click the three dots in the menu.
2. Select Options. The Folder Options window opens.
3. Click the View tab.
4. Uncheck the box next to Show libraries, then click Apply and OK. The Libraries entry disappears from the sidebar.

Advanced: Registry Editor modification

If the normal File Explorer 📁 option is missing or has no effect, you can force the Libraries folder to show by editing the Windows Registry. Press the Win+R keys, type regedit, press Enter, and go to the key given in the steps below. That key holds the value that controls whether the folder appears in the navigation pane.

Create a restore point or export the key before you change anything. In Registry Editor, right-click the key, choose Export, and save the .reg file somewhere safe. Double-clicking that file later restores the old values.

1. Press Win+R, type regedit, and hit Enter. Click Yes if User Account Control asks for permission. Registry Editor opens.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}. You can expand the folders in the left pane, or paste the path into the address bar at the top of the window.
3. Locate the System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree DWORD in the right pane and double-click it. If you can’t find it, you are probably in the wrong key, so recheck the path.
4. Set the value to 1 to show or 0 to hide, then click OK. Close Registry Editor, then close and reopen File Explorer 📁. If the sidebar doesn’t change, sign out and back in, or restart the 🔄 PC.

Group Policy Editor settings

For enterprise environments, you can use the Group Policy Editor to enforce this setting across machines. The Local Group Policy Editor is only included in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise and Education. Windows 11 Home doesn’t have it, so Home users should use the File Explorer 📁 or Registry method instead.

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter. The Local Group Policy Editor opens.
2. Go to User Configuration › Administrative Templates › Windows Components › File Explorer The policy list appears in the right pane.
3. Find Show libraries in the navigation pane, double-click it, and set it to Enabled or Disabled. Click OK. The change applies after Group Policy refreshes, which a sign-out or restart forces. To hand control back to the user, set the policy to Not Configured.

Add files or folders to Libraries

1. Right-click the folder you want to add. The folder should be on a local drive, because some network and removable locations can't be added to a library.
2. Select Show more options. Windows 11 puts this classic menu behind the shorter right-click menu. You can also press Shift + F10 to open it directly.

3. Choose Include in library. A submenu lists your available libraries.
4. Select the specific library where you want the folder to appear. The folder's files now show up in that library, while staying in their original location. To remove the folder later, open the library and use its management options. Removing it from the library doesn't delete any files.

Summary

Managing the Libraries folder in Windows 11 helps you keep File Explorer organized. Use the Folder Options menu first, since it's quick and safe to undo. If that option isn't available, use the Registry, or Group Policy on Pro and Enterprise editions. Always back up your registry before making deeper system changes.