How to Show or Hide Gallery in Windows 11 File Explorer

The article outlines how to show or hide the Gallery feature in the File Explorer navigation pane in Windows 11. Introduced in Windows build 23435, this feature eases access to photo collections, including auto-display of photos from OneDrive Camera Roll Backup. The steps to add or remove Gallery involve modifications in the Windows Registry and…

This article explains how to show or hide Gallery in the File Explorer navigation pane in Windows 11.

Starting with Windows build 23435 and up; you will see a new Gallery feature in File Explorer designed to make it easy to access your photo collection. In addition, if you have OneDrive Camera Roll Backup on your phone, photos you take will show up automatically at the top of the view.

The gallery displays the contents of the Pictures library. Similar to how Libraries function in previous versions of Windows when you include a folder in the Gallery, the files will appear in the Gallery without changing where they were initially saved.

Gallery works from the file-picking dialog, bringing that same ease of use to situations such as inserting attachments, building a PowerPoint deck, or crafting social media posts.

Below, we’ll show you how to add or remove the Gallery folder in the File Explorer navigation pane in Windows 11.

Add or remove Gallery in the File Explorer navigation pane

As mentioned above, the latest Windows builds come with a new feature called Gallery, designed to make it easy to access your photo collection.

Here’s how to add or remove it from the File Explorer navigation pane in Windows 11.

First, open the Windows Registry, and navigate to the folder key path below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{e88865ea-0e1c-4e20-9aa6-edcd0212c87c}

If you don’t see the {e88865ea-0e1c-4e20-9aa6-edcd0212c87c} folder key, right-click on the CLSID key, then create the subkey ({e88865ea-0e1c-4e20-9aa6-edcd0212c87c}) folders.

Right-click the {e88865ea-0e1c-4e20-9aa6-edcd0212c87c} folder key’s right pane and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Next, type a new key named System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree.

Double-click the new key item name (System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree) and make sure the Base option is Decimal, and then update the Value data:

  • To show Gallery in File Explorer, type: 1
  • To hide Gallery in File Explorer, type 0

Save your changes and restart your computer.

That should do it!

Reference:

Microsoft.com

Conclusion:

  • The new Gallery feature in File Explorer makes it easy to access your photo collection, starting with Windows build 23435 and up.
  • Users can customize their navigation pane by adding or removing the Gallery folder in the File Explorer navigation pane in Windows 11 based on their preferences.
  • Users can conveniently show or hide the Gallery in the File Explorer navigation pane using the registry method described above.

Comments

4 responses to “How to Show or Hide Gallery in Windows 11 File Explorer”

  1. […] and Redo commands, enable or disable File Explorer folder options, show or hide the details pane, show or hide the Gallery, and […]

  2. I’m confused because although blurred, the gallery is still visible after the registry modification.

  3. The registry modification provided is also ineffective for regular users like myself because Wins 11 registry key(s) DEFAULT TO A HEXADECIMAL BASE therefore the provided registry modification won’t work.

  4. […] article explains how to add or remove folders in the File Explorer Gallary collection on Windows […]

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