How to Set Your File Explorer to Open ‘This PC’ as the Default View on Windows

by liuqiyue

How to Make File Explorer Open This PC by Default

Are you tired of navigating through multiple folders to access your computer’s main directory? If so, you’ll be glad to know that there’s an easy way to make File Explorer open “This PC” by default. This simple tweak can save you time and streamline your computing experience. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to make File Explorer open “This PC” as your default view.

Step 1: Open File Explorer

First, you need to open File Explorer. There are several ways to do this:

1. Press the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
2. Click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar.
3. Type “File Explorer” in the search box and press Enter.

Step 2: Access File Explorer Options

Once File Explorer is open, you’ll need to access the Options menu. Here’s how:

1. Click on the “View” tab at the top of the window.
2. In the “Layout” group, click on “Options” at the bottom right corner.

Step 3: Modify the Open File Explorer To

In the File Explorer Options window, navigate to the “General” tab. Look for the “Open File Explorer to” option. By default, it’s set to “This PC.” If it’s not, you can change it by clicking on the dropdown menu and selecting “This PC.”

Step 4: Apply and Save Changes

After selecting “This PC,” click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes. File Explorer will now open to “This PC” by default every time you launch it.

Alternative Method: Modify the Registry

If you’re comfortable with editing the Windows Registry, you can also make this change manually. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
4. In the right pane, find the “LaunchTo” value and double-click on it.
5. Set the value data to “0” (zero) and click “OK.”
6. Close the Registry Editor and restart File Explorer.

Conclusion

Making File Explorer open “This PC” by default is a simple and effective way to improve your computing experience. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily customize File Explorer to suit your preferences. Enjoy your streamlined file management!

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