Libraries - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 Explorer

Add or Remove "Libraries" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

Libraries in Windows 8 and 8.1, like in Windows 7, allow you to access and organize files that are actually saved at different local and remote locations in the one library folder location.

For more information about Libraries in Windows 8, see:

• Libraries: frequently asked questions - Windows Help

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove Libraries from the navigation pane of File Explorer for only your account or all users in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

   Note

When Libraries is removed from the navigation pane in Windows Explorer, it does not disable libraries. Users will still be able to manually navigate to, or create shortcuts pointing to, the Libraries folders location below to access a library.

The default pinned File Explorer (Windows Explorer) icon on the taskbar will still open to Libraries since it's target is the current user location below. This can be changed to open to another location instead by the user if they like though.

   Tip

The default Libaries folders are at the hidden locations below.

For all users
C:\Users\Public\Libraries

For current user only
C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

   Warning

If you add Libraries to the navigation pane, then the default File Explorer pinned on the taskbar will open to Libraries instead of the default This PC.

EXAMPLE: "Libraries" in Navigation Pane of Windows 8
NOTE: This is the Libraries group added (default) (left screenshot below) and removed (right screenshot below) from the Navigation Pane.

​

​

OPTION ONE

Add or Remove "Libraries" from Your Navigation Pane using File Explorer

NOTE: If step 7 in OPTION FOUR is used it will override this option.

​

1. Open File Explorer, then do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​

NOTE: You could also press the :winkey: + E keys to open File Explorer.​

​

2. To Add "Libraries" to your Navigation Pane in Windows 8.1​

​

A) Right click or press and hold on a empty space in the navigation pane, and click/tap on Show libraries to check it. (see screenshot below)​

​

3. To Remove "Libraries" from your Navigation Pane in Windows 8.1​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

​

A) Right click or press and hold on a empty space in the navigation pane, and click/tap on Show libraries to uncheck it. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

OPTION TWO

Add or Remove "Libraries" from Your Navigation Pane using Folder Options

NOTE: If step 7 in OPTION FOUR is used it will override this option.

​

1. Open Folder Options, click/tap on the General tab, then do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)​

​

2. To Add "Libraries" to your Navigation Pane in Windows 8.1​

​

A) Under the Navigation pane section, check the Show libraries box, and click/tap on OK.​

​

3. To Remove "Libraries" from your Navigation Pane in Windows 8.1​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

​

A) Under the Navigation pane section, uncheck the Show libraries box, and click/tap on OK.​

​

​

OPTION THREE

Add or Remove "Libraries" from Your Navigation Pane using a REG File

   Note

If step 7 in OPTION FOUR is used it will override this option.

The .reg files below are for the registry key and value below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}

System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree DWORD

0 = Don't show Libraries in current user Navigation Pane
1 = Show Libraries in current user Navigation Pane

​

1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​

​

2. To Remove "Libraries" from your Navigation Pane in Windows 8.1​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

​

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

​

Do_Not_Show_Libraries_in_Your_Navigation_Pane.reg​

​

​

​

3. To Add "Libraries" to your Navigation Pane in Windows 8.1​

​

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

​

Show_Libraries_in_Your_Navigation_Pane.reg​

​

​

​

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.​

​

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.​

​

6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.​

​

7. If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

​

8. If open, close and reopen File Explore to apply.​

OPTION FOUR

Add or Remove "Libraries" from All Users Navigation Pane in Registry

NOTE: You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

​

1. From the Start or Apps screen, start and finish typing regedit, and press Enter.​

​

2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​

​

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)​

​

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}\ShellFolder

​

​

​

4. If you have not already, then in the left pane of regedit, take ownership first then set permissions to "Allow" the Administrators group "Full control" of the ShellFolder registry key. (see screenshot above)​

​

5. In the right pane of ShellFolder, double click/tap on Attributes to modify it, then do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below step 3)​

​

6. To Add "Libraries" to All Users Navigation Pane in Windows 8 or 8.1​

NOTE: This is the default setting in Windows 8.​

​

A) Type in b080010d, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

B) If you have a 64-bit Windows 8 installed go to step 8 below.​

​

C) If you have a 32-bit Windows 8 installed go to step 9 below.​

​

7. To Remove "Libraries" from All Users Navigation Pane in Windows 8 or 8.1​

NOTE: This is the default setting in Windows 8.1.​

​

A) Type in b090010d, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

B) If you have a 64-bit Windows 8 installed go to step 8 below.​

​

C) If you have a 32-bit Windows 8 installed go to step 9 below.​

​

8. If you have 64-bit Windows 8 or 8.1 Installed​

​

   Note

If you have 64-bit Windows 8 installed, then you will need to do this step to also add or remove Libraries from the "Open" and "Save as" type dialog windows.

   Note

​

This step is not available or needed if you have 32-bit Windows 8 installed.​

​

​

​

​

A) In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)​

​

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}\ShellFolder

​

​

​

B) Repeat steps 4 to 6A/7A above.​

​

C) When finished go to step 9 below.​

​

9. Close regedit, then either restart explorer, sign out and in, or restart the computer to apply.​

​

10. If you did step 6 and have Windows 8.1, users can now be able to do OPTION ONE, OPTION TWO, or OPTION THREE above to show or don't show Libraries on their navigation pane.​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Add or Remove Libraries in This PC in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Hide or Show a Library in Navigation Pane in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Fix Libraries when Hidden and Empty in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Fix the "Library-ms is no longer working" Error in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a New Library in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change a Library Icon in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add a Folder to a Library in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Remove a Folder from a Library in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Set "Default Save Location" and "Public Save Location" for a Library in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Show or Hide Navigation Pane in File Explorer in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Control Panel from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Add or Remove "Favorites" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove "Homegroup" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Add or Remove "Network" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Add or Remove "Computer" or "This PC" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Recycle Bin on Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Add or Remove "SkyDrive" from Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Your User Folder on Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Arrange Folders Included in a Library in Any Order in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Move Libraries above This PC in Navigation Pane in Windows 8.1
• How to Rename "Libraries" in Navigation Pane in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a "Documents Library" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a "Music Library" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a "Pictures Library" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a "Videos Library" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Add or Remove Libraries Desktop Icon in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[remostalin]

Yes worked

 

[Brink]

Glad to hear it.

 

[remostalin]

and what about favorites navigation pane code ???

 

[remostalin]

oh k k i got it...
right click on the left navigation pane & uncheck fav... !!

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5063-favorites-add-remove-navigation-pane-windows-8-a.html

 

[dumble]

remove libraries win8 64bit, tutorial not working for me

Id had about enough of the windows explorer libraries. I never use them, and I like to keep my files organized myself.. I never bothered with them, not in Windows 7 and not since iv been using Windows 8 but today I thought why not just remove them. So I google, and soon found the tutorial on eightforums.

Only its not working for me..

I have taken ownership + permission of the 'Shelfolders', I'v modified the keys. Both in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE because i'm on 64 bit. I restarted.. and guess what, libraries are still there. I double checked the ownership + permission but that seems to be alright..

What am I doing wrong?

 

[Brink]

Hello dumble,

If it's not an easily made mistake somewhere, then you may have a rouge value not getting updated.

Triple check through all the steps in the tutorial to make sure nothing was missed by mistake.

If it still, doesn't work for you for some odd reason, then use the Find and Find Next feature in Registry Editor to search for the {031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5} key.

For each one found, take ownership and set permissions for the ShellFolder subkey, and modify the Attributes DWORD in the to b090010d as well.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[dumble]

haha thanks, apparently I was following step 6 (adding) instead of step 7 (removing). So I was changing the value in the value that it already had.... yeah I know ..

 

[Brink]

LOL, no worries mate. It's a mistake that can easily happen to us all.

Glad you got it sorted.

 

[cat]

Thanks for all the comments but I think this advice might be beyond my knowledge and understanding.. Deleting isn't a problem but it is the restoring that I'm lost

 

[Brink]

Hello Cat,

Please provide some more details and screenshots about the issue you are having, and we'll be happy to try and help.

Is this for the "Libraries" group in the navigation pane or just for the actual library folders?

 

[cat]

Whenever I try save a document it says "Documents .library-ms" is no longer working. When I attempt to access library documents in the Library folder, the same message appears. I'm afraid that's all I know apart from being on W8 I don't know what a navigation pane is

Apparently right clicking mouse can delete library but it's the reinstalling instructions that you kind guys advised, that I am just lost with

Oh! And I am using W8 64 bit, if that makes any difference:thumb:

 

[Brink]

Cat,

The navigation pane is the left pane in File Explorer that contains the folder tree.

See if using the tutorial below to restore the default library folders may help. If not, then backup the contents in your "Documents" library to another location, delete the "Documents" library, and repeat the tutorial below to restore it.

Libraries - Restore Default - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[cat]

Many thanks Brink, you are very helpful. I will have a go. I'm struggling with W8 at best of time. Wish I had stuck with 7 or xp. This is more frustrating because it is evidently a common problem. I just followed the instructions to restore default libraries but to no avail. I might have to do without this facility or take it back to PC world. Will they fix this sort of issue under guarantee? It's only 3 mth old

 

[Brink]

In the worst case, you should be able to create a new user account for yourself for them to work fine in that account.

 

[cat]

I did figure out where to type rededit" but when I press enter, my registry editor, the registry editor is not how it is in the instructions, nothing like it. I will try to attach with this PM. Sorry I don't even know how to do a "screenshot"

 

[Brink]

Cat,

I would recommend that you stay of the registry since you are not familiar with it. One mistake could leave you to have to reinstall Windows.

The tutorial on the first page does not apply to the issue you are having anyways.

You would want to do what I previously posted below instead.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...ion-pane-windows-8-explorer-4.html#post227110

 

[cat]

Thanks you Brink, I am grateful for your advice

 

[cat]

I did the simple restore procedure but it doesn't help. I have noticed it is just the documents library that is not working, picture, video and music are fine.... so, I guess I'm stuck. It's only 3 mth old but not sure the guarantee will cover a prog prob.

 

[Brink]

Cat,

If you like download and merge the restore-Documents_library.reg file attached below, approve, then restart the PC to apply.

View attachment restore-Documents_library.reg​

Afterwards, see if your Documents library works again. If not, then try this below again to reset it.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...ion-pane-windows-8-explorer-4.html#post227110

 

[cat]

Thanks Brink, I will try that now