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

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

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove Network from the navigation pane of Windows Explorer for all users in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

This will also add or remove the default Network desktop icon as well even if checked there.

EXAMPLE: "Network" in Navigation Pane of Windows 8 and 8.1
NOTE: This is the Network group added (default) (left screenshot below) and removed (right screenshot below) from the Navigation Pane.

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Here's How:

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\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}\ShellFolder

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4. If you have not already, then in the left pane of regedit, take ownership of and 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 "Network" to the Navigation Pane
NOTE: This is the default setting.

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A) Type in b0040064, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

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

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

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7. To Remove "Network" from the Navigation Pane

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A) Type in b0940064,and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

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

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

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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 Network from the "Open" and "Save as" type dialog windows.

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

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}\ShellFolder

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B) Repeat steps 4 to 6A/7A above.​

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C) When finished go to step 9 below.​

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


That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• 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 "Libraries" 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 "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 Turn Navigation Pane "Show all folders" On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn Navigation Pane "Expand to Current Folder" On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Move Libraries above This PC in Navigation Pane in Windows 8.1

 

[derkum]

Hi Brinks,

I tried following this using windows 8.1 64-bit, but for some reason I can't edit the shell folder. I am not logged in as the trusted installer and I cannot give myself (even logged in as the administrator) full control to that folder. This would be a really handy feature if I could make it work. I'm not sure what else to try.

Thanks,

Darren

 

[Brink]

Hello Darren, and welcome to Eight Forums.

If you wanted to add Network, then it should be there by default.

What's happening when try to take ownership of the ShellFolder registry key, and take permissions afterwards?

 

[derkum]

Hi - thanks,

maybe I'm missing a step. My shellfolder only allows full control to the 'TrustedInstaller' group/username. I have a screenshot below of the error I get when trying to allow full control to the administrator. I've tried going into the 'advanced' area under this screen and changing the owner to the Administrtor (which I can do) but even as the owner it does not allow me to give full control to the administrator..... Here is where I have to apologize. I was going to take another screenshot showing that it wouldn't allow me to do that.. but it did.. everything looks like it's working the way I want it now. I was trying to remove 'network' locations from my windows explorer to reduce the clutter (as the Network is attached to numerous computers I don't have access to and I have to scroll up a lot every time I open windows file explorer.

Thanks for the tutorial, it helped a lot!

 

[Brink]

It looks like you didn't change the owner to "administrators" first. You won't be able to set permissions until you do.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...le-folder-drive-registry-key-windows-8-a.html