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   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   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.
Default.jpgRemoved.jpg




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)

Code:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}\ShellFolder
HKCR.jpg

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

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 "Network" from the Navigation Pane
A) Type in b0940064,and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​
Remove.jpg

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   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.


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

Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}\ShellFolder
HKLM.jpg
B) Repeat steps 4 to 6A/7A above.​
C) When finished go to step 9 below.​

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


That's it,
Shawn


 

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Last edited by a moderator:
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
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
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?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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!

2014_10_31_21_51_431.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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