This PC - Add or Remove "Folders" in Windows 8.1

How Add or Remove Default "Folders" from This PC in Windows 8.1​

   Information

In Windows 8.1, Computer has been renamed to This PC. This PC now displays your Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders in addition to the usual devices and drives (hard drives, optical drives, and removable devices) and network locations.

These linked "Folders" are shortcuts of the folders in the C:\Users\(user name) profile folder of the currently signed in user.

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the default Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders from only This PC (Computer) for all users in 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.

   Warning

Be sure that you use the correct download from Option One or Option Two below for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 for it to work properly.

   Tip

Recent Windows Updates have been resetting this and restoring Folders back to This PC.

If this happens to you after installing Windows Updates, then you can just reapply the .reg file below again.

EXAMPLE: Folders Added and Removed from "This PC" in Windows 8.1

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OPTION ONE

Add or Remove "Folders" from This PC in 32-bit Windows 8.1

   Note

This option will only work in 32-bit Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.

For 64-bit, see OPTION TWO below instead.

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1. Do step 2 or 3, OR 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and/or 9 below for what you would like to do.​

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2. To Restore All "Folders" to This PC in 32-bit Windows 8.1​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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Restore_Folders_in_This_PC.reg​

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3. To Remove All "Folders" from This PC in 32-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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Remove_All_Folders_in_This_PC.reg​

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4. To Remove Only "Desktop" Folder from This PC in 32-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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Remove_Desktop_Folder_in_This_PC.reg​

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5. To Remove Only "Documents" Folder from This PC in 32-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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Remove_Documents_Folder_in_This_PC.reg​

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6. To Remove Only "Downloads" Folder from This PC in 32-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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Remove_Downloads_Folder_in_This_PC.reg​

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7. To Remove Only "Music" Folder from This PC in 32-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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Remove_Music_Folder_in_This_PC.reg​

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8. To Remove Only "Pictures" Folder from This PC in 32-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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Remove_Pictures_Folder_in_This_PC.reg​

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9. To Remove Only "Videos" Folder from This PC in 32-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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Remove_Videos_Folder_in_This_PC.reg​

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10. Save the .reg file to your Desktop.​

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11. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.​

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

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13. Restart the PC to fully apply.​

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14. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

OPTION TWO

Add or Remove "Folders" from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1

   Note

This option will only work in 64-bit Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.

For 32-bit, see OPTION ONE above instead.

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1. Do step 2 or 3, OR 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and/or 9 below for what you would like to do.​

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2. To Restore All "Folders" to This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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64-bit_Restore_Folders_in_This_PC.reg​

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3. To Remove All "Folders" from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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64-bit_Remove_All_Folders_in_This_PC.reg​

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4. To Remove Only "Desktop" Folder from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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64-bit_Remove_Desktop_Folder_in_This_PC.reg​

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5. To Remove Only "Documents" Folder from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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64-bit_Remove_Documents_Folder_in_This_PC.reg​

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6. To Remove Only "Downloads" Folder from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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64-bit_Remove_Downloads_Folder_in_This_PC.reg​

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7. To Remove Only "Music" Folder from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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64-bit_Remove_Music_Folder_in_This_PC.reg​

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8. To Remove Only "Pictures" Folder from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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64-bit_Remove_Pictures_Folder_in_This_PC.reg​

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9. To Remove Only "Videos" Folder from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.​

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64-bit_Remove_Videos_Folder_in_This_PC.reg​

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10. Save the .reg file to your Desktop.​

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11. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.​

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

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13. Restart the PC to fully apply.​

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14. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Add or Remove Libraries in This PC in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Control Panel in This PC in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove OneDrive in This PC in Windows 8.1
• Add or Remove "Computer" or "This PC" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1
• How to Change "Computer" or "This PC" Folder Name in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Add or Remove Your User Folder on Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Map OneDrive in This PC in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1
• How to Add or Remove DLNA Media Servers from This PC in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[asus]

Thank you Mr Brink:thumb:
This Tutorial is Great.
It would occupy much folders to my computer / This pc screen.
Now when I open my computer screen I do not feel crowded:thumb:
Thank's.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Asus. Glad it could help.

 

[m18xr2]

hey shawn, thanks for the help. I do have few more things i'd like to adjust if possible. is it possible to have the folders appear after the Harddrives? so on the left panel the folders I wanted will appear only after C, D E etc and on the right side it'll show folders below the HDDs.

 

[Brink]

Hello m18xr2, and welcome to Eight Forums.

There's nothing that can be done in the navigation pane (left panel), but you can do this below to have "Folders" below "Devices and drives" in This PC (right).

• Click in View tab.
• Click on Details in the "Layout" box in the ribbon.
• In the This PC, click on the Type column header to have it's arrow pointing downward like the first screenshot below.
• Click on Tiles in the "Layout" box in the ribbon.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[m18xr2]

alright thanks again, been around seeking for your help since 7 forum lol.
looks like theres no registry around the left panel but its just minor thing.
i'll use sort on the rightside to fall below the HDDrives thanks

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

Personally, I like to keep "This PC" collapsed in the left navigation pane to not have it expanded anymore to save space, and just navigate in the main window or address bar.

 

[fafhrd]

Although it makes it easy for everyone to understand each other on these tutorials, sticking to the Windows assigned names, you can rename "This PC" or "Computer" to something of your choosing - like "Workhorse", "Laptop", or "Speedster"!

 

[Brink]

Although it makes it easy for everyone to understand each other on these tutorials, sticking to the Windows assigned names, you can rename "This PC" or "Computer" to something of your choosing - like "Workhorse", "Laptop", or "Speedster"!

Yep, you sure could.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24509-computer-folder-name-change-windows.html

 

[m18xr2]

Although it makes it easy for everyone to understand each other on these tutorials, sticking to the Windows assigned names, you can rename "This PC" or "Computer" to something of your choosing - like "Workhorse", "Laptop", or "Speedster"!

Yep, you sure could.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24509-computer-folder-name-change-windows.html

thanks for that

another thing, how do I remove the favourite in the left panel as well as library? weird thing is favourite is a category of its own which library should too, but library for me is under "this PC".. what should i do?

 

[Brink]

Although it makes it easy for everyone to understand each other on these tutorials, sticking to the Windows assigned names, you can rename "This PC" or "Computer" to something of your choosing - like "Workhorse", "Laptop", or "Speedster"!

Yep, you sure could.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24509-computer-folder-name-change-windows.html

thanks for that

another thing, how do I remove the favourite in the left panel as well as library? weird thing is favourite is a category of its own which library should too, but library for me is under "this PC".. what should i do?

You're welcome. The two tutorials below can help show how to remove Favorites and Libraries from the navigation pane.

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

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

 

[streetwolf]

FYI... Installed the leaked Windows 8.1 RTM GA Rollup A x64 and it restored all the folders. Just run the reg file again to remove them.

 

[Brink]

Thank you for the heads up Gary.

 

[Hyperia]

Hi,

I'm on W8.1 9600 and " remove all folders in This PC " don't work for me ?
can you help me ?

 

[Brink]

Hello Hyperia, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Here's a few things to check.


Are you signed in an administrator account?

When you merged the .reg file from step 3, be sure that you approved all prompts at step 12.

If you had File Explorer open when you merged the .reg file, then close and open it to see the change.

 

[Hyperia]

Hello Hyperia, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Here's a few things to check.


Are you signed in an administrator account?

When you merged the .reg file from step 3, be sure that you approved all prompts at step 12.

If you had File Explorer open when you merged the .reg file, then close and open it to see the change.

I'm sorry, i've fail

It Work ! Thanks really !!

 

[Brink]

No worries Hyperia. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

 

[Hyperia]

No worries Hyperia. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

You're just amazing !

Can you tell me how use this .reg with .bat ?

Use : start /wait %systemdrive%\Remove_All_Folders_in_This_PC.reg

OR

Use : start infdefaultinstall %systemdrive%\Remove_All_Folders_in_This_PC.reg

( i use .bat for install my drivers effortless )

 

[Brink]

Hyperia,

If you like, here's a .bat version of the .reg. You'll need to right click on the .bat and click on "Run as administrator" for it to work though.

View attachment Remove_All_Folders_in_This_PC.bat

 

[Hyperia]

Hyperia,

If you like, here's a .bat version of the .reg. You'll need to right click on the .bat and click on "Run as administrator" for it to work though.

View attachment 29360

Thanks !

Do you have a solution to change the colors of thumbnails?