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

---

• 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

 

[basher]

That IS the problem - this tutorial removes "folders" from "this pc", but "folders" still exists in "save as" windows. But i see that tutorial has been updated, it removes registry keys from two places now, so i will try it later and see what happens.

 

[Brink]

That IS the problem - this tutorial removes "folders" from "this pc", but "folders" still exists in "save as" windows. But i see that tutorial has been updated, it removes registry keys from two places now, so i will try it later and see what happens.

The tutorial hasn't been updated.

OPTION ONE is only for 32-bit Windows.

OPTION TWO is only for 64-bit Windows. This is the one you need to use. Please let us know how it goes using this option.

 

[basher]

Maybe then i saw similar tutorial on another site, and it showed to delete keys from registry only in 1 place, but this tutorial shows to delete keys from 2 places, so this might work.

 

[Brink]

It should for you. Please let us know how it went.

 

[streetwolf]

I got it working Shawn after a couple of tries. Don't know why it didn't work the very first time.

 

[Brink]

Ok, good. I was just testing, and it was working fine for me.

You possibly didn't restart the PC afterwards?

 

[streetwolf]

Ok, good. I was just testing, and it was working fine for me.

You possibly didn't restart the PC afterwards?

I did a restart although when it worked I didn't need a restart.

The only thing I can point a finger at is right before I ran the reg file I backed up my Registry. After seeing that the folders were still there I restored the Registry (needed a reboot) then I merged the reg files. Folders were gone immediately. Go figure.

 

[Brink]

Yeah, the backup .reg was most likely the cause that restored them. The restart is to apply this for the smaller "Save as" type dialogs.

 

[jonrichco]

Hi Brink, me again. I was surprised that MS in its wisdom (presumably) would reinstate all of the folders I had gone to so much trouble to delete (before I found your excellent .reg solution that is). Someone should tell MS not to nanny us and give us folders we don't want. Thanks again for a fine solution to a nasty headache.

 

[Brink]

Hey Jon,

Yeah, I'm finding that some of these Windows Updates being released are resetting things back to default.

 

[Chummy]

Yes, windows automatically installed some updates last days and no problems, and today i see left one in optional windows update (kb2984006) i choose to install it then when i back to desktop i see the folders i removed before was back to this pc.

 

[Brink]

Hello Chummy, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Yeah, it would be nice if each patch Tuesday so far wouldn't reset this back to default to show Folders in This PC again.

 

[PeterAstle]

Brink,

I've used your registry tweaker several times successfully to Remove All "Folders" from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1
They have a habit of reappearing after certain Windows updates!

Recently I had to move my Documents folder to another drive as the drive containing it failed.
Consequently the Documents folder appeared under This PC.

I ran your registry tweaker Remove All "Folders" from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1, but it did not remove this folder.

I ran Restore All "Folders" to This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1
This successfully restored all the folders.

I ran Remove All "Folders" from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1 again.
This removed all folders EXCEPT Documents.

There are no entries in the registry under HK Local Machine>Software>Microsoft>Windows>Current Version>Explorer>My Computer>Namespace so I don't know how to remove the Documents folder from This PC.
Any ideas on what I may have done by moving Documents and how to remove it from This PC?

Out of interest, at the time of moving the Documents folder, I moved all my other user folders too, yet they do not appear under This PC, just Documents.

Peter

Addendum:

Since posting my original message, I have solved the problem by using your tweak: File Explorer that Always Opens to This PC
I don't know what was happening before doing this, but all is now well!

Peter

 

[Brink]

Great news Peter. I'm glad you got it sorted.

 

[FX2]

Hello ... Did you find the solution that removes these files in Windows 10? I tried this solution with Windows 10, it has not worked. If you have the solution and you can share, I would be very grateful .. Regards

 

[Brink]

Hello ... Did you find the solution that removes these files in Windows 10? I tried this solution with Windows 10, it has not worked. If you have the solution and you can share, I would be very grateful .. Regards

Hello FX2, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Here's the Windows 10 version below at our sister site www.tenforums.com.

This PC 'Folders' - Add or Remove in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

 

[FX2]

Thank you for your fast answer... This solution worked straight off I am very grateful to you for it and thank you one thousand times.. See you soon...

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome FX2.

 

[SammerIT]

Many thanks BRINKS, that's really solved one of the puzzles, the other part is how to hide/remove favorites from the "save as" window on RDS Windows server 2012 R2, any ideas?

Many thanks in advance

 

[SammerIT]

Hi Peter, can you please send me the link to that "File Explorer that Always Opens to This PC" tweek?

Brink,

I've used your registry tweaker several times successfully to Remove All "Folders" from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1
They have a habit of reappearing after certain Windows updates!

Recently I had to move my Documents folder to another drive as the drive containing it failed.
Consequently the Documents folder appeared under This PC.

I ran your registry tweaker Remove All "Folders" from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1, but it did not remove this folder.

I ran Restore All "Folders" to This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1
This successfully restored all the folders.

I ran Remove All "Folders" from This PC in 64-bit Windows 8.1 again.
This removed all folders EXCEPT Documents.

There are no entries in the registry under HK Local Machine>Software>Microsoft>Windows>Current Version>Explorer>My Computer>Namespace so I don't know how to remove the Documents folder from This PC.
Any ideas on what I may have done by moving Documents and how to remove it from This PC?

Out of interest, at the time of moving the Documents folder, I moved all my other user folders too, yet they do not appear under This PC, just Documents.

Peter

Addendum:

Since posting my original message, I have solved the problem by using your tweak: File Explorer that Always Opens to This PC
I don't know what was happening before doing this, but all is now well!

Peter