How to permanently restore the old File Explorer experience in Windows 11

It may not be truly responsive, especially when compared to Windows 10's old File Explorer, but it does offer users a bunch of useful extras, such as tab mode, interface modern users, ability to preview file content, etc

However, some users still choose fast performance over a rich feature set. Therefore, in the Windows 11 user community, there are many opinions expressing dissatisfaction with the new File Explorer, but in favor of a similar familiar File Explorer experience on Windows 10. If you are one of them, This article will show you how to permanently restore the old File Explorer experience in Windows 11.

How to permanently restore the old File Explorer experience in Windows 11 Picture 1

All you need to do is make a tweak in the registry editor. This guide works on all versions of Windows 11, including 24H2.

Restore old File Explorer in Windows 11

Open Notepad and paste the following text:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesCLSID{2aa9162e-c906-4dd9-ad0b-3d24a8eef5a0}] @="CLSID_ItemsViewAdapter" [HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesCLSID{2aa9162e-c906-4dd9-ad0b-3d24a8eef5a0}InProcServer32] @="C:WindowsSystem32Windows.UI.FileExplorer.dll_" "ThreadingModel"="Apartment" [HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesCLSID{6480100b-5a83-4d1e-9f69-8ae5a88e9a33}] @="File Explorer Xaml Island View Adapter" [HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesCLSID{6480100b-5a83-4d1e-9f69-8ae5a88e9a33}InProcServer32] @="C:WindowsSystem32Windows.UI.FileExplorer.dll_" "ThreadingModel"="Apartment" [HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbarShellBrowser] "ITBar7Layout"=hex:13,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,20,00,00,00,10,00,01,00, 00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,01,07,00,00,5e,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

Now, click File > Save and select the All items option from the " Save as type " drop-down list . Give the file any name you like but don't forget to put .reg at the end. For example: " file.reg ".

How to permanently restore the old File Explorer experience in Windows 11 Picture 2

Open the newly created file and confirm the changes in the registry, then restart your computer. Now you have the old File Explorer experience with Ribbons and honestly, it's less buggy and gives better performance.

Turn off old File Explorer in Windows 11

Reverting to the new File Explorer experience in Windows 11 is a similar process: you need to make some changes in the registry using a specially crafted reg file. Open Notepad and paste the following text into it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [-HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesCLSID{2aa9162e-c906-4dd9-ad0b-3d24a8eef5a0}] [-HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesCLSID{6480100b-5a83-4d1e-9f69-8ae5a88e9a33}]

Click File > Save , select All items and save the file with the .reg extension . Open the file, confirm the changes in the registry, and restart your computer. The standard File Explorer experience in Windows 11 will return.

Marvin Fry

Update 19 June 2024