Steps to turn off File Explorer's Folder Options on Windows 10

File Explorer (Windows + E) or formerly Windows Explorer is probably a familiar name for Windows users, because this is the default File manager available on Windows operating systems.

Well, in addition to the main function of managing files on Windows and allowing users to access folders and files on the hard drive, File Explorer also takes care of maintaining the user interface, as well as other operations. desktop animations, the Taskbar and even the Start Menu.

This also explains why the Taskbar with the icons on the Taskbar will disappear and reappear when you restart File Explorer. In addition, Microsoft also allows users to customize the interface and some other functions of File Explorer using the settings in Folder Options.

However, if you don't want others to touch your settings, you can completely turn it off. And of course, in this article I will share with you how to turn off Folder Options of File Explorer on Windows 10.

I. How to disable File Explorer's Folder Options on Windows 10?

A little talk: Folder Options is an option located in the settings of File Explorer on Windows 10.

Here we can completely set up search, display and a few general settings so that you can customize File Explorer so that it suits your usage habits. And all settings here will apply to all folders and files on the hard drive.

And like I said above, if you want, you can completely turn off this Folder Options option so that other people can't edit the settings you've set up before.

Microsoft provides users with 2 ways to do this on Windows 10 (except for the Windows 10 Home version).

Way #1. How to turn off File Explorer's Folder Options with Local Group Policy

In addition to the Control Panel and Windows Settings application, users also have many other powerful tools to customize Windows 10, and a commonly used name among them is Local Group Policy.

+ Step 1: Open the RUN dialog box with the Windows + R key combination => and enter gpedit.msc => and then press the Enter key to open the Group Policy editing tool on Windows 10 - Local Group Policy Editor.

+ Step 2: The Local Group Policy Editor window appears, access the File Explorer folder on the left by following the path:

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer

In this folder you will find a policy called Do not allow Folder Options to be opened from the Options button on the View tab of the ribbon and defaults to Not configured.

=> This is the policy that allows us to optionally turn off / on the Folder Options option of File Explorer, now right-click on this policy => and select Edit to change its settings.

Or you can also double click on it!

+ Step 3: Finally, in the window of the same name that has just appeared, click the Enabled line => then click OK to save.

+ Step 4: That's it, you will not need to restart Windows 10, but this setting will take effect immediately.

Now when you access File => Change folder and search options to open File Explorer's Folder Options option, then….

=> You will get a notification window as shown below, or the Change folder and search options line will be dimmed and cannot be clicked.

This operation has been canceled due to restrictions in effect on this converter. Please contact your system administrator.

NOTE: To re-enable this feature, reset it to Not configured and you're done.

Method #2. Turn off File Explorer's Folder Options with Registry

This method applies to Windows 10 Home mainly, because Windows 10 Home cannot be set up in the Local Group Policy Editor.

In addition, if you do not like to use Local Group Policy Editor or do not have this tool because you are using Windows 10 Home, you can still turn off File Explorer's Folder Options thanks to the Registry Editor tool.

NOTE: Registry Editor is a very powerful Windows customization tool, but I recommend that you backup the entire Registry of Windows 10 before you do it, so that if you make a mistake, you can restore it.

+ Step 1: Open the Run dialog box on Windows + R => and enter the command regedit => and then press the Enter key to access the Registry Editor editing tool on Windows 10.

In addition, you can also use Windows Search (using the Windows + S key combination) to search with the keyword regedit.

+ Step 2: Access the Explorer folder in the Registry by following the path, the fastest way is to paste this path directly into the address bar of Registry Editor => and then press Enter.

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer

See also: Quick trick to open any path in the Registry – 1 Click

If this folder is not available, go to the Policies folder according to the above path => and then create a new Explorer folder in the Policies folder.

+ Step 3: In here, right-click and select New => DWORD (32-bit) Value to create a new key and name it NoFolderOptions.

Regardless of whether you use 32-bit or 64-bit Windows, you must create a 32-bit DWORD key.

+ Step 4: Next, double-click on the newly created key to edit its value.

In this Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value window, you edit the value in the Value data box from 0 to 1, the Base part keeps the Hexadecimal, then click Save to save it.

Once done, restart Windows 10 for the changes to take effect. This way and using Local Group Policy are equivalent, so you should not do both at the same time!

Download: And as usual, I have prepared the Registry file here so you can use it right away without accessing or editing anything. Just download it using one of the links below and use it right away.

Download Link: MediaFire / Google Drive / Mega.nz

II. Epilogue

So I just finished showing you how to turn off File Explorer's Folder Options on Windows 10. You can completely apply it to other versions of Windows such as Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8.

This option is not actually used by many people, however, if your computer has many users, you should still turn it off to avoid the settings being changed against your will, very annoying when used. .

Okay, hope this trick helps you. Good luck !

Micah Soto

Update 03 June 2021