Windows 7 - Folder Template - Default

**Brink**

How to Set a Default Folder Template for All Folders in Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to either set a folder template of your choice to be the default for all folders, or reset all folder templates back to default in all folders in Windows 7.

Note

The folder template for Library folders cannot be changed in Windows 7.

Tip

Automatic Folder Type Discovery is when Windows will automatically change the folder template of a folder to match the file type of the last file added or saved in the folder. For example, if your folder contains music files and you add a picture file, then Windows may change the folder template and view to the "Picture" template to match the new picture file.

By setting a specific template (steps 2 to 6) to be the default, you will disable Automatic Folder Type Discovery.

By restoring the default templates (step 1), you will enable Automatic Folder Type Discovery.

EXAMPLE: General Items, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Video templates
NOTE: These screenshots are with using the Details view. What you see in your window will also depend on what you have the View arrangement, Group by, Sort by, Stack by arrangement, or icon size set as.

Here's How:

1. To Restore Default Folder Templates of All Folders
NOTE: This will also reset all folder views back to default as well.
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Default_Folder_Templates.reg

B) Go to step 7.

2. To Set General Items Folder Template as Default of All Folders
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
General_Items_Folder_Templates.reg

B) Go to step 7.

3. To Set Documents Folder Template as Default of All Folders
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Documents_Folder_Templates.reg

B) Go to step 7.

4. To Set Pictures Folder Template as Default of All Folders

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Pictures_Folder_Templates.reg

B) Go to step 7.

5. To Set Music Folder Template as Default of All Folders
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Music_Folder_Templates.reg

B) Go to step 7.

6. To Set Videos Folder Template as Default of All Folders
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Videos_Folder_Templates.reg

7. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

8. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

9. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

10. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

11. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

anykey · 08-14-2009

Sorry but, this folder template issue confuses me

It seems that using one of the above folder templates will alter ALL of my folders throughout the whole computer. Is that true?

I don't want that to happen.

For example, I have folders for docs, folders for photos, folders for music files - I suppose we all have.
Sometimes photos and images are displayed in a folder layout that is more suited to music files.
At other times my music files are arranged in a folder that has headings for images. Grrhh. Specifying Folder Options has no effect - it never has worked, for me.

I don't seem to be able to win with this one.
The problem was with me in XP and is still haunting me in Win 7.

Will using A Selection of the folder templates that I like resolve my problem and display photos in a picture folder, docs in a documents folder, and music files in a music folder. Or can I use but one folder template.

**Brink** · 08-14-2009

Hello AnyKey,

Using this tutorial will change and affect all folder templates. If you want to only change the template for one folder at a time, then you would want to use the tutorial below instead. See the related links as well for other options on this.

Folder Template - Change

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**Zardoc** · 10-20-2009

Brink I'm not sure if you have this, but if you want to add it to your tutorial, be my guest.

You can prevent Windows from sniffing folder contents and automatically assigning the folder type template

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\shell]
"FolderType"="NotSpecified"

Cheers.

**Brink** · 10-20-2009

Hello Zardoc,

Thank you for reminding me about this. I just didn't have the time to add it yet as a separate tutorial from the tutorial below, then forgot about it.

Windows Explorer Folder View settings - Vista Forums

It's on the list for tonight.

**Zardoc** · 10-20-2009

Since you built most of this tutorial, I tought it might be respectfull to let you finish it off.

**Brink** · 10-20-2009

Thank you sir.

**Zardoc** · 10-20-2009

You are most welcome my friend!!

**Brink** · 10-21-2009

Zardoc,

No need to create a separate tutorial. Adding the TIP box at the top should work just as well.

anykey · 10-21-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Zardoc

Brink I'm not sure if you have this, but if you want to add it to your tutorial, be my guest.

You can prevent Windows from sniffing folder contents and automatically assigning the folder type template

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\shell]
"FolderType"="NotSpecified"

Cheers.

Ah this sounds like what I want.
I shall look forward to reading the tutorial.
esp to know what Windows (7) will do if you tell it to stop "automatically assigning the folder type template".

At the moment I simply cannot get Windows 7 to display docs in a folder of docs, photos in a folder of photos, and music in a folder of music.

Windows 7 - Folder Template - Default

Folder Template - Default

Folder Template - Default problems?