Windows 7 - Folder Template - Change

Brink

How to Change a Folder Template in Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to change a Windows Explorer folder template to have it optimized as either a General Items, Documents, Pictures, Music, or Video folder in Windows 7.

Warning

The folder template for individual Library subfolders, Computer, or root directories like the C: drive cannot be changed in Windows 7.

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.

OPTION ONE

For Folders in Windows Explorer

1. Open the folder in Windows Explorer that you want to change the template on.

2. Click on the View menu bar item and click on Customize This Folder. (See screenshot below)

A) Go to step 4.

OR

3. Right click on a empty space in the Windows Explorer folder window, and click on Customize This Folder. (See screenshot below)

4. Under What kind of folder do you want, select the folder template that you want to have the folder optimized for, and click on OK. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: If you wish to also apply this template to all subfolders in this folder, then check that box as well.

OPTION TWO

For Library Folders

1. Open the Libraries folder.

2. Right click on the library folder (ex: Pictures) that you want to change the folder template for, and click on Properties. (See screenshot below)

3. Under Optimize this library for, select the folder template that you want for the library and click OK. (See screenshots below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

weh · 04-15-2009

The problem is that the changes appear to be only temporary.

I have an entire drive that contains nothing but images; however, I do NOT want thumbnail displays -- I prefer a simple list. I've changed the display options as described above and I've gone to Organize > Folder and Search Options > View > Apply to Folders in an attempt to force my will on wayward Windows. Unfortunately, when creating a new folder and copying files into it, I get thumbnails. And, at irregular intervals, folders that I thought where set at list revert to thumbnails. I've done it at the root directory level and to multiple sub-directories. Nothing seems to work for long. It is infuriating.

Brink · 04-15-2009

Hello Weh,

I have not need to apply this yet in Windows 7 myself, but it works great in Vista for this exact problem. If you would like to, apply Method Three in the tutorial below to reset all folder view setting to have the Details view.

Windows Explorer Folder View settings - Vista Forums

I would recommend that you create system restore point first though in case you do like what it does and can then do a system restore to undo it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

weh · 04-15-2009

Thanks!

Brink · 04-15-2009

You're welcome Weh.

eyc · 10-07-2009

I made the customizations to various folders to match my preferences. For example, My Picture folders have been set such that each folder appears as "list" (there are dozens of folders) and within each folder, the picture files appear as "thumbnails."

But, when I open My Pictures through my libraries or by clicking the link in my start menu, the customizations do not work. Everything appears as a list, even the pictures.

Any idea why?

Brink · 10-07-2009

Hello Eyc,

In a Library folder (ex: Pictures), all included folders have the same folder views. When you change a folder view in one included folder, it changes them in all of the included folders in that library.

These do not affect the actual folder (ex: C:\Users\(user-name)\My Pictures) though when opened normally in Windows Explorer. These have their own separate set of folder view settings.

You will need to make the folder view changes that you want at each location.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

eyc · 10-08-2009

Brink - thanks for the help.

I understand what you mean. So, when I make the changes to the actual Pictures folder, it works just great. When I go to that folder (or use a shortcut), the folders keep their respective folder views. All is well.

But, when I open that same folder through the library, all the folder and sub-folders have the same folder view (just as you had stated in your previous post).

Is there any way to have the library folder have the same folder views as the actual folder? In other words, if I choose "Pictures" from the start menu, can I have it optimized so that it keeps the folder views?

Brink · 10-08-2009

Sure, you can set the library folder to have the same folder view for all included folders to match one of the actual folders folder view.

eyc · 10-08-2009

Brink - I still can't get it to work!

Let me try to explain:

Whenever I open the Pictures folder through the start menu (not through C:/users/____/Pictures), the folder view settings are wrong. I will change it to "list" view for subfolders, and "thumbnail" for actual photos, but whatever I use will apply to all folders and files. The option to "customize" my view is not available.

On the contrary, when I open the actual Pictures folder through C:/users/____/Pictures, I can customize the folder whichever way I want (e.g., list view for subfolders, and thumbnails for photos), and it works like a charm.

So, my question is: can I access my Pictures folder through the start menu and have list view for subfolders and thumbnail view for photos? If yes, how? I've tried everything, and cannot get it to work.

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