Windows Explorer Taskbar Icon - Change Open To Target

How to Change the Windows 7 Pinned Windows Explorer Taskbar Icon Open To Target​

   Information

This will show you how to change the Windows 7 pinned Windows Explorer taskbar icon from the default Open To the Libraries window target to Open To the Computer window target or other possible locations that are available to choose from instead when you click on the Windows Explorer icon on the taskbar.

   Note

Special thanks to Chappy (aka: Dave) for pointing this out to me, and to Limneos for the additional locations.

   Warning

By design in Windows, these shortcuts will open a new window in a new process (explorer.exe) each time you use the shortcut. When you close the opened window from the shortcut, the extra explorer.exe process will close with it as well a few moments afterwards.

EXAMPLE: Windows Explorer icon pinned to the taskbar

EXAMPLE: Opens to Libraries (default) or Computer
NOTE: You can also select from the other available options below.




Here's How:
1. Right click on the pinned Windows Explorer taskbar icon, then right click on Windows Explorer in the Jump List and click on Properties. (see screenshot below)

2. In the Shortcut tab, make sure that the field box to the right of Start in is empty.

3. In the Shortcut tab and to the right of Target, type or copy the path (code) for the location below that you want the Windows Explorer icon to open to instead, then click on OK. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: You can do this for any item that you know it's {CLSID} registry entry for. You can also specify a specific folder e.g. :
%windir%\explorer.exe /n, /e, /select, C:\somefolder

   Note

Using the Explorer.exe Command Line Syntax/:



%windir%\explorer.exe [/n][/e][,/root],X,[[/Select],Y]

• X - Secifies the object, and optionally with sub-object Y.
• /e - Uses Windows Explorer view. Shows the left Windows Explorer tree view in the navigation pane together with the right pane in list view.
• /n - Opens in a new window.
• /root - Will have Explorer.exe explore the root object X and objects belonging to X. On the other hand, when the /root switch is not present, Explorer.exe explores the object X, its children, and other Explorer objects as well.
• /Select - Puts the focus on a file or folder. The parent folder is opened and the specified object is selected.
• /Separate - Opens in a separate process.

For example:

%windir%\explorer.exe /N,/Select,%WinDir%\system32\calc.exe

The command above will explore the C:\Windows\System32 folder and put the focus on the calc.exe (calculator) program.

   Tip

If you want the navigation pane to exand open to the item in Windows 8, then you will need to turn on "Expand to Current Folder" in the navigation pane.

• Windows Explorer (default) (opens to Libraries)

(Windows 7)

%windir%\explorer.exe

(Windows 8)

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\File Explorer.lnk

• Computer

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

OR

%windir%\explorer.exe shell:MyComputerFolder

• My Documents

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}

• Documents Library

%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\Documents.library-ms

• Downloads

%UserProfile%\Downloads

• Recycle Bin

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E

• Network Neighborhood

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}

• Default Web Browser (ex: Internet Explorer)

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}

• Computer Search Results Folder

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{1F4DE370-D627-11D1-BA4F-00A0C91EEDBA}

• Network Search Results Folder

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{E17D4FC0-5564-11D1-83F2-00A0C90DC849}

• Web Folders

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{BDEADF00-C265-11D0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F}

• Control Panel

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

• Printers and Faxes

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}

• Scanners and Cameras

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{E211B736-43FD-11D1-9EFB-0000F8757FCD}

• Fonts

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524152}

• Network Connections or My Network Place

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}

• Administrative Tools

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}

• Tasks Scheduler

(Opens in new process)

%windir%\explorer.exe /n /Separate,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}

• User Profile (personal) Folder

%windir%\explorer.exe shell:Profile

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change Default Open To Target of File Explorer Pinned to Taskbar in Windows 8.1
• How to Pin or Unpin a Program to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Restore the Default Libraries in Windows 7
• How to Pin Your User Files Folder to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Pin the Recycle Bin to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Pin the Control Panel to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Pin Computer to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• CLSID Key (GUID) List for Windows 7
• How to Use and See All Windows 7 Shell Commands

 

[suta]

thanks for the quick reply! okay, this is what i have done
%windir%\explorer.exe /N,C:\Users\Windows 7\Desktop /Select,C:\Users\Windows 7\Desktop\Desktop calc.exe.lnk
is that what you mean? but it appears to be still the same.. have i done it incorrectly?

 

[Brink]

Sorry, mate but no.

To create a desktop shortcut, you would say right click on the C:\Windows\system32\calc.exe file as an example and click on Send to and Desktop (create shortcut). Clicking on this new shortcut would open a separate instance of calc.exe everytime you clicked on it.

Afterwards, you can change the Windows Explorer icon on the taskbar back to having the default %windir%\explorer.exe target like in this tutorial on the first page.

 

[suta]

%windir%\explorer.exe /N,C:\Users\Windows 7\Desktop /Select,C:\Users\Windows 7\Desktop\calc.exe - Shortcut.lnk

like that? it is still the same, i could only run calc, when holding shift and click on taskbar explorer when there's opened folders. i'm actually running on a showdesktop.exe, wanna to make it functional on just 1 click to show desktop. so i can bypass the rockedock being minimized. that is the reason why I wanna to be able to perform this 1 click on windows explorer to launch even when there's opening folders.

 

[Brink]

Nope.

You would not be using the taskbar icon to open calc.exe. Only directly from the shortcut on the desktop itself.

Right click on the desktop and click on New and Shortcut. Type C:\Windows\system32\calc.exe for the location and click on Next. Type in Calculator for the name and click on Finish. Now click on this shortcut each time you want a new instance of it.

 

[kaufmannrl]

Following directions, in Windows Explorer I changed target to %windir%\explorer.exe /n, /e, /select, C:\users\dcra\My Documents\ but, I keep getting directed simply to DCRA (a user) instead of to the subdirectory "My Documents". Any thoughts? Thank you!

 

[Brink]

Hello Kaufmannrl, and welcome to Seven Forums.

For "My Documents", you would want to use the target path below instead.

%windir%\explorer.exe /n,::{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[kaufmannrl]

Resolved, thank you!

That did it and thank you very much!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Kaufmannrl.

 

[thee mc]

Another awesome tutorial, thanks Brink!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome MC. Thank you.

 

[Renaldordam]

@Brink : I found that disabling the Libraries function breaks the 'Open Windows Explorer' option when you right click on the Start Menu. By default, when you 'Open Windows Explorer' it takes you to 'Libraries', and I presume now that its been removed, it has no where to go.(Because of a Disable Libraries regeistry file.)

Is there a way to point that command ('Open Windows Explorer') to open 'Computer' or '?:\' instead?

So if you right click on the Start Menu button itself, you'll have two options, one of which is 'Open Windows Explorer'. This normally works fine, and opens Explorer to the 'Libraries' location. But therein lies the problem!

After running the script to disable the Libraries, when you right click on the Start Menu (the orb itself, on the task bar), and select 'Open Windows Explorer', nothing happens. I guess this is because its trying to go to a location that no longer exists. I assume that action is hard coded to go to a specific location (probably a GUID path).

Can you confirm this? Is there a way around this? Can it be pointed to a different location or GUID?

 

[Brink]

Hello Renaldordam, and welcome to Seven Forums.

What script did you use to disable the Libraries? Could you post back a link to it? I'll look at it to see what it may have done.

For now, you could use the tutorial on the first page of this thread to change the default target location of the default Windows Explorer taskbar icon to open to Computer with the path below.

%windir%\explorer.exe /n,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[Renaldordam]

I added the .reg files as a attachment.

I only used the "Only Remove Libraries Icon from Windows 7 Explorer" registry file.

After using that .reg file, you right click on the Start Menu button itself, you'll have two options, one of which is 'Open Windows Explorer'. This normally works fine, and opens Explorer to the 'Libraries' location.

But like I said, this isnt working anymore

 

[Brink]

Those REG files you attached are a horrible way to remove Libraries. There's just no need to remove them like that in the registry. Chopping them out like that in the registry can cause all sorts of unknown issues. That is most likely why the "Open Windows Explorer" does not work anymore for you. You might use the "Restore Default Settings" REG file that you attached to hopefully undo the chop job that first REG file did.

Afterwards, if you still wanted to remove Libraries, use the method below instead. It only turns Libraries off to not be displayed instead of chopping them out in the registry. Plus, it's a lot easier to turn Libraries back on if you should want them back later.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/35627-libraries-folder-add-remove-navigation-pane.html

 

[Renaldordam]

Shawn,

Thanks and I restored everything with the REG file.

I also followed the method you desribed on the last post and that works great also!

But when opening Windows Explorer with a Right Mouse click on START, it still opens the Libraries folder.

You got any solution for this?

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Renaldordam. I'm happy to hear that you got everything restored and the other method worked for you instead.

Unfortunately the Start Menu context menu location in the registry has remained elusive so far. Hopefully I'll be able to find it one day to be able to include in the REG file. I'll post an update here when this may ever happen though.

 

[sistah]

I used to have %windir%\explorer.exe /n,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} as a target but a few days ago I uninstall a program which I don't remember
and ever since I click on the windows explorer on taskbar and nothing happens.
To be specific, it's just highlighted as normal and a few seconds later it just
un-highlighted like I closed it.

I had this problem again months ago but as far as I remember,
(I guess my memory is like a golfish)
I tried a few times to re-enter the path and it worked.

Now I'm confused..

The only target that it seems to cooperate is the default (Libraries)

 

[Brink]

Hello Sistah, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Have you already tried the alternative target below to see if it will open directly to Computer for you instead?

%windir%\explorer.exe shell:MyComputerFolder

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[sistah]

Hello Sistah, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Have you already tried the alternative target below to see if it will open directly to Computer for you instead?

%windir%\explorer.exe shell:MyComputerFolder

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thank you for the reply!
Yes I already did,
also I tried the recycle bin,
control panel and my documents.
But still nothing

 

[Brink]

Sistah,

Is the "Start in" field empty?

If you create a new shortcut on your desktop, and use those targets, do they work then? If so, you could pin it to the taskbar, delete the shortcut on the desktop, and use it instead.