Libraries - Restore Default

How to Restore the Default Libraries in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

In case you have a missing Library, this will show you how to restore all of the default Libraries in Windows 7.

   Note

Libraries let you access and arrange items from one or more folders quickly without moving them from their original location. Libraries themselves don't store your files or folders. Instead, they point to different locations on a hard disk or external drive attached to your computer. This gives you easy access to a category of files no matter where they are stored. For instance, if you have music files on your hard disk and on an external drive, you can access all of your music files from within the "Music" library.

Here's a list of the default libraries, as well as the folders you can access in each library:

• Documents library -Use this library to access the Personal Documents folder, where you can store word-processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other text-related files. By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Documents library are stored in the Personal Documents folder.
• Pictures library - Use this library to access the Personal Pictures folder, where you can store digital pictures, whether you get them from your camera, scanner, or in e‑mail from other people. By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Pictures library are stored in the Personal Pictures folder.
• Music library - Use this library to access your Personal Music folder, where you can store digital music, such as songs that you copy from an audio CD or download from the Internet. By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Music library are stored in the Personal Music folder.
• Videos library - Use this library to access your Personal Videos folder, where you can store videos, such as clips from your digital camera or camcorder, or video files that you download from the Internet. By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Videos library are stored in the Personal Videos folder.

For more information about Windows 7 Libraries see:

• Windows 7 Libraries: Frequently Asked Questions
• Understanding Windows 7 Libraries - Windows 7 for Developers - The Windows Blog
• Inside Windows 7:Introducing Libraries

   Tip

The full path to the hidden Libraries folder is below.

C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

OR

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

EXAMPLE: Default Libraries

OPTION ONE

To Restore Default Libraries using "Restore Default Libraries"

1. Open Windows Explorer.

2. Right click or press and hold on Libraries in the navigation pane, and click/tap on Restore Default Libraries. (see screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

To Restore Default Libraries by Unhiding them

   Note

This option is only helpful if your library or libraries have been hidden.

1. For how, see: How to Fix Libraries when Hidden and Empty in Windows 7 and Windows 8

OPTION THREE

To Restore Default Libraries using a REG File

   Note

This option will restore the default registry entries for the default libraries of all users.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

1. If OPTION ONE and OPTION TWO above didn't help, then click/tap on the download button below to download the below.
Restore_Default_Libraries.reg


Download


2. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

3. Double click/tap on the .reg file to merge it.

4. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve merging the .reg file.

5. Restart the computer to apply.

6. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Fix Libraries when Hidden and Empty in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Fix the "Library-ms is no longer working" Error in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• User Folders in Windows 7 Libraries
• How to Hide or Show a Library in the Navigation Pane in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a New Library in Windows 7
• How to Include a Folder in a Library in Windows 7
• How to Include a Network Drive or Folder in a Library in Windows 7
• How to Remove a Included Folder from a Library in Windows 7
• How to Set the Default Save Folder for a Library in Windows 7
• How to Change the Windows 7 Pinned Windows Explorer Taskbar Icon Open To Target
• How to Change a Library Icon in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 Downloads Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 Games Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 Favorites Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 "Searches" Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 "Links" Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Add or Remove the Windows 7 Libraries Folder from the Navigation Pane
• How to Turn the Library Pane On or Off in Windows 7

 

[DigDeep]

That does not hep to me either.

They look like this

 

[Brink]

Hello DigDeep,

Not sure what happened to your Libraries, but you might see if running a sfc /scannow command may be able to fix them.

If not, then you can create a new adminsitrator account, copy the contents of your old account's user folders into the corresponding new account's user folders. If everything checks out ok, then you can delete the old account from within the new one.

If all else fails, or you do not want to create another account, then you can do a repair install without losing anything.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[chappers5]

Try this (worked for me)

Select all the default libraries, delete them then follow the original instructions from shawn. This method worked for me

 

[backd00r]

Select all the default libraries, delete them then follow the original instructions from shawn. This method worked for me

I'll echo you chappers. this worked for me.

 

[EileenP]

..which original instructions from Shawn?

 

[Sope]

..which original instructions from Shawn?

Presumably means the ones contained in the original tutorial at the top of this page under "Here's How"

 

[VeLiKi]

works. thanks!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome VeLiKi.

 

[kazaam]

I can't delete my four folders under Libraries. I can expand the Libraries folder on the left in the navigation pane to show videos, documents, photos and music, but when I click on Libraries itself nothing appears on the right hand side, it remains empty.

I have tried to delete these four folders exposed when expanding Libraries but none of them are budging

 

[Brink]

Hello Kazamm,

If you wanted to remove Libraries completely from the navigation pane, then the tutorial below can help show you how to.

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

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[brycesenz]

Just a quick note on this - I have an issue where I thought that my Libraries were missing, and the first two steps above did not fix the problem. I was about to perform the repair install, when I discovered the the libraries weren't actually missing. They were just hidden!

If you are having this specific issue, you can delete the (hidden) libraries, THEN restore the default libraries. It worked for me.

 

[Brink]

Thank you Brycesenz. I have added this to the tutorial so that is can others with the same issue.

 

[LiquidSnak]

Thanks for the tutorial! This was really bugging me. And thanks to brycesenz for the trick that did it.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Patrick, and indeed thank you to Bryce.

 

[gsgriffin]

A fix that worked for me when nothing above did

I appeared to have a little glitch. Could have been caused by all my fussing around trying to get the Media Center to properly get folders added (still working on that). Suddenly, my libraries had nothing in them and no access to them.

I navigated to the folder where the libraries are held:

file:///C:/Users/%username%/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Libraries

For each library listed:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/122666-permissions-allow-deny-users-groups.html

1) right click on it and select properties
2) go to security tab and see if your user name is listed in the top window (mine was NOT)
3) Click the Edit button
4) Click the Add button
5) In the object names box, enter your user name and then click Check Names, click OK once found and validated
6) Click on your name in the top list of Group or user names
7) Select in the Permissions window the "Full Control" option, then Apply

Repeat for each folder.

This worked for me where nothing else above did.

 

[TubularBell]

This doesn't work for me...

I've gotton a virus that I was able to delete, but it deleted almost 9,000 songs out of Windows Media Player, and the folders. I have to start over and rebuild my library. I want to put my songs back in the Music Library, but the defaults do not show, and I cannot restore them. What can I do?

 

[Brink]

Hello TubularBell, and welcome to Seven Forums.

First, double check to make sure that you are virus and malware free.

You might see if using either Previous Versions, or the free programs Recuva and ShadowExplorer may be able to recover any of your deleted songs.

Next, see if running a sfc /scannow command may be able to allow you to use this tutorial to restore your default libraries afterwards.

If not, then it may be easier to create a new administrator account to use instead, and just copy over anything that you want from the old account into it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[TubularBell]

Now here's my problem

I was able to recover the music I lost by restoring media player to an earlier date. NOW, media player will not stop updating media library. When I close out of media player and reopen it, it starts updating again, and will freeze up. I have read instructions about going to Tools, options, library and unchecking retrieve additional information from the internet. Doesn't help.
I tried to use the code entered into search at the start menu for clearing out media player and letting the system rebuild it, but my computer says the code isn't found. When Media Player updates, it freezes media player, and I get 'not responding'. It's frustrating. I tried Itunes, but I HATE it already.
I think I'm screwed. I don't know what else to do to make media player run the way it did.
HELP! PLEASE!

 

[Brink]

I'm afraid I don't know what to suggest about Media Player, but you might post this separate issue in a new thread to see if it may get a solution posted to it quicker.