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

 

[dawntodusk]

I updated, but it didn't seem to work. In fact now my music and pictures libraries are also hidden.


And I tried out the command prompt again.


I have no idea why my computer is so strange, and I'm so sorry that I have to keep asking for help, so thanks a lot.

 

[Brink]

Dawn,

Aa a test, create a new administrator account to see if the library folders are hidden in it as well when you are logged in it. If not, then you might consider copying what you want from the old account's user folders into the new account's user folders. Plus, copy any shortcuts from the Start Menu not already in the new account's Start Menu. After everything checks out, you could delete the old user account.

 

[dawntodusk]

I think I'll do it in a few weeks, because I won't be around for a while. I'll post what happens then.

 

[Brink]

Ok.

 

[aveceux]

Hello Brink,
Thank you very much for this useful tutorial. I successfully unhid my libraries using the command promt. However, my libraries is still looking like this after I clicked on restore default libraries.

Could you please give me some advice on how to completely restore my libraries to its default view?
Thank you!

 

[Brink]

Hello Aveceux,

I'm not sure what you mean. That is the default view for libraries. Could you be more specific on what is missing or what you wanted to see instead.

 

[aveceux]

I am really sorry, Brink. I should have been more specific.
My libraries used to look like this.

But after I unhid it, it is now looking like the pictrure I attached on #44.
Could you see the difference?
I think they are both tiles view but the size and the position of those icons are just different.

 

[Brink]

Aveceux,

I notice the expansion arrows missing on the left side of them, but if you hover over Libraries in the navigation pane while it's selected, they should reappear.

 

[Malydee]

Libraries

Following a recent crash and despite lots of help from yourselves, I eventually installed a new HDD and have clean re-installed Win7 which works OK.
I now have the old HDD in a caddy and have successfully transferred most files.
I have taken ownership of the existing files but have not been able to find the libraries with all my music & photos.
Can you advise on how I can retrieve these?
Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Malydee,

The libraries should be in the hidden folder below.

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

OR

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

 

[event3horizon]

Would you guys know of anyway to do exactly what the original post does but in script form? (at least for just the documents library) Need to reset it to default. I need to do this for a mass of PCs.

 

[jhexp67]

Thanx Brink for the very good tutorial on how to restore favorite default on window's explorer. Some how I lost them so I am grateful to get them back, especially the download folder.

 

[Brink]

Glad it could help Paul, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[LordC]

That does not hep to me either.

They look like this

I am missing the same folders, i will do this, and see what will happen. Maybe theres something else behind this problem...But, under the favorite tabs.

 

[srikli]

Windows 7: Libraries - Restore Default

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Shawn for posting his original message way back in 2008!!! I have been messing around with the libraries on my system for two days now, and they are finally back to the way I want them. Deleting the libraries and then restoring the default libraries worked like a charm. Such a simple fix I can't believe I didn't find it myself. Oh well, live and learn. Thanks again, Shawn!!!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Srikli, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[GeneC]

If anyone still hasn't got it fixed and it is possible that the computer at one point had a virus consider that the file type association for the library type got trashed. Follow the solution in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html for library-ms type. That worked for me

 

[Brink]

Hell Gene,

No worries. OPTION THREE includes that as well now.

 

[LaUs3r]

Hi guys,

I've been looking quite a while now to find a solution to my "problem" and I have a feeling you guys can help me.
So the situation is as follows:
- I moved "MyDocuments", "My Pictures", etc. to a second partition
- The second partition is encrypted
- When Win7 boots up, I log in with my user account and then automatically the password is requested in order to mount the encrypted partition with my personal files
- Now what happens is that the libraries are inconsistent, because it seems that Win7 updates the libraries BEFORE I mount the encrypted partition with my personal files. The result is that I do not see my folders in the libraries.
- When I click on "Restore Default Libraries" after mounting the encrypted partition, the personal folders on the encrypted partition are added correctly to the libraries and everything is fine

What I'd like to achieve is that the click on the "Restore default libraries" is done automatically via a script.
I tried to use "SLUtil" but that just works on a correctly set up libraries. There's no "restore" functionality.

Option 3 of the first post seems for me to got into the right direction, but rebooting after applying the reg-file is not an option.

Do you guys have any idea how I could restore the default libraries via script?

cheers

 

[Brink]

Hello LaUs3r,

You might see if you may get lucky that restarting explorer or sign out and in of Windows may apply enough to fix you libraries, but usually a restart is required to fully apply.