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

 

[thenext8seconds]

As a test, try this below. It will remove and replace your current pinned Windows Explorer taskbar icon.

• Right click on the Windows Explorer icon on the taskbar and click on Unpin this program from the taskbar.
• Open the Start menu.
• Click on All Programs, Accessories, and right click on the Windows Explorer shortcut and click on Properties.
• Change the Target to: %windir%\explorer.exe /root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
• Right click on the Windows Explorer shortcut in the Start menu, and click on Pin to Taskbar.

Hopefully it will now only open with the one icon on the taskbar for you now.

nope. just tried it. same damn thing. darn it.

Well I found a workaround I guess I can use until the RC which will hopefully fix it.

I just made a custom toolbar on the taskbar with a shortcut to My Computer... When I click on it, it actually uses the Windows Explorer icon... so I guess it'll have to do for now.

 

[Brink]

Strange,

Have you done any skin customizing or installed anything that may affect the Start menu and taskbar area?

 

[thenext8seconds]

Strange,

Have you done any skin customizing or installed anything that may affect the Start menu and taskbar area?

no sir

 

[Brink]

I'm stumped, I'm not sure why it is opening a separate icon like that for you either.

 

[Dragor1]

I discovered a bug in this tutorial!

I found that if I followed this tutorial and used
%windir%\explorer.exe /root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} to make Libraries point to My Computer, then after opening My Computer, if I went ahead and opened any drive by double clicking it, it would open in a new window which was very annoying for me!

Then I went back to the CLSID list and saw that the switch /root was used for "Computer" location whereas /n was used for all other locations.

I simply replaced /root in the computer location command by /n to make it:
%windir%\explorer.exe /n,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

And now the drives of My Computer open in the same window!

I think this might fix thenext8seconds 's problem as well!

Hope this helps!

Thanks for your time!

 

[Brink]

Thank you Dragor. Tutorial updated.

 

[thenext8seconds]

Thank you Dragor. Tutorial updated.

Actually yes Dragor, I also had the same problem and realized that changing it to "n" fixed that.

Anyway, I finally figured out a fix for my problem. It must be a bug, unless it's just my computer, but, apparently, unchecking the box for "Store and display recently opened programs in the Start menu" is what was making it use a new button. When I make sure it is checked, it works like its supposed to... hrm... weird.

 

[maxstep]

Hey!
Have you guys noticed that when you change default location to any that would open computer instead of libraries, that launches an extra explorer.exe every time? So, if you open 5 explorer windows you will have 6 explorer.exe's running? RC maintains the same behaviour. Any way to change the tweak so it wouldn't open new explorer.exe's?

 

[Brink]

Hello Maxstep,

If you only click on the Windows Explorer icon on the taskbar, then it will only open one instance of Computer. However, if you right click on the Windows Explorer icon on the taskbar and click on the Windows Explorer in the jump list, then it will open a new instance of Computer everytime by design though.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[thenext8seconds]

I think I've got a bug here. This happened with the RC 7100, and sure enough is happening with 7600.. It works fine for a while but after using the target to make it open to Computer by default for a few days, it starts flashing yellow automatically every time I click the icon on the taskbar even though there's no reason why it should be doing this.

Has anyone else had this happen to them? I'm quite befuddled and annoyed.

It's apparently not being activated or focused on or whatever.

 

[Brink]

I only have it flash yellow when I have a Windows Explorer window open and move the mouse point over it.

 

[Dinesh]

Nice work Shawn. I pinned Windows Explorer to the taskbar and changed it to open Computer. However, i was unable to change its icon though. Its still the same old Windows Explorer icon showing up. Is there a way to change it?


I want that highlighted icon.

 

[Brink]

Hello Dinesh,

You could use this option instead, and use the default Windows Explorer taskbar icon for something else or unpin it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/6916-computer-pin-taskbar.html

 

[Dinesh]

yep the download method worked. Thanks.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Dinesh.

 

[Freckle]

7Tweaker - Change pinned windows explorer shortcut

Hello everyone,

I'm totally new to these forums but I wanted my pinned windows explorer shortcut on my taskbar to open Computer instead of Libraries.

So I've figured it out and wrote a application for it.

It will open anything you select from the list. (Thanks Brink for the list)

Program is attached.

It'd be nice to see some replies regarding this.

P.S App is written in C# for those who wonder...

7Tweaker is the GUI application that gives you a list of options.

 

[ish]

not My Docs but LIbrary Docs

i was wondering if it is possible to target the Library's Documents (preserving the layout as it shows up in library) instead of the normal Documents Location.

even though both point to the same location, i just want to preserve the library drop down layout for Library Documents.

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Ish, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You can change the target path to the one in bold to have it open directly to the Documents Library.

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

 

[ish]

first off
you always reply so quick, you actually care abt ppl in your forum...ur great

second
r u God? cuz looks like u know everything.

God bless

 

[Brink]

Thank you and your welcome Ish.