How to Rename "Libraries" in Navigation Pane in Windows 7 and Windows 8
Information
This tutorial will show you how to rename the Libraries folder in the Navigation Pane to any name that you like for all users in Windows 7 and Windows 8.
You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
Tip
The default Libaries folder is located at the locations below.
For all users:
C:\Users\Public\Libraries
For current user only:
C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries
EXAMPLE: Libraries in Navigation Pane
NOTE: This is the Libraries group default name (left screenshot below) and renamed (right screenshot below) in the Navigation Pane.
Here's How: 1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, then press Enter.
2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.
3. In regedit, navigate to the location below: (see screenshot below step 4)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}
4. In the left pane of regedit, right click on the
{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5} key, and click/tap on
Permissions. (see screenshot below)
5. In
Windows 7, do the following in order below to
take ownership and
full control of this registry key, and go to
step 7 below. (see example screenshot below)
A) Click on the
Advanced button.
B) Click on the
Owner tab.
C) Select your
Administrator account.
D) Click on
OK.
E) At the top, select the
Administrators group.
F) At the bottom, check the
Allow box to the right of
Full Control.
G) Click on
OK.
6. In
Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, or Windows RT 8.1, you will need to
take ownership (step 3 of Option Three at link) of the
DefaultIcon key, set
permissions (step 4 of Option Two at link) to "Allow" Administrators "Full Control" of the
DefaultIcon key, and go to
step 7 below.
7. In the right pane of regedit, double click/tap on
LocalizedString to modify it, and do
step 8 or 9 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)
8. To Rename "Libraries" in the Navigation Pane A) Type in any name that your would like, click/tap on
OK, and go to
step 10 below. (see screenshot below)
9. To Restore the Default "Libraries" Name in the Navigation Pane
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Copy and Paste the value below, click/tap on
OK, and go to
step 10 below. (see screenshot below)
@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-50691
10. Close regedit.
11. If Windows Explorer (Windows 7/8) or File Explorer (Windows 8.1) is open, then close and reopen them to see the change.
That's it,
Shawn