Published by

**Brink** · 14 Dec 2007

How to Enable or Disable Folder Options in Vista or Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to Remove (Disable) or Show (Enable) the Folder Options item from all Windows Explorer menus and from the Control Panel for all user accounts on the computer.

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

Warning

If you did not disable Folder Options, then be sure to check to see if it may have been disabled by a virus or some other malware. Do a thorough scan with your antivirus and anti-spyware programs to be safe.

EXAMPLE: Before (Enabled) and After (Disabled)

Name: Explorer2_Before.jpg
Views: 36708
Size: 11.5 KB

Name: Explorer2_After.jpg
Views: 36700
Size: 11.6 KB

METHOD ONE

Through the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Windows Explorer (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Removes the Folder Options menu from the Tools Menu, and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable Folder Options

A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)
NOTE: This is the default setting.

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable Folder Options

A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK.

6. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.

METHOD TWO

Using a REG File Download

1. To Enable Folder Options
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Enable_Folder_Options.reg

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable Folder Options

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Disable_Folder_Options.reg

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on or restart the computer to apply the changes.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

METHOD THREE

Manually in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on the Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7).

3. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If Explorer is not there, then right click on Policies in the left pane and click on New and Key. Type Explorer and press Enter.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

4. To Disable Folder Options

A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot below)

B) Type NoFolderOptions and press Enter.

C) Right click on NoFolderOptions and click on Modify.

D) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

E) Go to step 6.

5. To Enable Folder Options

A) In the right pane, right click on NoFolderOptions and click on Delete. (See screenshot below step 4C)

B) Click on Yes to confirm delete.

C) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

D) In the right pane, repeat steps 5A and 5B if NoFolderOptions is there to.

6. Close regedit.

7. Log off and log on or restart the computer to apply the changes.

That's it's,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**Noosaville** · 04 Feb 2009

Thank you Shawn,
Only if it was so simple,
Being Vista Premium I used the registry download, zilch result.
In Explorer " Folder options" it comes back with - operation cancelled due to blah blah, contact the admin. I am the jolly admin.
Any other tricks ? Cheers Michael

**Brink** · 04 Feb 2009

Hello Noosaville,

Could you post back screenshots of these four registry locations below with all of the right pane included in the screenshot? I will see if I can spot something that does not belong there causing this for you.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

and

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

**Noosaville** · 04 Feb 2009

Thank you , herewith the pics in the ordr asked for. In manipulation to reduce the size for posting the "run " in Local/Machine is the same as capture 3, it said -default- reg-sz -default, I hope it makes some sense . Michael

**Brink** · 04 Feb 2009

Did you not want CD Burning enabled in capture 4? If you do, then delete the NoCDBurning entry.

Do you have the captures for the Policies folders in both locations?

**Noosaville** · 07 Feb 2009

The picture was as you said of Explorer, why ? because it was different to ones sent before. No pics for the "Policies" was sent as the entry in both cases shows what I told you in the last reply. Default-reg-sz- value not set and that's all there is . Michael

**Brink** · 07 Feb 2009

Ok Michael. I understand you now. I had thought you were referring to another folder with that.

I did not see anything in those registry locations that would apply to this, so you might see if doing a System Restore using a restore point dated before this happened can fix it for you.

**Noosaville** · 08 Feb 2009

Thanks for the attention and your time.
I did tell you that even my Tech, who has been in the business for 25 years has thrown in the towel . As we are friends, he will look at the problem in his workshop when times allow, rather than in situ service. . It is not a matter of life and death, just a bloody nuisance , why Redmond decided to restrict this is beyond belief. Perhaps Win 7 may be more user friendly.WE hope, but don't hold your breath, Cheers Michael

**Brink** · 08 Feb 2009

Michael,

I hope that he can get it sorted out for you soon.

So far Windows 7 seems pretty great.

**dabba dew** · 12 Dec 2010

Originally Posted by Noosaville

Thank you Shawn,
Only if it was so simple,
Being Vista Premium I used the registry download, zilch result.
In Explorer " Folder options" it comes back with - operation cancelled due to blah blah, contact the admin. I am the jolly admin.
Any other tricks ? Cheers Michael

Hello All I was having this same error where folder options is visible and is not greyed out which is mostly what these steps in this thread address anyway the error is something about access is restricted due to settings on this computer , contact admin
if you are getting this error like me and like me you followed all of the above steps to no avail I may have the solution for you .

Please copy and paste everything between the following lines into notepad and save the file as something like globalfolders.reg or anything with a dot reg extension (.reg)
then merge the key and kill and restart explorer or log off and back on or restart or whatever you do. and the error should be gone ....hope this helps ... cheers

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer]
"GlobalFolderSettings"="{EF8AD2D1-AE36-11D1-B2D2-006097DF8C11}"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

copy and paste to notepad, save as <something>.reg and merge with registry and restart.

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