Vista Tutorial - Windows Explorer Default Opening

**Brink** · **EXAMPLE A:**

How to Change Windows Explorer Default Open Location in Vista

Information

This will show you how to set Windows Explorer to open to another location other than the default C:\Users\(your username)\Documents folder location. For more information on this, see: Microsoft Help and Support: KB130510

NOTE

This doesn't change the location for Computer in the Start Menu. You could also just create a shortcut from the Windows Explorer EXE location (%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe or C:\Windows\explorer.exe) and use it. Just right click on the exe file and click on Send To and Desktop (create shortcut), then move the shortcut to where you like.

Tip

Creating a shortcut to the desired location instead would be much easier to do if applicable.

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Default Windows Explorer Target Open Location

Here's How:

NOTE

To restore the default location setting, type %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe in the Target area. (See step 5 below)

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. Click on All Programs. (At bottom)

3. Click on the Accessories folder to expand it.

4. Right click Windows Explorer and click Properties.
NOTE: If you do not have this shortcut for Explorer here, then you can create a new shortcut from: C:\Windows\explorer.exe.

5. In Target: area, type %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe [/n,] [options] [folder path] (See screenshots and TIP box below)

NOTE

See the Example sections below.
/n = Opens a new Windows Explorer window.

OPTIONS:
/root = Has only the selected folder and it's subfolders at the top in the folder tree.

/select = Has the folder's parent folder selected in the folder tree.

EXAMPLE A:
To Open to the C:\ Drive

A) You would type %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, c:\ in the Target area. (See screenshots below)

EXAMPLE B:
To Open to the C:\ Drive as the Root in the Folder Tree
B) You would type %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /root, c:\ in the Target area. (See screenshots below)

EXAMPLE C:
To Open to a Specific Folder (Ex: Downloads Folder)
C) You would type: (See screenshots below)
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /root, c:\ /select, c:\Users\(your username)\Downloads in the Target area.
NOTE: Instead of using the path c:\Users\(your username)\Downloads, you can use the full path of the folder you want to have opened instead after %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /root,.

EXAMPLE D:
To Open the Same as Computer (Start menu)

D) You would type %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, c:\, /select in the Target area. (See screenshots below)

Tip

You can also copy and paste these items in bold into the Target area (step 5) to have Windows Explorer open to these locations.

Windows Explorer (default)
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe

Computer
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

Documents
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n,::{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}

Recycle Bin
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Network Neighborhood
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}

Default Web Browser (ex: Internet Explorer)
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}

Computer Search Results Folder
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{1F4DE370-D627-11D1-BA4F-00A0C91EEDBA}

Network Search Results Folder
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{E17D4FC0-5564-11D1-83F2-00A0C90DC849}

Web Folders
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{BDEADF00-C265-11D0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F}

Control Panel
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

Printers and Faxes
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}

Scanners and Cameras
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{E211B736-43FD-11D1-9EFB-0000F8757FCD}

Fonts
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524152}

Network Connections or My Network Place
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}

Administrative Tools
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}

Tasks Scheduler
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}

6. Click OK in Properties to apply.

7. To make using the Windows Explorer shortcut easier to use, you might Pin it to the Start Menu.
NOTE: For how, see: How to Pin a Program to the Start Menu in Vista

That's it,
Shawn

BobF · 04-11-2008

Works just great on the shortcut it's applied to. Right-click on the start circle and the entry "explore" is visible. That doesn't appear to be a shortcut to which this procedure can be applied. Mine opens in an unuseful place "C:\Users\Bob\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu"
How do I change that "explore" ?

**Brink** · 04-11-2008

Hi Bob,

This will how you to change the Start menu button's Explore context menu item open location.

Start Menu - Customize Context Menu

You can also add Windows Explorer to the Start Menu context menu. This tutorial will show you how to.

Start Menu - Customize Context Menu

In step 6, type Windows Explorer.

In step 10, use the same example above, that you used for your Windows Explorer shortcut, for the full path.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

sawlwin · 06-25-2008

Hi,

I had tried all this in my Vista Business SP1, it doesn't work. Can anyone tell me why?
Tried to change to C:, to Downloads, all doesn't work.
Always to default C:\Users\SAW LWIN\Documents.

Please help!!!

**Brink** · 06-25-2008

Hello Sawlwin,

Did you type: (Example C)

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /root, c:\ /select, c:\Users\SAW LWIN\Downloads

in the Target area?

Shawn

sawlwin · 06-25-2008

Hi Brink,

Thanks for you quick reply. Yes. I type as above & it's working now.
The reason behind is I don't create a new shortcut again after I change target. This is where I get problem.

The deafult shorcut at taskbar will never change setting no matter how I change target in Explorer Properties.

rgds,
Saw Lwin

**Brink** · 06-25-2008

Saw Lwin,

I'm happy to hear that you got it working now.

Shawn

BJanke · 08-24-2008

I just can't seem to get this to work. I have followed all the steps. I want to set Windows Explorer to open to
C:\A-My Files.
I entered the string
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /root, c:\My Files.
But it still opens all the folders under c:\ and it still opens the "Users" folder.
This seems to be such a basic preference selection that I'm surpirsed Microsoft makes it so hard to do.
Thank you,
Bruce

I entered the string to have only

	Quote:	Brink
	Hello Sawlwin, Did you type: (Example C) %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /root, c:\ /select, c:\Users\SAW LWIN\Downloads in the Target area? Shawn

**Brink** · 08-24-2008

Hi BJanke, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If the folder location is at C:\A-My Files, then you would need to use this instead for example B:

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /root, C:\A-My Files

Hope this helps,
Shawn

BJanke · 08-24-2008

It opens C:\ (which is okay if I can't get it to open at the subfolder A-My files), but the problem is that it ALSO opens the subfolder C:\Windows.