Last Updated on September 15, 2026
File Explorer has been the default application used in Microsoft Windows for years to view your files. Sure, there are third-party alternatives such as the OneCommander file manger app, available today. Most people just prefer to stick with File Explorer when it comes to managing their files and folders. It works perfectly fine for everyday tasks.
When you first open File Explorer, there is a good chance it will open up to the Home section. This area shows you things such as the default Windows folders like Documents, Pictures, and Desktop. You will also see your favorites and recent files displayed right there.
If you go to the Folder Options from File Explorer, you can easily change this setting from Home to This PC. The app will then open there instead every single time. But what if you want to have File Explorer open to a completely different location besides Home or This PC? We will be showing you exactly how to make Windows File Explorer open to a custom folder location.
Set a Custom Folder Using a Registry File
1. Download and Extract the Registry File
To accomplish this, we will be doing a simple registry edit. This tweak allows us to choose whichever folder we want to use as the default folder for File Explorer. To begin, download the registry file here and extract the zip file to a folder on your computer.
2. Open the File in Notepad
Once you have the registry file on your computer, you need to modify its contents. You can right-click it and choose Edit in Notepad. This opens the file in the Notepad app so you can quickly edit the custom folder location.
3. Use Open With if Needed
Sometimes Windows hides certain context menu items depending on your settings. If you do not have the Edit in Notepad option, you can right-click the file and choose Open With. Then choose Notepad from the list. Be sure to click on the Just Once button rather than the Always button.
4. Edit the Target Folder Path
You will need to click on the Run button on the next screen. The registry file will then open in Notepad so you can edit the folder location as seen below. Just be sure the folder already exists before making the change. File Explorer might fail to open until that exact folder exists. Also be sure to keep the two backslashes after the drive letter. You can easily change this target folder again later if you change your mind.
5. Import the Registry Changes
Once you make your changes, you can save the text file. Then double-click it to import those new settings straight into the Windows registry. When you first double-click on the file, you will need to click on the Yes button for the UAC prompt.
6. Confirm the Registry Addition
Windows will warn you about making system changes. Next, you will need to click on the Yes button to add the information from the file to the Windows registry. This step is required to finalize the new default path.
7. Finish the Process
Finally, you can click on the OK button to finish the entire process. The system will confirm the values were successfully imported.
8. Verify the New Location
Now when we open File Explorer, it will automatically open directly to our custom folder location as seen in the image below. You no longer have to click through multiple directories to reach your favorite files.
Edit the Registry Manually to Change the Folder
1. Open the Registry Editor
If you want to change the custom folder location for File Explorer again, you can simply edit the registry directly. This is much faster than editing the registry file and importing it all over again. Type regedit in the Windows taskbar search box to open the Registry Editor tool. Navigate to the specific key path or simply copy and paste the text below into the Registry Editor address bar.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID{52205fd8-5dfb-447d-801a-d0b52f2e83e1}\shell\OpenNewWindow\command
You will then see a string value named Default with the path to your custom folder location sitting inside that key.
2. Modify the String Value
Double-click this Default value to open the prompt box. You can then edit the value data and enter the exact path to the new custom folder you wish to use. Just be sure to keep the path enclosed in quotes or it will not work.
3. Revert to Default Settings
You might eventually decide you want the standard Home or This PC view back. If you change your mind and want to go back to the default folder for File Explorer, you can simply delete the {52205fd8-5dfb-447d-801a-d0b52f2e83e1} key itself. If this registry method does not work for you, you can use the free Windhawk app to change your default folder location for File Explorer instead. Check out this app that can move your app folders to a different location without having to reinstall them.
If you change your mind and want to go back to the default folder for File Explorer, you can simply delete the {52205fd8-5dfb-447d-801a-d0b52f2e83e1} key itself.
For additional training resources, check out our online IT training courses.
Check out our extensive IT book series.
