File Explorer

Manages File Explorer settings. These include shell properties, folder options, file menus, and available drives.

• User
  Allow only per user or approved shell extensions

  At least Windows 2000
• Computer
  Allow the use of remote paths in file shortcut icons

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• Computer
  Configure Windows Defender SmartScreen

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• ComputerUser
  Disable binding directly to IPropertySetStorage without intermediate layers.

  At least Windows Vista
• User
  Disable Known Folders

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
• User
  Display confirmation dialog when deleting files

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional
• User
  Display the menu bar in File Explorer

  At least Windows Vista
• User
  Do not allow Folder Options to be opened from the Options button on the View tab of the ribbon

  At least Windows 2000
• Computer
  Do not apply the Mark of the Web tag to files copied from insecure sources

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• User
  Do not display the Welcome Center at user logon

  Windows Vista only
• User
  Do not move deleted files to the Recycle Bin

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional
• Computer
  Do not reinitialize a pre-existing roamed user profile when it is loaded on a machine for the first time

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• User
  Do not request alternate credentials

  Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
• Computer
  Do not show the 'new application installed' notification

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• User
  Do not track Shell shortcuts during roaming

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Hide these specified drives in My Computer

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Hides the Manage item on the File Explorer context menu

  At least Windows 2000
• ComputerUser
  Location where all default Library definition files for users/machines reside.

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• User
  Maximum allowed Recycle Bin size

  Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
• User
  Maximum number of recent documents

  Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000
• User
  No Computers Near Me in Network Locations

  Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
• User
  No Entire Network in Network Locations

  Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
• User
  Pin Internet search sites to the "Search again" links and the Start menu

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
• User
  Pin Libraries or Search Connectors to the "Search again" links and the Start menu

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
• User
  Prevent access to drives from My Computer

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Prevent users from adding files to the root of their Users Files folder.

  At least Windows Vista
• User
  Remove "Map Network Drive" and "Disconnect Network Drive"

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Remove CD Burning features

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional
• User
  Remove DFS tab

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Remove File Explorer's default context menu

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Remove File menu from File Explorer

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Remove Hardware tab

  At least Windows 2000
• User
  Remove Search button from File Explorer

  Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
• User
  Remove Security tab

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional
• User
  Remove Shared Documents from My Computer

  Windows XP Professional only
• User
  Remove the Search the Internet "Search again" link

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
• User
  Remove UI to change keyboard navigation indicator setting

  Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
• User
  Remove UI to change menu animation setting

  Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
• User
  Request credentials for network installations

  Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
• Computer
  Set a default associations configuration file

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• Computer
  Set a support web page link

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
• Computer
  Show files based on your account and cloud provider activity

  At least Windows 11 Version 22H2
• Computer
  Show hibernate in the power options menu

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• Computer
  Show lock in the user tile menu

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• Computer
  Show sleep in the power options menu

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• ComputerUser
  Start File Explorer with ribbon minimized

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• Computer
  Turn off Advanced Settings source integration in File Explorer

  At least Windows 11 Version 22H2
• User
  Turn off caching of thumbnail pictures

  At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional
• User
  Turn off common control and window animations

  At least Windows Vista
• Computer
  Turn off Data Execution Prevention for Explorer

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
• User
  Turn off display of recent search entries in the File Explorer search box

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
• Computer
  Turn off heap termination on corruption

  At least Windows Vista
• ComputerUser
  Turn off numerical sorting in File Explorer

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
• Computer
  Turn off shell protocol protected mode

  At least Windows XP Professional with SP2
• User
  Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files

  MicrosoftWindows Vista SP1
• User
  Turn off the display of snippets in Content view mode

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
• User
  Turn off the display of thumbnails and only display icons on network folders

  At least Windows Vista
• User
  Turn off the display of thumbnails and only display icons.

  At least Windows Vista
• User
  Turn off Windows Key hotkeys

  At least Windows Server 2003
• User
  Turn off Windows Libraries features that rely on indexed file data

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
• User
  Turn on Classic Shell

  Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000
• Computer
  Verify old and new Folder Redirection targets point to the same share before redirecting

  At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7