Disable Known Folders
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Policy overview

Key metadata and intent for this policy.

User
Category
Windows Components > File Explorer
Supported on
At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7

Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016

This policy setting allows you to specify a list of known folders that should be disabled. Disabling a known folder will prevent the underlying file or directory from being created via the known folder API. If the folder exists before the policy is applied, the folder must be manually deleted since the policy only blocks the creation of the folder. You can specify a known folder using its known folder id or using its canonical name. For example, the Sample Videos known folder can be disabled by specifying {440fcffd-a92b-4739-ae1a-d4a54907c53f} or SampleVideos. Note: Disabling a known folder can introduce application compatibility issues in applications that depend on the existence of the known folder.

Internal name
DisableKnownFolders
Policy ID
f8895c6f613c
Elements
1

Registry values

How enabled and disabled states update the registry.

ScopeRegistry locationTypeEnabled valueDisabled valueCopy
User
Path
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
Value name
DisableKnownFolders
REG_DWORD
HKCU
1
HKCU
0
Registry location
Type REG_DWORD · User
Path
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
Value name
DisableKnownFolders
Hive
HKCU
Enabled value
1
Disabled value
0

Policy elements

Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.

ScopeElementTypeRegistry mappingConstraints & behaviorCopy
User
Disable these Known Folders.
ID DisableKnownFolders_Prompt
list
Path
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\DisableKnownFolders
Value name
DisableKnownFolders
Type
REG_MULTI_SZ
List: additive
Disable these Known Folders.
User · Type list
Registry mapping
Path
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\DisableKnownFolders
Value name
DisableKnownFolders
Type
REG_MULTI_SZ
Details
List: additive