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How do I open Windows Explorer always at a specific folder?

Anonymous
2014-03-25T15:20:37+00:00

When I open Windows Explorer, I want it always to open at a specific folder (the folder containing all my client subfolders). Is there a way to set this? I'm using Windows 8.1.

At the moment, I've got that folder pinned to favorites within Explorer, so it's easy to navigate to when I first open Windows Explorer. The problem is, when you use the Favorites method in Explorer, you don't see the folder hierarchy in the left-hand window. When I'm moving files around, it's easier for me if I can see the folder hierarchy in the left-hand pane.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. @CmdrKeene 90,621 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2014-03-27T12:50:26+00:00

    I can still help :)

    1. Right-click the Explorer shortcut on your taskbar and "Unpin from Taskbar" to remove it.
    2. Right-click your desktop and point to New > Shortcut.
    3. In the Shortcut box, use the example I gave:

    %windir%\explore.exe c:\folder(replace c:\folder with the place you want the shortcut to open). 4. Drag this new shortcut to the taskbar to pin it there (or right-click if you want to put it on your Start page too). 5. On the left side of the Explorer window, right-click a blank space and choose to "expand to current folder" so that it automatically always expands to where you are.  This is similar to how Windows 2000 used to work.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-27T11:53:06+00:00

    Hi Commander,

    thanks for the reply. I tried what you suggested, but my system behaviour doesn't seem to quite match yours: I can right click the Explorer taskbar button and get to the properties page...:  

    but the Target field is grayed out for me. I notice you appear to be using Windows 7. Maybe that option isn't available in Windows 8 or maybe I need to adjust my administrator rights somehow??

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-27T12:03:02+00:00

    Hi Xircal,

    thanks for the answer, but I still don't have the file hierarchy expanded in the left-hand pane when I create shortcuts in this way. What I want is a shortcut that opens Windows Explorer to a specific folder with the file structure in the left-hand pane expanded to that point. This means I don't have to waste time manually expanding the folder structure when I want to move a file a couple of folders up or down or to a different client...

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-25T19:27:27+00:00

    firewine,

    Right click your frequently used folder(s) and choose "Pin To Start".

    All you have to do afterwards is to hit the Windows key to access the Start screen wih the tiles and then click the folder to open it. You'll get the same view that you do when you open it with Windows Explorer.

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  4. @CmdrKeene 90,621 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2014-03-25T16:43:13+00:00

    You sure can, just edit the shortcut to Explorer to contain the default place you want it to open.

    1. Right-click the Explorer taskbar button, then right-click the actual program within that Jump List and go to properties:

    2. Name the folder you want it to open at the end of the Target (I highlighted mine here, replace the highlight with the folder you want):

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