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How Do I Change the Default "Optimized Folder For" When Creating a New Folder?

Anonymous
2023-05-13T18:42:20+00:00

Whenever I use the context menu to create a "New folder" on my desktop (New > Folder), the folder is always optimized when created for "Videos" (New Folder > Properties > Customize > What kind of folder do you want?).

I would like to change this default, automatic customization to "General Items" for any New folders I create without my having to do this manually for every folder I make.

How do I do this?

Thanks.

**

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-05-14T21:04:42+00:00

    Sorry for any confusion earlier. What I meant is that Windows doesn't have a built-in option to change the default folder type for all new folders. So, when you create a new folder, it will default to the last folder type that you selected.

    That said, there are a couple of workarounds that you can try:

    1. Copy an existing folder with the type of optimization you want, and then rename it as needed.
    2. Use a third-party tool, like Folder Options X, which lets you set a default folder type for all new folders.

    I hope this helps!

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  1. Ramesh 176.1K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-05-14T22:08:24+00:00

    Please see "Step 2: Disable Folder Contents Sniffing..." in this article. Ignore the title of that article.

    Alternatively, to accomplish the task via Command Prompt, run the following command:

    reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell" /v FolderType /d NotSpecified /f

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Les Ferch 10,326 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-10-01T16:09:43+00:00

    Yes, you are correct. It's a bug in the Windows 11 Explorer.

    The original release of Windows 11 was fine, in regards to setting folder type. The bug was introduced with one of the earlier updates to Explorer (well over a year ago) and is still not fixed in the 23H2 pre-release I have tested. The forum owner here informs that Microsoft is aware of the issue and are working on a fix, but it has yet to be mentioned in any list of known issues and, AFAIK, no date has been set for such a fix.

    As you've seen, the folders are stuck at type "General items" on USB drives (ones that do not mount as "local disk"). And you may have noticed that on a "local disk", such as drive C, the folders remain stuck at the type that Windows selects with its "automatic folder type discovery". On Windows 10, you could override that selection and choose whatever type you want for a folder and its subfolders. Windows 11 keeps rescanning the folder and resetting the folder type, which slows things down and disrespects the user's choice.

    Until Microsoft fixes this bug you can avoid the issue by using the Windows 10 Explorer that's still included in Windows 11. You can do that by opening the Control Panel and then clicking the up arrow button once or twice (depending on your Control Panel view). You can also open the old Explorer more directly by using this little OldExplorer launcher I made.

    But please note that you must exclusively use the old Explorer for your folder type choice to be respected. Once you go back to the new Explorer, the folders will return to type General items on your USB drives and whatever is automatically selected on local disks.

    To set your Windows 11 computer to use the Windows 10 Explorer permanently, you can use one of several Explorer patching tools that can be downloaded. I recommend installing StartAllBack and setting it to its "Kinda 10" mode.

    Also note that if you prefer to have all folders everywhere to have exactly the same view, regardless of contents, you can do that using my WinSetView app. You can also use it to set the default view for each folder type, but it cannot fix the bug of not being able to set the folder type for a whole tree. For now, that can only be done by using the Windows 10 Explorer, as I previously described.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  3. Les Ferch 10,326 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-10-01T16:09:30+00:00

    Yes, you are correct. It's a bug in the Windows 11 Explorer.

    The original release of Windows 11 was fine, in regards to setting folder type. The bug was introduced with one of the earlier updates to Explorer (well over a year ago) and is still not fixed in the 23H2 pre-release I have tested. The forum owner here informed me that Microsoft is aware of the issue and are working on a fix, but it has yet to be mentioned in any list of known issues and, AFAIK, no date has been set for such a fix.

    As you've seen, the folders are stuck at type "General items" on USB drives (ones that do not mount as "local disk"). And you may have noticed that on a "local disk", such as drive C, the folders remain stuck at the type that Windows selects with its "automatic folder type discovery". On Windows 10, you could override that selection and choose whatever type you want for a folder and its subfolders. Windows 11 keeps rescanning the folder and resetting the folder type, which slows things down and disrespects the user's choice.

    Until Microsoft fixes this bug you can avoid the issue by using the Windows 10 Explorer that's still included in Windows 11. You can do that by opening the Control Panel and then clicking the up arrow button once or twice (depending on your Control Panel view). You can also open the old Explorer more directly by using this little OldExplorer launcher I made.

    But please note that you must exclusively use the old Explorer for your folder type choice to be respected. Once you go back to the new Explorer, the folders will return to type General items on your USB drives and whatever is automatically selected on local disks.

    To set your Windows 11 computer to use the Windows 10 Explorer permanently, you can use one of several Explorer patching tools that can be downloaded. I recommend installing StartAllBack and setting it to its "Kinda 10" mode.

    Also note that if you prefer to have all folders everywhere to have exactly the same view, regardless of contents, you can do that using my WinSetView app. You can also use it to set the default view for each folder type, but it cannot fix the bug of not being able to set the folder type for a whole tree. For now, that can only be done by using the Windows 10 Explorer, as I previously described.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-05-13T22:23:14+00:00

    Hello! My name is Cristiano. I'm an Independent Advisor. I'm glad to help you.

    To change this default setting, you'll need to do a bit of digging in your computer's settings. Here's what you need to do:

    1. Right-click on your desktop and select "New" > "Folder" to create a new folder.
    2. Once the folder has been created, right-click on it and select "Properties".
    3. In the Properties menu, select the "Customize" tab.
    4. Under the "Optimize this folder for" dropdown menu, select "General items".
    5. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes.

    That's it! From now on, any new folders you create should default to the "General items" optimization. No more manual changes needed.

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