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Custom "Folder Types"

Anonymous
2023-08-20T05:48:52+00:00

In windows 10, there are 5 built-in folder types defined for folder templates. I would like to create additional types of my own, but have run into the frustration that there simply does not seem to be away to do that within windows. The list of available folder types, seems to be hard-coded and the only viable solution I have found offered in my search is to use a 3rd party file manger (explorer) replacement.

Question 1: Am I correct or have I missed something?

Question 2: I am assuming that this is the same for windows 11. If so, is Microsoft considering adding this ability anytime soon?

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

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  1. Les Ferch 10,326 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-08-21T02:02:26+00:00

    Custom folder types can be created in the registry. That's the easy part. The difficult part is applying a custom folder type to an individual folder or an entire folder tree. There's no way to add a custom folder type to the list of 5 types that are available under "Customize". Currently, it would require a complex custom Explorer extension to achieve the desired result. It's something I may try to program some day (if Microsoft doesn't build in such a feature), but I'm making no promises, as my investigations so far have shown that it's a significant challenge.

    Microsoft has not made any announcements in regards to adding any custom folder type capability and I wouldn't hold my breath. The Windows 11 File Explorer has actually regressed, in regards to folder type features, from Windows 10. IMO, Microsoft should focus on those bug fixes first, but their priorities are a mystery to me. Explorer also needs some other basic features like a simple checkbox to turn off automatic folder type discovery, an option to manually "rediscover" the folder type for a single folder or an entire tree, improved sort ordering (e.g. option to ignore extensions when sorting), etc. And, not least of all, proper support for long paths (i.e. >260 Characters).

    Some third party file managers, such asDirectory Opus, do many things better than Explorer, so that's an option to consider in the meantime.

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  2. DaveM121 871.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-08-20T06:46:46+00:00

    Hi Daniel,

    I am Dave, I will help you with this.

    You are correct, there is no native setting, method or even a known registry hack to create a custom folder type in Windows, they never implemented that in any version of Windows, including Windows 10/11.

    The best option may be to open the Feedback Hub (Windows Key + F) and suggest to the developers they add this as an option to File Explorer.

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