How to reset folder view settings on File Explorer for Windows 11 and 10

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On Windows 11 and 10, File Explorer includes five different templates to customize the view of folders, including "General items" (the default for every new folder), "Documents," "Pictures," "Music," and "Videos." Each template provides a unique layout with icons and specific sorting and grouping depending on the folder's content type.

For instance, the "Pictures" template view offers a layout with large icons, while the "Music" view applies the details layout, which offers a list view sorting by track number, title, artist, and additional information.

You can use any template for a particular folder to customize your viewing experience further. However, if you made many changes to the folders, you can always reset the view to its original settings with the "Folders options" settings.

In this how-to guide, I will walk you through the easy steps to reset (or change) the folder view settings on File Explorer.

How to reset folder view settings on File Explorer for Windows 11

To restore the default settings for folders on File Explorer, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click the See more menu.
3. Click on Options.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. Click the View tab.
5. Click the "Reset Folders" button to reset similar folder types.
6. Click the Yes button.
7. Click the "Apply to Folders" to reset the settings for all folder types.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

8. Click the Yes button.
9. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the view for your folders will reset to the system default template.

Change folder view template

To change the folder view template, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Open the folder location.
3. Right-click the folder and choose the Properties option.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. Click the Customize tab.
5. Choose the correct folder template:

• General items.
• Documents.
• Pictures.
• Music.
• Videos.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

1. (Optional) Check the "Also apply this template to all subfolders" option.
2. Click the Apply button.
3. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the view will be optimized for the content type you specified for the folder.

How to reset folder view settings on File Explorer for Windows 10

To restore the original settings for a particular folder in File Explorer, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on the View tab.
3. Click on the Options button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. Click on the View tab.
5. Click the Reset Folders button.
6. Click the "Reset Folders" button to reset similar folder types.
7. Click the Yes button.
8. Click the "Apply to Folders" to reset the settings for all folder types.
9. Click the Yes button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

6. Click the Yes button.
7. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the folder will reset to the default template settings.

Change folder view template

If you're using the wrong folder view template, use these steps to switch templates:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Browse to the location of the folder that you want to customize.
3. Right-click the folder and select the Properties option.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

1. Click the Customize tab.
2. Use the "Optimize this folder for" drop-down menu and select the correct folder view template:

• General items.
• Documents.
• Pictures.
• Music.
• Videos.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

6. (Optional) Check the "Also apply this template to all subfolders" option.
7. Click the Apply button.
8. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, File Explorer will apply the view template to the folder.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources: 

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know