Windows – Change starting location of Explorer from Windows-E

windowswindows-explorer

How do I change which folder/location Windows Explorer opens to when I run it by pressing Windows-E? I'd like for it to open in My Documents instead of at the root of Computer.

I've found references for explorer.exe command line options, but I don't know how to apply those options to Windows-E.

Best Answer

It's a change in the Windows registry:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\command

change the value to (example):

%SystemRoot%\Explorer.exe /separate,/e,C:\Program Files

You can use "%HOMEPATH%\My Documents" for your home path ("My documents").

Be careful when you change registry entries!

Here are some other options for explorer.exe:

Explorer.exe Command-Line Options for Windows XP

/n                Opens a new single-pane window for the default
                  selection. This is usually the root of the drive that
                  Windows is installed on. If the window is already
                  open, a duplicate opens.

/e                Opens Windows Explorer in its default view.

/root, <object>   Opens a window view of the specified object.

/select, <object> Opens a window view with the specified folder, file,
                  or program selected.
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