Windows Explorer Folder View Settings - TopViews
I would like to customize the folder views on my Windows machine.
I found the below registry keys, and I've set their LogicalViewMode value to details, their columnlists, etc.
I had to use psexec because these keys are locked.
However, after making these settings
(1) folders are still not in details view,
(2) typing in the start menu does not start a search.
So, I would like to understand what exactly a 'TopView' is, why is there more than 80 of them and what each of these does, because their name does not really help.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\xxx\TopViews\yyy]
+--------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+----------------------------+-----------+
FolderType (xxx) TopView (yyy) FolderType CanonicalName TopView Name
+--------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+----------------------------+-----------+
{5c4f28b5-f869-4e84-8e60-f11db97c5cc7} {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} Generic NoName
{5f4eab9a-6833-4f61-899d-31cf46979d49} {98d06b52-9607-453d-889c-23ad06eab0d0} Generic.Library Date modified
{5f4eab9a-6833-4f61-899d-31cf46979d49} {82ba0782-5b7a-4569-b5d7-ec83085f08cc} Generic.Library Folder
{5f4eab9a-6833-4f61-899d-31cf46979d49} {77f0bfb4-6aa3-440b-9f6d-1c147467806d} Generic.Library Name
{5f4eab9a-6833-4f61-899d-31cf46979d49} {9e2efaeb-e3eb-40a6-a7c1-501242f9b243} Generic.Library Tag
{5f4eab9a-6833-4f61-899d-31cf46979d49} {92d203dc-8565-4902-b92c-eaaa54d7364a} Generic.Library Type
{7fde1a1e-8b31-49a5-93b8-6be14cfa4943} {4804caf0-de08-42ec-b811-52350e94c01e} Generic.SearchResults Date modified
{7fde1a1e-8b31-49a5-93b8-6be14cfa4943} {bdbe736f-34f5-4829-abe8-b550e65146c4} Generic.SearchResults Top results
{7d49d726-3c21-4f05-99aa-fdc2c9474656} {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} Documents NoName
{fbb3477e-c9e4-4b3b-a2ba-d3f5d3cd46f9} {9b371a56-c568-4c17-a8ca-ed0422c8bd20} Documents.Library Author
{fbb3477e-c9e4-4b3b-a2ba-d3f5d3cd46f9} {c274421b-f691-4c1f-ae01-a21b4e8a9995} Documents.Library Date modified
{fbb3477e-c9e4-4b3b-a2ba-d3f5d3cd46f9} {82ba0782-5b7a-4569-b5d7-ec83085f08cc} Documents.Library Folder
{fbb3477e-c9e4-4b3b-a2ba-d3f5d3cd46f9} {fd7f4ad8-a3d9-4073-bf95-18261841333e} Documents.Library Name
{fbb3477e-c9e4-4b3b-a2ba-d3f5d3cd46f9} {a34fce31-1399-42a7-b445-2a27e88f85f8} Documents.Library Tag
{fbb3477e-c9e4-4b3b-a2ba-d3f5d3cd46f9} {15a6ae7b-c972-47b3-a24a-06e592a3a2a5} Documents.Library Type
{36011842-dccc-40fe-aa3d-6177ea401788} {bd6ab8cf-c0fd-4d50-bc73-7aad9b067958} Documents.SearchResults Author
{36011842-dccc-40fe-aa3d-6177ea401788} {4804caf0-de08-42ec-b811-52350e94c01e} Documents.SearchResults Date modified
{36011842-dccc-40fe-aa3d-6177ea401788} {724cded7-242e-425c-b660-86af28ba1567} Documents.SearchResults Tag
{36011842-dccc-40fe-aa3d-6177ea401788} {424c81ab-7a7b-4fc1-a848-ddbadc10cdf5} Documents.SearchResults Top results
{36011842-dccc-40fe-aa3d-6177ea401788} {bb69f21e-3e71-466e-b8ec-db1a35410985} Documents.SearchResults Type
{b3690e58-e961-423b-b687-386ebfd83239} {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} Pictures NoName
{0b2baaeb-0042-4dca-aa4d-3ee8648d03e5} {b7e74fd5-0a6a-476a-9da6-6009c74adf8d} Pictures.Library Day
{0b2baaeb-0042-4dca-aa4d-3ee8648d03e5} {82ba0782-5b7a-4569-b5d7-ec83085f08cc} Pictures.Library Folder
{0b2baaeb-0042-4dca-aa4d-3ee8648d03e5} {e5e2e7f6-7a4b-45ce-8b40-9a8e3dd8b9a7} Pictures.Library Month
{0b2baaeb-0042-4dca-aa4d-3ee8648d03e5} {a186c41c-a75c-44fb-aef2-77a36e0ec1b3} Pictures.Library Rating
{0b2baaeb-0042-4dca-aa4d-3ee8648d03e5} {c68292a3-bfe0-40d4-82d9-327a5d156771} Pictures.Library Tag
{4dcafe13-e6a7-4c28-be02-ca8c2126280d} {4804caf0-de08-42ec-b811-52350e94c01e} Pictures.SearchResults Date modified
{4dcafe13-e6a7-4c28-be02-ca8c2126280d} {b79ae9f3-596f-4ba5-9d03-6d13a5a93244} Pictures.SearchResults Day
{4dcafe13-e6a7-4c28-be02-ca8c2126280d} {e75274f4-6fad-4b24-85b4-c88ccb4a9fbf} Pictures.SearchResults Month
{4dcafe13-e6a7-4c28-be02-ca8c2126280d} {6c8be494-3282-45a9-8459-bc99b5aadf56} Pictures.SearchResults Rating
{4dcafe13-e6a7-4c28-be02-ca8c2126280d} {7bd50379-9e59-4230-8a79-d1f0570d159b} Pictures.SearchResults Tag
{4dcafe13-e6a7-4c28-be02-ca8c2126280d} {5586158e-f4e6-409e-b47c-4d216f40b912} Pictures.SearchResults Top results
{94d6ddcc-4a68-4175-a374-bd584a510b78} {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} Music NoName
{3f2a72a7-99fa-4ddb-a5a8-c604edf61d6b} {3fa62bd1-b86d-4b21-9931-02086472c3e6} Music.Library Album
{3f2a72a7-99fa-4ddb-a5a8-c604edf61d6b} {5a07ae71-b138-4e2b-a3d8-815b2ee774e6} Music.Library Artist
{3f2a72a7-99fa-4ddb-a5a8-c604edf61d6b} {82ba0782-5b7a-4569-b5d7-ec83085f08cc} Music.Library Folder
{3f2a72a7-99fa-4ddb-a5a8-c604edf61d6b} {7c4b404e-47ef-4dcd-aee2-3a8cc3f7a493} Music.Library Genre
{3f2a72a7-99fa-4ddb-a5a8-c604edf61d6b} {e4823db9-b055-42e1-a218-3b18fd1b24cb} Music.Library Rating
{3f2a72a7-99fa-4ddb-a5a8-c604edf61d6b} {d34ade43-45bd-44ae-84b7-3bcc998826e2} Music.Library Song
{71689ac1-cc88-45d0-8a22-2943c3e7dfb3} {bd6ab8cf-c0fd-4d50-bc73-7aad9b067958} Music.SearchResults Album
{71689ac1-cc88-45d0-8a22-2943c3e7dfb3} {9df9986a-7b7b-4fb1-bdc1-e333f6eeda55} Music.SearchResults Artist
{71689ac1-cc88-45d0-8a22-2943c3e7dfb3} {4804caf0-de08-42ec-b811-52350e94c01e} Music.SearchResults Date modified
{71689ac1-cc88-45d0-8a22-2943c3e7dfb3} {1c655225-b392-4f85-b10e-961228212744} Music.SearchResults Genre
{71689ac1-cc88-45d0-8a22-2943c3e7dfb3} {86b0cc03-4a60-4705-849d-b6f6768e436f} Music.SearchResults Rating
{71689ac1-cc88-45d0-8a22-2943c3e7dfb3} {05b0d151-f1bd-4fcc-a591-c37a4f36755c} Music.SearchResults Song
{71689ac1-cc88-45d0-8a22-2943c3e7dfb3} {0167146e-5395-4c48-9048-d584eeaca4f2} Music.SearchResults Top results
{5fa96407-7e77-483c-ac93-691d05850de8} {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} Videos NoName
{631958a6-ad0f-4035-a745-28ac066dc6ed} {82ba0782-5b7a-4569-b5d7-ec83085f08cc} Videos.Library Folder
{631958a6-ad0f-4035-a745-28ac066dc6ed} {62c0c838-9084-440e-a64e-acb34d6e9c82} Videos.Library Length
{631958a6-ad0f-4035-a745-28ac066dc6ed} {83059b98-14a1-4d85-8edb-c46d915ace5a} Videos.Library Name
{631958a6-ad0f-4035-a745-28ac066dc6ed} {2c0bc161-7181-49ba-8337-10584d53d8d0} Videos.Library Type
{631958a6-ad0f-4035-a745-28ac066dc6ed} {34cbc45c-eb17-448d-ac3a-838eb3ecdcd0} Videos.Library Year
{ea25fbd7-3bf7-409e-b97f-3352240903f4} {4804caf0-de08-42ec-b811-52350e94c01e} Videos.SearchResults Date modified
{ea25fbd7-3bf7-409e-b97f-3352240903f4} {d684a962-4c84-474e-aa0b-dfd735baabbe} Videos.SearchResults Length
{ea25fbd7-3bf7-409e-b97f-3352240903f4} {dfbd6ba3-1846-438f-8675-b65a6bd9d418} Videos.SearchResults Name
{ea25fbd7-3bf7-409e-b97f-3352240903f4} {1295023a-b086-4a37-97cc-6cc75e80e020} Videos.SearchResults Top results
{ea25fbd7-3bf7-409e-b97f-3352240903f4} {669904a2-83a9-431f-9a21-8d5d9a0bfec9} Videos.SearchResults Type
{ea25fbd7-3bf7-409e-b97f-3352240903f4} {2f67e023-315f-47c6-bb85-6fd4d36f21f8} Videos.SearchResults Year
{503a4e73-1734-441a-8eab-01b3f3861156} {82373c7e-af88-4d88-a330-a310a3d543ca} Communications.SearchResults Top results
{de2b70ec-9bf7-4a93-bd3d-243f7881d492} {ac898246-2808-43c6-892a-0c752c7a99f1} Contacts NoName
{524ddb2b-2a4f-43b8-b8fe-e91ef9d8ba69} {68cea772-8984-4605-86b1-3ce41e03162c} Contacts.Library Category
{524ddb2b-2a4f-43b8-b8fe-e91ef9d8ba69} {0521fd96-0138-4e29-bf27-d7f0881560d5} Contacts.Library Folder
{524ddb2b-2a4f-43b8-b8fe-e91ef9d8ba69} {69d0dcc8-6e03-44bc-aafb-7e41dbf8aec4} Contacts.Library Name
{654a1b99-8a4b-4e7b-a4e1-46378ad77a61} {0521fd96-0138-4e29-bf27-d7f0881560d5} Contacts.LibraryFolder -
{20338b7b-531c-4aad-8011-f5b3db2123ec} {bad35059-92c4-486c-9c54-dcd37fc26a65} Contacts.SearchResults Category
{20338b7b-531c-4aad-8011-f5b3db2123ec} {9ef125c2-d179-4d37-b37d-3c52e4735abf} Contacts.SearchResults Folder
{20338b7b-531c-4aad-8011-f5b3db2123ec} {09ae3eb1-f5b3-4852-afc2-37d0a8ac6a1d} Contacts.SearchResults Name
{8faf9629-1980-46ff-8023-9dceab9c3ee3} {ba8a11b9-75b2-46d2-99db-058e9d780758} OpenSearch Top results
{B337FD00-9DD5-4635-A6D4-DA33FD102B7A} {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} OtherUsers NoName
{3D1D4EA2-1D8C-418a-BFF8-F18370157B55} {4804caf0-de08-42ec-b811-52350e94c01e} OtherUsers.SearchResults Date modified
{3D1D4EA2-1D8C-418a-BFF8-F18370157B55} {C0868EF8-40A5-46b6-85DD-94CD8F1E5C4A} OtherUsers.SearchResults Top results
{7F2F5B96-FF74-41da-AFD8-1C78A5F3AEA2} {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} PublishedItems NoName
{921C636D-9FC8-40d7-899E-0845DCD03010} {BFD2FA1A-D86A-400e-ACEC-BD81C4595BEB} PublishedItems.SearchResults Date modified
{921C636D-9FC8-40d7-899E-0845DCD03010} {9CB07032-B44E-4197-B2DE-034E5B002067} PublishedItems.SearchResults Top results
{982725ee-6f47-479e-b447-812bfa7d2e8f} {4804caf0-de08-42ec-b811-52350e94c01e} SearchConnector Date modified
{982725ee-6f47-479e-b447-812bfa7d2e8f} {38ba94a3-127b-4236-b9dc-a2440b9b92b8} SearchConnector Name
{982725ee-6f47-479e-b447-812bfa7d2e8f} {bdbe736f-34f5-4829-abe8-b550e65146c4} SearchConnector Top results
{0b0ba2e3-405f-415e-a6ee-cad625207853} {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} Searches NoName
{834d8a44-0974-4ed6-866e-f203d80b3810} {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} SearchHome NoName
{ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6} {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} StartMenu NoName
{CD0FC69B-71E2-46e5-9690-5BCD9F57AAB3} {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} UserFiles NoName
{e053a11a-dced-4515-8c4e-d51ba917517b} {4804caf0-de08-42ec-b811-52350e94c01e} UserFiles.SearchResults Date modified
{e053a11a-dced-4515-8c4e-d51ba917517b} {85243de1-37fb-482a-a7b6-b6bdea33c6b8} UserFiles.SearchResults Top results
{C4D98F09-6124-4fe0-9942-826416082DA9} {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000} UsersLibraries NoName
{59BD6DD1-5CEC-4d7e-9AD2-ECC64154418D} {4804caf0-de08-42ec-b811-52350e94c01e} UsersLibraries.SearchResults Date modified
{59BD6DD1-5CEC-4d7e-9AD2-ECC64154418D} {60EF4631-B67D-4096-99B4-81C72724B8FF} UsersLibraries.SearchResults Top results
{da3f6866-35fe-4229-821a-26553a67fc18} - Generic.LibraryFolder -
{3f98a740-839c-4af7-8c36-5badfb33d5fd} - Documents.LibraryFolder -
{c1f8339f-f312-4c97-b1c6-ecdf5910c5c0} - Pictures.LibraryFolder -
{978e0ed7-92d6-4cec-9b59-3135b9c49ccf} - Music.LibraryFolder -
{292108be-88ab-4f33-9a26-7748e62e37ad} - Videos.LibraryFolder -
{91475fe5-586b-4eba-8d75-d17434b8cdf6} - Communications -
{80213e82-bcfd-4c4f-8817-bb27601267a9} - CompressedFolder -
{0c3794f3-b545-43aa-a329-c37430c58d2a} - ControlPanelAllItems -
{de4f0660-fa10-4b8f-a494-068b20b22307} - ControlPanelCategory -
{b689b0d0-76d3-4cbb-87f7-585d0e0ce070} - Games -
{549461d3-eb58-4c80-ba29-f1204c4502c3} - Internet -
{2c7bbec6-c844-4a0a-91fa-cef6f59cfda1} - Printers -
{d674391b-52d9-4e07-834e-67c98610f39d} - Programs -
{6ef8b050-8a6a-4d79-8344-9dfb5cf391fb} - RestrictedNonIndexed -
{6D9969FF-612F-48EF-9B90-853FD82E6EC2} - Sync -
+--------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+----------------------------+-----------+
If you open a Library & right-click in the background of the folder pane, You will see the option Arrange by >
in the context menu. Those are the multiple TopViews you see for Libraries. If you execute a search from a Library, you have the same opton in the SearchResults window, and those are the multiple TopViews you see under the SearchResults FolderTypes.
The views defined here are only used if the folder doesn't have a previously saved view and if no user-defined default for the FolderType has been created via Apply to Folders
. So the most likely reason you didn't see your mods is one of those two reasons.
To clear saved views, delete the following two registry keys:
HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU
HKCU:\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags
and to clear custom defaults set by Applly to Folders
, delete this key:
HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults
A safer way to experiment with FolderTypes & TopViews is to copy the FolderTypes key to HKCU
. If you create those values, they over-ride the HKLM equivalents for the vast majority of the FolderTypes -- then you don't have the ownership/permission issues you encountered. Easist way to copy the key is:
- Export to
.reg
file - Search & Replace:
HKLM
->HKCU
- Save & merge