Change the default view setting for Explorer in Windows 8.1

In the folder with the view you want,

  • Go to the View tab of the ribbon
  • Click the Options button on the right hand side of the ribbon
  • Select the View tab
  • Click the Apply to Folders button.

If the Apply to Folders button is greyed out it could be that the view is currently in one of the following folders that can't have its view applied to all folders. Computer, Favorites or library folders.