WinSetView
This is the quick start guide. For more details, please see the complete user manual.
WinGet: winget install winsetview
Globally Set Explorer Folder Views
Compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. Click here for system requirements.
Summary
WinSetView provides an easy way to set Windows File Explorer default folder views. For example, if you want Details view, with a particular selection of column headings enabled across all folders, then WinSetView will do that for you.
For more details, please see the extended summary.
How to Download and Run
Portable Install Using Zip File (Recommended)
WinSetView is a portable app, allowing it to be run from anywhere, such as flash drive, for easy configuration of new users/computers. The settings remain with the app itself, as long as it’s placed in a location where you have full write access. If it’s placed in a restricted folder, such as C:\Program Files (x86), the settings will automatically get written to your %AppData% folder, which is fine, but then it’s not as portable.
- Download the zip file using the link above.
- Extract the entire zip file.
- Right-click WinSetView.exe, select Properties, check Unblock, and click OK.
- Run WinSetView.exe.
- If you skipped step 3, then, in the SmartScreen window, click More info and then Run anyway.
Note: If your security software blocks the download or the app does not launch or you wish to read more about SmartScreen prompts, please see: Download Help Guide
Updating a Portable Install Using Zip File
- Follow the steps above to download and unzip the files.
- Ensure that WinSetView is not currently running.
- Drag the new files over the old files, allowing them to be replaced. Your settings will not be overwritten because the package does not contain an AppData folder.
Install Using Setup Program
You may also install WinSetView, so that it appears in your list of installed apps, by using the installer, WinSetView-Setup.exe, found on the Releases page (and linked to above). This option requires administrator access. The portable install can be done by any user.
How to Use
Simple step by step instructions follow.
Caution: If you are trying to change one thing, and leave everything else as is, please click here to learn more.
Note: Nothing in Windows is changed, and no settings are saved, until the Submit button is pressed. Feel free to experiment with the WinSetView interface and just X out and restart the app to get back to where you started. Display options such as font, font size, and theme are saved to the INI file and are therefore only saved when you click Submit. Only the WinSetView window size and position are saved automatically when you click X to exit the app.
Note: For best results, close all open applications before running WinSetView. Open applications can prevent open/save dialog views from being updated. Apps that minimize to the System Tray when “closed”, such as Discord, Steam, and qBittorrent, must be fully closed (e.g. right-click the app’s System Tray icon and select Exit).
Note: Clicking OK, in the Submit dialog, will apply the registry setting changes and restart Explorer. Do not click OK when Explorer is busy copying/moving/deleting files.
For complete details, please see the manual.
Step 1: Select Your Interface Language (Optional)
WinSetView should open in the same language to which you have Windows set. If not, select the correct language from the drop down menu.
Step 2: Select Your Preferred Default View
Select the default view you want applied to most (or all) folders from the drop down menu under the Global heading. Most users go with Details, but pick what you like as your default.
Note: If you choose one of the icons options, a number will appear next to the drop down menu indicating the icon size. You can manually type in a custom size, such as 72, which would give you icons half-way between medium and large.
Step 3: Select Your Preferred Default Column Headings (Optional)
If you are happy with the default Details-view column headings (as shown on screen) then skip this step.
Note: Column headings shown in blue are only displayed in search results (by default). It is, therefore, recommended to keep the Folder path (File location in Windows 11) column heading.
Otherwise, click the Columns button to bring up the column headings selection page.
The column headings selection page allows you to select your desired column headings (and their order), group-by options, sort options, and column widths. The manual provides full details, but you can also hover over or click on elements to see how the interface works.
Step 4: Set Views for Specific Folder Types (Optional)
Please note that WinSetView allows you to set the default view for every folder type in Windows, but, by default, they will all get the same settings as your Global settings, as long as the Inherit box is checked.
For any folder type (e.g. Pictures) that you wish to have a different default view than your global setting, just scroll down to that particular folder type, uncheck the Inherit box, and repeat steps 2 and 3 for that folder type.
Note: You don’t have to set the other similar folder types separately. For example, Pictures Library will use the same settings as Pictures as long as Inherit is checked for Pictures Library.
Note: If you uncheck a folder type, then that folder type will display with its Windows default view settings (i.e. the view you would get for a new user account).
Step 5: Check and Set Your Desired Options (REQUIRED!)
Click The Folder View Options button.
The folder view options are applied together with the folder views on the main page. The default settings match Windows defaults. See the manual for full details.
Click The Explorer Options button.
The Explorer options are optional. You can choose to apply or exclude them when Submit is clicked. Click the 🔍 button to detect your current settings. See the manual for full details.
Note: Options with a shield icon require Administrative access. A UAC prompt will not appear at this point, but will appear for such options later when the changes are applied.
Step 7: Apply the Selections to Windows File Explorer
Once you’re happy with your selections, click the Submit button. This will pop up a dalog where you can choose to Clear folder views and set new defaults and/or Reset Explorer options. Note that a backup of your current folder views will be made if Backup is checked.
You can always run WinSetView again to change any settings and you can revert back to a previous state using the Restore button. You also have the option of setting File Explorer back to Windows defaults by checking Reset Views to Windows Defaults and then clicking Submit.
IMPORTANT: Reset Views to Windows Defaults only resets folder views. It does not revert the options listed in Explorer options. The Restore function will revert your folder views to what they were in the slected backup file and it will revert most of the Explorer options. Either way, it’s recommended to carefully review the settings in Explorer options if you choose to apply them.