Bring Back the Good Old Days: Getting Windows 10 File Explorer on Windows 11
So, you’ve taken the plunge into Windows 11 and are faced with a File Explorer that feels like a beginner’s art project gone wrong? Yeah, that’s the vibe a lot of people are getting. Don’t worry though—those who miss the simplicity and functionality of the Windows 10 look can actually revert it back with a little registry magic. Just a heads-up, diving into the registry isn’t exactly for the faint of heart. Backup everything, because breaking stuff here isn’t a fun game.
Diving into the Registry Editor
To start this little adventure, get into your Registry Editor. This is like the hidden heart of Windows, where all the cool (and terrifying) stuff lives. Simply hit Win + R to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and smash Enter. You might get a prompt asking if you *actually* want to open this—click Yes and brace yourself. Just don’t start clicking around aimlessly; you’re here to change things, not to explore for treasure.
Hunting Down the Right Path
Now comes the fun part: navigating to the right part of the registry. You’re going to want to find this path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked
Not seeing it right away? No worries. You can either click through the left panel like a treasure map or just paste it directly by going to the Go menu, hitting Jump to, and pasting that whole path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked
Sometimes, you might need to poke around in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer or other related sections, depending on what’s being tweaked. Just keep an eye on what you’re doing.
Making the Change: Create a New String Value
Alright, here’s where the magic happens. Right-click in the right pane and choose New → String Value. This string is your ticket to nostalgia town. Name it exactly as follows:
{e2bf9676-5f8f-435c-97eb-11607a5bedf7}
In some tutorials, you might see instructions about setting this value to 1 or thinking about deleting it later. Normally, just having this string is what tells Windows to give you that classic look. After creating it, double-click on that string and set its data value to 1. Easy as pie… sort of.
Making It All Happen – Restarting Explorer
To actually see the changes, you’ll need to restart Windows Explorer. No need to reboot your entire system unless you want to go that route. Open Task Manager by hitting Ctrl + Shift + Esc, find Windows Explorer under Processes, right-click, and hit Restart.
If you’re feeling bold, there’s a command line way to do it too. Just type this bad boy in:
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer.exe
This command stops Explorer and kicks it back into gear, applying all your registry tweaks in a snap.
Did it Work? Confirm the Classic Look
Open up your File Explorer again and behold… if the stars aligned, you should see that glorious Windows 10 interface back in action. Most users report seeing the classic navigation pane and that old-fashioned toolbar that made everything easy to find. But if it doesn’t look right, double-check the registry values and consider checking out some community forums for help.
The beauty of this method is you can switch back and forth if you want. So if Windows 11 starts to feel a bit too sleek for your taste, just delete the string you made and restart Explorer, and you’re back to the way things were. Super handy, really.
Tips for Registry Safety
- Always back up before you make any changes—go to File > Export in the Registry Editor to keep a backup handy.
- Creating a system restore point beforehand is also a smart move: Settings > System > About > System protection (click Create).
- Be careful navigating through the registry—it’s easy to get curious and click around, but one wrong turn can lead to cascading errors.
- If you’re familiar with the command line, you can automate toggling the registry key with
reg addorreg deletewhen you feel adventurous.
Common Queries About This Tweak
Can I easily switch back?
Yep, just delete that registry string ({e2bf9676-5f8f-435c-97eb-11607a5bedf7}) and restart Explorer or reboot your PC to bring back the Windows 11 version.
Is messing with the registry safe?
Generally, yes, if you follow the instructions carefully and have that backup. Just steer clear of changing random stuff without knowing the effects.
How do I fix it if I screw up?
You can go back to your backup or use System Restore:
Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7) > Recover system settings or your computer.
Will this tweak slow down my system?
Not at all—tinkering with the File Explorer’s look won’t eat up any extra resources.
What about future updates? Will they mess with this?
Most likely, yes. Major Windows updates can overwrite your custom registry settings. Keep that backup handy and don’t forget about reapplying it afterward.
Switching back to Windows 10 File Explorer is just a couple of registry tweaks away. Sure, it takes a bit of courage (and a bit of patience) but once you’re there, it feels like home again. Just remember to back up anything you mess with and enjoy the nostalgia!