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Sometimes, Windows 11 might not remember the folder view settings you choose. This can be frustrating when you want your folders to always open the way you prefer. Fortunately, fixing this issue is usually straightforward.

This guide will walk you through simple steps to help save your folder view settings correctly. No advanced knowledge is needed, and each step explains why it’s necessary.

By following these instructions, you’ll be able to customize and keep your folder views without losing your preferences every time you open a folder.

Let’s get started with some quick checks before diving into the fixes.

Quick Note Before You Begin

• Make sure your Windows 11 is updated to the latest version by checking Windows Update.
• Verify that you have administrator rights on your computer. Some fixes require admin access.
• Backup important data or create a system restore point before making major changes.
• Check if the problem happens on all folders or just specific ones. This can help identify if the issue is system-wide or folder-specific.

Step 1: Customize Folder View and Apply to All Folders

This is the most common fix and usually works well. Windows allows you to set a folder’s view and apply it to all folders of the same type.

1. Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon on the taskbar or pressing Windows + E.
2. Navigate to a folder where you want to set your preferred view (such as “Documents” or “Pictures”).
3. Choose your folder view style: click the View tab on the ribbon menu and select options like Details, List, or Icons.
4. Adjust additional settings, such as sorting or column width, to your preference.
5. Click the View tab again, then select Options on the right side and choose Change folder and search options.
6. In the Folder Options window, switch to the View tab.
7. Click Apply to Folders. This sets the current folder view as the default for all folders of the same type.
8. Confirm the prompt by clicking Yes.
9. Click OK to close the window.

Why this helps: Windows uses folder templates to remember view settings. Applying your view to all folders of a type ensures consistency and saves your preferences system-wide.

Step 2: Reset Folder View Settings

If applying the view doesn’t work, your saved settings might be corrupted. Resetting folder views can help start fresh.

1. Open File Explorer and go to the View tab.
2. Click Options > Change folder and search options.
3. In the Folder Options window, go to the View tab.
4. Click the Reset Folders button to restore all folder views to default settings.
5. Confirm the prompt if it appears.
6. Click OK and try customizing your folder view again as in Step 1.

Why reset helps: Sometimes, Windows’ folder view cache gets corrupted. Resetting clears this cache and lets you save new preferences correctly.

Step 3: Delete the Folder View Cache Manually

If resetting doesn’t fix the issue, the folder view cache files might be damaged. Deleting these files forces Windows to recreate them.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type %localappdata%MicrosoftWindowsShell and press Enter.
3. Look for files named BagMRU and Bags.
4. Select these files and delete them.
5. Also, navigate to %localappdata%MicrosoftWindowsShellNoRoam and delete any similar files.
6. Restart your computer to let Windows rebuild the cache.
7. After restart, try setting your folder views again as in Step 1.

Why this matters: The BagMRU and Bags files store your folder view preferences. Removing corrupted files removes errors and lets Windows save fresh settings.

Step 4: Check Group Policy Settings (For Advanced Users and Windows Pro Editions)

Sometimes, system policies can prevent folder view settings from saving. This is more common in business or managed devices.

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
2. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.
3. Look for the setting Turn off caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files.
4. Make sure this setting is either Not configured or Disabled.
5. If you change any settings, click Apply and OK, then restart your PC.

Why check Group Policy: Some policies can restrict how Windows stores folder information. Adjusting these options allows folder views to save properly.

Alternative Method: Use Registry Editor to Reset Folder Views

If the above steps don’t work, you can reset folder view settings through the Windows Registry.

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the key: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesLocal SettingsSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsShell
3. Right-click on the BagMRU and Bags folders in the left pane and select Delete.
4. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
5. After reboot, set your folder views again as shown in Step 1.

Warning: Be careful when editing the registry. Creating a backup before making changes is highly recommended to avoid system issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why does Windows 11 not save my folder view settings?

This can happen due to corrupted folder view cache files, system policies preventing saving, or bugs in Windows updates.

Will resetting folder views delete my files?

No, resetting folder views only affects how folders are displayed. Your files and data remain safe.

Can I save folder views for individual folders?

Windows saves views per folder type (like Documents or Pictures), not for each individual folder by default.

Do I need administrator rights for these fixes?

Most steps don’t require admin rights, but deleting system cache files or editing Group Policy and Registry might.

Is there a way to backup my folder view settings?

Folder views are stored in cache files and the registry. You can export related registry keys as a backup if needed.

When Nothing Works

If you’ve tried all the above steps and folder view settings still don’t save, consider the following options:

• Run the System File Checker tool by opening Command Prompt as administrator and typing sfc /scannow to fix corrupted system files.
• Create a new user account and check if the issue persists there, which can indicate if the problem is user-profile specific.
• Visit the official Microsoft Support for additional help or updates related to Windows 11.
• Consider performing a Windows reset or reinstall if the problem severely impacts your workflow (make sure to backup data first).

Conclusion

Folder view settings not saving in Windows 11 can be fixed by following a few simple steps. Start by applying your preferred view to all folders, then try resetting folder views if needed. Deleting cache files and checking system policies can solve deeper issues.

Remember, most of these fixes are safe and don’t affect your files. Taking a careful, step-by-step approach usually resolves the problem quickly. If nothing works, official Microsoft tools and support are good next steps.

With these tips, you should be able to customize and keep your folder views exactly how you want them in Windows 11.