How to change startup page on File Explorer for Windows 11

If you rather open This PC than Home on File Explorer, then this is how you do it.

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@Pureinfotech
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File Explorer Folder Options
File Explorer Folder Options / Image: Mauro Huculak
  • To change the File Explorer default page on Windows 11, open the “See more” menu, choose “Options,” select the “This PC” option, click “Apply,” and click “OK.”

UPDATED 11/22/24: On Windows 11, you can change the “Folder Options” settings on File Explorer to open the “This PC” page instead of the “Home” page. By default, the file manager app opens “Home,” which contains your pinned folder locations and recent files. However, you can change the default settings to open the “This PC” page for quicker access to your drives and network locations.

If you are comfortable using the Registry, I’m also including the steps to complete this task by modifying the “LaunchTo” DWORD (32-bit) Value.

In this guide, I’ll teach you how to start File Explorer on This PC by default on Windows 11.

Warning: Before proceeding, it’s crucial to acknowledge the risks associated with modifying the Windows Registry. Incorrect changes can lead to system instability or operational issues. Therefore, ensure you have a full system backup before making any changes. Proceed with caution and understanding.

Open File Explorer on This PC instead of Home 

To change the default start page to This PC in File Explorer, use these steps:

  1. Open File Explorer on Windows 11.

  2. Click the See more (three-dotted) drop-down menu and select Options.

    File Explorer Options

  3. Click the General tab.

  4. Select the This PC option from the “Open File Explorer to” menu.

    File Explorer startup page settings

  5. Click the Apply button.

  6. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the next time you open File Explorer, it will open on “This PC” instead of the Home page. It’s important to note you can also choose the third option, which opens up the OneDrive folder by default.

Open File Explorer on This PC instead of Home from Registry

To change the default start page to This PC in File Explorer from the Registry, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry.

  3. Browse the following path:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

  4. Right-click the LaunchTo DWORD and select the Modify option.

  5. Change the value from 2 to 1.

    Registry change LaunchTo key to This PC

  6. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, you may need to restart File Explorer or your computer to apply the changes.

If you want to perform this action from Command Prompt (admin), then run the reg add HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v LaunchTo /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f command (thanks DroniX7).

If you want to undo the changes, you can follow the same steps, but in step 5, change the value of the LaunchTo DWORD to 2.

Update November 22, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].