Set a Third-Party File Manager as Default in Windows 11

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to make a third-party file manager (like Directory Opus, One Commander, or XYplorer) open instead of File Explorer when you click folders, drives, or desktop shortcuts in Windows 11. You’ll need to edit the Windows Registry, so back up your data and follow the steps exactly. This works for most current Windows 11 versions (22H2 and later).

What You’ll Need

A third-party file manager installed on your PC. The steps assume you know its installation path (e.g., C:\Program Files\MyFileManager\fm.exe).
Administrator access to your Windows account.
A registry editor (Regedit is built-in).
Optional but recommended: a system restore point before making changes.

Step-by-Step

Find the exact path to your file manager. Right-click its shortcut, select “Properties”, and copy the “Target” path. Note whether it’s a 32-bit or 64-bit program (usually in the folder name or the program’s About page).
Open Registry Editor. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click “Yes” if prompted by User Account Control.
Back up the registry. In Regedit, click “File” > “Export”, choose “All” under Export range, name it (e.g., backup-before-fm-change.reg), and save it somewhere safe. This is your undo button.
Navigate to the Explorer key. In the left sidebar, go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell

Create a new subkey. Right-click on shell, choose “New” > “Key”, and name it openwithFM (or any name you like).
Set the command. Right-click the new openwithFM key, choose “New” > “Key”, and name it command. Then, in the right pane, double-click the “(Default)” value and enter the full path to your file manager, followed by "%1" (with quotes). For example:

"C:\Program Files\MyFileManager\fm.exe" "%1"

If your file manager is 32-bit and Windows is 64-bit, you may need to use the SysWOW64 path or a special registry view – see Troubleshooting.

Set the default verb. Still on the openwithFM key, in the right pane, right-click and choose “New” > “String Value”. Name it MUIVerb and set its value to the name you want to see in the context menu (e.g., “Open with My FM”). This step is optional but helps if you want to right-click and choose it manually.
Make it the default. On the same openwithFM key, add another String Value named Extended and leave it empty. This is not required for all file managers, but it ensures the command appears in the right-click menu. To actually make it the default, you need to change the default value of the Folder key itself. Navigate to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder

In the right pane, double-click the “(Default)” value and change it from explorer.exe to openwithFM. Click OK.

Also update the drive and directory keys. Repeat steps 4–8 for HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell (create the same subkeys and set the default of the parent Drive and Directory keys to openwithFM). This covers drives and folders.
Test it. Close Regedit and open any folder (e.g., This PC). It should open in your file manager. If not, reboot and try again.

Common Mistakes

Wrong path or missing quotes. The command must be in quotes, and the path must be exact. A single typo breaks it.
Forgetting the %1 argument. Without it, the file manager won’t receive the folder path, so it may open a blank window.
Editing the wrong registry hive. Use HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (HKCR), not HKEY_CURRENT_USER or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Not covering all keys. If you only change Folder, drives won’t open in the third-party manager. You need to update Drive and Directory as well.
Skipping the backup. One wrong edit can make folders unopenable. Always export a backup.

Tips

Use the file manager’s own setting. Many third-party file managers (like One Commander) have a built-in “Set as default” option. Check the settings first – it’s safer than manual registry edits.
Test with a restore point. Create a system restore point before editing the registry. If something goes wrong, you can roll back.
Keep the original command. You can create a second subkey like openwithExplorer that points to explorer.exe so you can switch back easily.
Use a portable version. If your file manager is portable, the path may be on a different drive – make sure that drive is always connected.

Troubleshooting

Folders still open in File Explorer. Check that you changed the default value of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder (and Drive, Directory) to openwithFM. Also, ensure the command value has the correct path and includes "%1".
Error “Class not registered” or “Operation failed”. This usually means the command path is wrong or the file manager is 32-bit. For 32-bit file managers on 64-bit Windows, you may need to use the WOW6432Node registry view. In Regedit, navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\Folder\shell and repeat the steps there. Alternatively, install the 64-bit version of the file manager.
The context menu doesn’t show your file manager. Make sure you added the MUIVerb value. If you want to force it, you can also add a DWORD value named CommandStateHandler with value 0 (but this is rarely needed).
Changes don’t take effect without reboot. Restart Windows Explorer: open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find “Windows Explorer”, right-click, and select “Restart”.
You want to revert to File Explorer. Double-click your backup .reg file and confirm, or manually change the default values of Folder, Drive, and Directory back to explorer.exe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to change the default file manager?

Yes, if you follow the steps and back up the registry. The worst case is folders stop opening, which you can fix by restoring the backup.

Why doesn’t my file manager have a “Set as default” option?

Only some file managers include that feature. For others, you must use the registry method described above.

Will this affect the desktop or taskbar?

No, only folder and drive openings are affected. The desktop and taskbar still use Windows shell components.

Can I use this method for any file manager?

Yes, as long as it accepts a folder path as a command-line argument. Most do, but check the documentation.

What if I want to open certain folders with File Explorer and others with the third-party manager?

You can’t do that easily with this method. Instead, use the file manager’s own “Open with” context menu or create a custom right-click entry for specific folders.

Does this work on Windows 10?

Yes, the same registry keys exist in Windows 10, so the steps are identical.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.