Set Default Folder File Explorer? How to Change It

To set a default folder for File Explorer in Windows, you change the shortcut’s “Target” field so that Explorer opens directly to the folder you choose. This works for the taskbar icon, the Start menu shortcut, and the desktop shortcut. The built-in “General” folder options only let you choose between Home and This PC, so for any other folder you need to edit the shortcut properties.

Formula

Pace (min/km) = Finish time (minutes) ÷ Distance (km). Speed (km/h) = Distance (km) ÷ (Finish time (minutes) ÷ 60).

• t = finish time in minutes (e.g., 50 min)
• d = distance in kilometers (e.g., 10 km)
• pace = minutes per kilometer, the time it takes to cover one kilometer
• speed = kilometers per hour, the average speed over the whole distance

Worked Example

Using the default values: t = 50 min, d = 10 km.

Pace = 50 ÷ 10 = 5.00 min/km. Speed = 10 ÷ (50 ÷ 60) = 10 ÷ 0.8333 = 12.00 km/h.

So a 50-minute 10K means an average pace of 5 minutes per kilometer and an average speed of 12 kilometers per hour.

Why Set a Default Folder?

Most people open File Explorer dozens of times a day. If you always start in the same project folder, a downloads folder, or a network drive, skipping the extra clicks saves time. Windows 11 and Windows 10 both let you choose between “Home” (the new start page with Quick Access and recent files) and “This PC” (the classic view with drives and folders), but neither option is a custom folder. To make Explorer open straight to a folder like D:\Projects or C:\Users\Name\Documents, you have to modify the shortcut that launches it.

How to Change the Shortcut Target

The method is the same for the taskbar icon, the Start menu tile, and a desktop shortcut. You are editing the command that Windows runs when you click the icon.

1. Right-click the File Explorer icon (taskbar, Start menu, or desktop).
2. If it’s on the taskbar, right-click again on “File Explorer” in the small menu that appears, then choose Properties. For Start menu, right-click and go to More → Open file location, then right-click the shortcut and choose Properties.
3. In the Shortcut tab, find the Target field. It currently reads: %windir%\explorer.exe
4. Change it to: explorer.exe /n,/e,"D:\YourFolder" (replace the path with your own).
5. Click OK. If prompted for administrator permission, confirm.

Now clicking that icon will open File Explorer directly to the folder you specified. The /n flag opens a new window, /e tells Explorer to show the folder tree, and the quoted path is the target folder. Keep the quotes if the path contains spaces.

What About the Default “This PC” or “Home”?

Windows 11’s File Explorer options (Folder Options → General → Open File Explorer to) only offer two choices: Home and This PC. Home shows Quick Access, recent files, and pinned folders. This PC shows drives and system folders. If you want one of those two, you don’t need to edit shortcuts—just pick it in the settings. But for any other folder, the shortcut method is the only built-in way. There is no hidden registry key that sets a custom default folder for all Explorer windows.

Common Problems and Fixes

• Shortcut reverts after update: Windows updates sometimes reset the taskbar shortcut. Reapply the target change.
• Folder doesn’t open: Make sure the path exists and is spelled correctly. Use quotes around paths with spaces.
• Explorer opens to Quick Access anyway: If you used explorer.exe "D:\Folder" without flags, Windows may ignore the path in some versions. Use the full /n,/e, syntax.
• Administrator permission needed: If the target folder is protected, run Explorer as administrator (right-click → Run as administrator).

Alternatives to Changing the Default

Instead of changing the default folder, you can pin folders to Quick Access in File Explorer. Right-click a folder and choose Pin to Quick Access. Then even if Explorer opens to Home, your important folders are one click away. Another option is to create a desktop shortcut that opens directly to a folder (right-click → New → Shortcut → type the path). That gives you a dedicated icon without affecting the main Explorer icon.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set File Explorer to open to This PC in Windows 11?

Open File Explorer, click the three-dots menu (or the ellipsis) in the toolbar, choose Options, then under General find “Open File Explorer to” and select This PC. Click OK. This only works for Home vs This PC, not for a custom folder.

Can I set a network drive as the default folder?

Yes. Use the same shortcut target method with the network path, for example: explorer.exe /n,/e,"\\Server\Share". Make sure the drive is accessible when you start Explorer, otherwise you’ll get an error.

Why does my File Explorer open to OneDrive?

That usually happens because OneDrive is set as the default folder in the shortcut target, or because the Quick Access section is showing OneDrive folders prominently. Check the shortcut properties and change the target to %windir%\explorer.exe to revert to the default.

Does changing the target affect the actual File Explorer process?

No. The shortcut only changes what command is run when you click that icon. The underlying Explorer process (explorer.exe) is unchanged. Other programs that open file dialogs still use the standard behavior.

Can I have multiple File Explorer icons with different default folders?

Yes. Create multiple desktop shortcuts, each with a different target path. For example, one opens to Documents, another to Downloads. The taskbar icon can only have one target, but you can pin several shortcuts to the taskbar by dragging them there.

Related

• How to Set Time Limits on Nintendo Switch
• Adopt Me Get Free Pets? Truth & Ways to Earn
• OnePlus Realme Android File Transfer Alliance Explained

in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2