Where Does Windows Store Folder View Settings?
Explorer folder views live in ShellBags registry keys, readable with ShellBagsView and cleared by deleting the keys.
Last updated
Windows remembers every folder's view, size and position in registry keys called ShellBags. Thousands accumulate over years, including folders long deleted, which makes them a forensic favorite.
There is no file to copy. The data lives under HKCU software classes for bags and bag MRU lists. Deleting those keys resets all folder views to defaults, and NirSoft's ShellBagsView reads them without regedit diving.
Where Windows stores this, by platform
HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags
Folder view data with BagMRU beside it mapping the hierarchy. Export the keys as backup before deleting. ShellBagsView displays them readably.
Frequently asked questions
how do i reset all folder views in windows
Delete the Bags and BagMRU registry keys under the Shell path with Explorer closed. Every folder reverts to the default view on next open.
can shellbags show deleted folders
Yes. Entries persist after their folders vanish, recording names and timestamps. Forensics tools reconstruct browsed paths from them long after deletion.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.