How to Disable Folder Type Discovery in Windows 11 File Explorer
Windows 11 automatically organizes folders based on their contents using a feature called Folder Type Discovery. While this is designed to make file browsing more intuitive, it can sometimes lead to slower performance, especially when navigating large directories or network drives.
This guide explains what Folder Type Discovery does, why you might want to disable it, and how to safely modify the Windows Registry to turn it off. It also includes performance tips, PowerShell automation, and important safety precautions based on Windows configuration best practices.
🧭 What Is Folder Type Discovery?
Folder Type Discovery allows File Explorer to analyze the contents of a folder and automatically apply a view layout that matches the file type. Windows uses this feature to optimize how folders display items like documents, pictures, or videos.
Windows assigns folders one of five templates:
- General Items – Default layout for mixed content folders
- Documents – For folders with mainly text, PDFs, and Word files
- Pictures – For image-heavy folders (.jpg, .png, .bmp)
- Music – For audio files (.mp3, .wav, .flac)
- Videos – For media files (.mp4, .mkv, .avi)
While convenient, this process involves background file scanning every time you open a folder. On systems with large or complex directories—especially on network shares or slower drives—this can result in noticeable lag.
⚙️ Why Disable Folder Type Discovery?
Disabling Folder Type Discovery can improve File Explorer’s consistency and responsiveness by preventing automatic re-optimization. Here’s when it helps most:
- Performance: Reduces folder load times for directories containing thousands of mixed files.
- Consistency: Prevents folders from switching layouts (e.g., “Pictures” to “Details”) unexpectedly.
- Stability: Minimizes Shell Bag (folder view cache) growth in the registry, which can slow down File Explorer over time.
💡 Note: This change applies per user account. To apply it for all users, you’ll need to repeat the steps under each profile.
⚠️ Safety First: Back Up Before Editing the Registry
Modifying the Windows Registry can affect system behavior. Always back up your registry or create a System Restore Point before making changes.
To create a restore point:
- Open Start and search for “Create a restore point.”
- Click Create under the System Protection tab.
- Name the restore point and confirm.
🧰 How to Disable Folder Type Discovery in Windows 11
Step 1: Open Registry Editor
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
regeditand press Enter. - If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes.
Step 2: Navigate to the Folder Settings Key
Go to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell
If the Shell folder doesn’t exist, right-click AllFolders, select New → Key, and name it Shell.
Step 3: Create a New String Value
- Right-click in the right-hand pane.
- Select New → String Value.
- Name it:
FolderType
Step 4: Set the Value
- Double-click FolderType.
- Enter:
NotSpecified - Click OK to save.
Step 5: Restart Explorer
To apply the change:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and choose Restart.
Alternatively, restart your PC.
🔄 How to Re-enable Folder Type Discovery
To restore the original automatic behavior:
- Return to the same registry location.
- Right-click the FolderType string and select Delete.
- Restart File Explorer or reboot your system.
Windows will resume automatically assigning templates to folders based on their contents.
🧩 What Changes After Disabling
- All folders default to the General Items layout.
- Windows will no longer auto-detect file types or change views automatically.
- You can still manually customize any folder view through:
Right-click → Properties → Customize → Optimize this folder for.
🔎 Technical note:
This change sets a global default for all folders. However, Windows may still use previously cached “Shell Bag” settings for folders you’ve customized earlier. To completely reset view caching, you can clear Shell Bag data.
💻 Optional: Use PowerShell to Automate
Advanced users and IT administrators can create or edit this registry value using PowerShell:
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell" -Name "FolderType" -Value "NotSpecified" -PropertyType String -Force
To re-enable Folder Type Discovery, run:
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell" -Name "FolderType"
This method ensures consistent deployment across user profiles or during system provisioning.
🚀 Additional File Explorer Performance Tips
If you’re disabling Folder Type Discovery to make File Explorer faster, consider applying these complementary optimizations:
1. Clear the Shell Bag and Icon Cache
Older view settings can slow down File Explorer. Use this PowerShell command:
Remove-Item -Path "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" -Recurse -Force
Remove-Item -Path "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" -Recurse -Force
Then restart Windows Explorer.
2. Turn Off Quick Access History
- Open File Explorer Options.
- Under Privacy, uncheck:
- Show recently used files in Quick Access
- Show frequently used folders in Quick Access
3. Disable Thumbnail Previews
For large directories, switch to icon mode only:
- Open Control Panel → File Explorer Options → View.
- Check Always show icons, never thumbnails.
4. Use the “Details” View Mode
The “Details” layout loads faster and is ideal for folders with many files.
📊 Summary Table
| Setting | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Folder Type Discovery | Disabled via Registry (FolderType=NotSpecified) | Stops automatic layout changes |
| Scope | Per user | Must repeat for each account |
| Performance | May improve folder loading speed | Reduces background scanning |
| Customization | Manual only | Can still apply templates manually |
| Re-enable | Delete FolderType key | Restores automatic discovery |
🧠 Advanced Explanation: How It Works
Windows stores folder view settings in a hidden registry area called Shell Bags, which track individual folder preferences (icons, sort order, columns, etc.). When Folder Type Discovery is active, these bags grow over time, consuming space and occasionally causing view lag.
By setting FolderType=NotSpecified, you define a global default template. This prevents Windows from reclassifying folders dynamically and stops new Shell Bag entries from accumulating unnecessarily.
📘 References and Further Reading
- Microsoft Learn: Registry Editor for Advanced Users
- Microsoft Learn: Folder View Settings (Shell Bags)
🏁 Final Thoughts
Disabling Folder Type Discovery offers a practical way to make File Explorer more consistent and sometimes faster on Windows 11. While this tweak isn’t officially supported through the GUI, editing the registry gives you full control over how Windows applies folder templates.
This setting is particularly useful for IT administrators, content creators, or power users who manage large or mixed-content directories and prefer performance stability over dynamic organization.
⚠️ Always back up your registry and test changes before deploying them widely in managed environments.
