Quick fix: Open File Explorer, click the three-dot menu in the toolbar → Options. On the General tab, set Open File Explorer to: to This PC instead of Home. Click OK. Every new File Explorer window now opens at This PC.
Windows 11’s default File Explorer launch view is Home — the OneDrive-integrated, Recent files-heavy landing page. Many users prefer the traditional This PC view with drive letters and standard library folders. The setting exists but isn’t obvious from the new UI.
Affects: Windows 11 (any edition).
Fix time: 2 minutes.
What Home view is and why some users dislike it
Home view aggregates: Quick Access pinned folders, Frequent folders, Recent files, OneDrive suggestions, and offline-available items. It’s designed for “what was I working on” workflows. For users who think in terms of drives and folders (developers, IT admins), This PC’s drive-letter view is more productive.
Method 1: Change the default startup folder
- Open File Explorer.
- Click the three-dot menu (toolbar, near top right).
- Click Options. The Folder Options dialog opens.
- On the General tab, find Open File Explorer to: dropdown.
- Change from Home to This PC.
- Click OK.
- Open a new File Explorer window. Lands on This PC.
Method 2: Set the same via registry
- Open regedit.
- Navigate to
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced. - Set LaunchTo =
1(1 = This PC, 2 = Quick Access, 3 = Home in newer builds). - Restart Explorer (taskkill/start) to apply.
Method 3: Group Policy for fleet deployment
- Open
gpedit.msc. - Navigate to User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → File Explorer.
- Find Configure default File Explorer view. Set to Enabled, choose This PC.
- Run
gpupdate /force.
How to verify the fix worked
- Close all File Explorer windows.
- Press Win+E. The new window opens at This PC.
- The left sidebar shows This PC expanded with drives visible.
If none of these work
If the setting doesn’t persist after a Windows feature update, re-apply via Method 1. For chronic resets, use Method 3 GPO or a logon script that sets the registry value at each sign-in.
Bottom line: One dropdown setting changes the default. This PC view is the classic experience; the setting just isn’t advertised in the new UI.