Registry settings for user interface settings and options under Windows 11.
On a domain these settings may be controlled via Group Policy (gpedit.msc) which will over-ride any direct setting.
Some changes will require restarting Windows File Explorer (or rebooting)
Usual disclaimers apply: Don’t edit the registry unless you are confident you can undo the change and BACKUP THE REGISTRY FIRST. Change one thing at a time and test that it worked as expected.
HKCU (HKey_current_user) settings will only apply to the currently logged-in user account.
Disable the lock screen (with the date/time etc), instead open directly to the Windows 11 sign-in screen:
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization" /V "NoLockScreen" /T REG_DWORD /D "1" /F
Display verbose messages during login and logout (Group policy, profile loading etc):
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /V "verbosestatus" /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F
Show shutdown options on lock screen:
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v "ShutdownWithoutLogon" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
OneDrive - Remove the 'OneDrive' Icon from Windows Explorer for the current user:
REG DELETE "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}"
OneDrive - Remove the OneDrive icon for all users, if the HKCU key above is present it will over-ride this.
REG ADD "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}" /V "System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
REG ADD "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}" /V "System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
File Explorer - Use Windows 10 style 'Full' context menus (right click):
REG ADD HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32 /VE /d "" /F
or restore the default Windows 11 'Compact' context menus:
REG DELETE "HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}"
File Explorer - Change default File Explorer view to 'This PC':
REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "LaunchTo" /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F
File Explorer - Don't automatically change the UPPER/lower case of newly created filenames:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "DontPrettyPath" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
File Explorer - Do not scan for folder types, always display new folders with the "General Items" folder view setting:
REG Delete "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /f REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell" /V FolderType /T REG_SZ /D NotSpecified /F
File Explorer - Disable creation of Thumbs.db thumbnail cache files:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "DisableThumbnailCache" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
File Explorer - Don't hide any local Drives in File explorer:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer" /V "NoDrives" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
File Explorer - Don't add "-Shortcut" text to the name of newly created shortcuts.
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer" /V "link" /T REG_BINARY /D 0 /F
or Restore the default adding "-Shortcut" text to the name of newly created shortcuts. This requires restarting File Explorer (or rebooting):
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer" /V "link" /T REG_BINARY /D "15000000" /F
File Explorer - Show all folders in Explorer including Recycle Bin, Desktop, Control Panel
Equivalent to the GUI context menu option in Explorer at the far bottom left of the window.
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "NavPaneShowAllFolders" /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F
or only show current folder path in Explorer:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "NavPaneShowAllFolders" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
Add Right Click "Open PowerShell window here" Context Menu
see this article on TenForums
File Explorer - Show hidden files and folders:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "Hidden" /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F
or Don't show hidden files and folders:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "Hidden" /T REG_DWORD /D 2 /F
File Explorer - Don't Hide file extensions:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "HideFileExt" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
File Explorer - Don't show notifications/adverts (OneDrive & new feature alerts) in Windows Explorer:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "ShowSyncProviderNotifications" /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F
Move the Start Menu to the left side:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "TaskbarAl" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
Start Menu speed - the default is 400, values around 200-250ms will give a snappier response:
REG ADD "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /V "MenuShowDelay" /T REG_SZ /D "250" /F
Remove 'Bing Search the Web' from the dock:
REG ADD HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search /v BingSearchEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 REG ADD HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search /v CortanaConsent /t REG_DWORD /d 0 TSKill searchui
Start Menu - Don't hide recently opened Programs from the Start menu /Start Run:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "Start_TrackProgs" /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F
Start Menu - Don't hide recently opened Documents from the Start menu /Start Run:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "Start_TrackDocs" /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F
Dock - Disable News and Interests:
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Dsh" /v AllowNewsAndInterests /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
Start Menu - Don't add a Games shortcut to the start menu:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /V "Start_ShowMyGames" /T REG_DWORD /D "0" /F
Start Menu - Disable Bing in Windows 11 Start Menu and Search (Search only local files) - see ElevenForum for the steps
Control Panel - Allow changing Windows Color/Appearance:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /V "NoDispAppearancePage" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
Control Panel - Allow Color Scheme changes:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /V "NoColorChoice" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
Control Panel - Allow changing visual style for windows and buttons:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /V "NovisualStyleChoice" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
Control Panel - Don't hide the Themes tab in Control Panel > Personalisation:
REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer" /V "NoThemesTab" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
Control Panel - Allow changing the font size:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /V "NoSizeChoice" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
Control Panel - Change desktop background (any wallpaper will override this):
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /V "NoDispBackgroundPage" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
Control Panel - Allow changing the Screen Saver:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /V "NoDispScrSavPage" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
Set the Screen Saver grace period (this only works if a valid screensaver is set)
an alternative is adjusting the power / hibernate settings for the display.
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /V "ScreenSaverGracePeriod" /T REG_SZ /D "5" /F
See also POWERCFG -change -monitor-timeout-ac to set the AC monitor timeout or POWERCFG -change -monitor-timeout-dc for battery timeout (typically shorter)
Control Panel - Allow changing the Display:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /V "NoDispCPL" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
Control Panel - Allow changing the Display Settings:
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /V "NoDispSettingsPage" /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F
Control Panel - Set the lock screen wallpaper:
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization" /V "LockScreenImage" /T REG_SZ /D "\\path\to\image" /F REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PersonalizationCSP" /V "LockScreenImageStatus" /T REG_DWORD /D "1" /F REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PersonalizationCSP" /V "LockScreenImagePath" /T REG_SZ /D "\\path\to\image" /F REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PersonalizationCSP" /V "LockScreenImageUrl" /T REG_SZ /D "\\path\to\image" /F
Turn off Windows Co-Pilot & Recall scanning:
This is equivalent to the Group Policy
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot > Turn off Windows Copilot.
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot" /V "TurnOffWindowsCopilot" /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F
Disable Diagnostics Telemetry:
REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection /v AllowTelemetry /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
Windows Update - Automatically download and schedule installation:
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" /V "AUOptions" /T REG_DWORD /D 4 /F
Windows Update - Automatically download and notify of installation:
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" /V "AUOptions" /T REG_DWORD /D 3 /F
Windows Update - Notify of download and installation:
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" /V "AUOptions" /T REG_DWORD /D 2 /F
Windows Update - Disable Automatic Updates, 'keep my computer up to date' is unticked in Automatic Updates:
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" /V "AUOptions" /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F
Windows Update - Notify for install and Notify for restart. (Windows Server 2016 and later only):
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" /V "AUOptions" /T REG_DWORD /D 7 /F
Many of the On/Off registry values above can be toggled between TRUE (00000001) and FALSE (0)
If any of the above settings could have been modified by Group Policy, use RSOP.msc (GUI utility) to see the policy settings that have been applied to the current user, or run GPRESULT /z to see the full details of registry keys set.
If you are running DISM then equivalent settings for All Users can be found under [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\WIM_Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Windows 11 Themes can be found under:
%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes
"It’s not like I let people do things for me, so I guess you can call me a control freak, or you can call me passionate" ~ Courteney Cox
REG - Read, Set or Delete registry keys and values.
SuperHidden - Display or hide SuperHidden file extensions.
ElevenForum - Tutorials on Windows 11 personalization.
GitHub ClassicSearch - Disable or restore "modern" search in File Explorer.
Winaero Tweaker - Free app to set various Windows 11 Registry Tweaks