How to Change the Default File Explorer View in Windows 8

When you launch File Explorer in Windows 8, you are automatically taken to your Libraries view. But what if you don’t want this and instead you want File Explorer to default to the Computer view or perhaps even to a specific folder on your hard disk?

You can do this by modifying the shortcut for the File Explorer icon on the Windows 8 taskbar.

1. Ping the File Explorer to the taskbar. From Start screen type File Explorer, right click the File Explorer and click "Pin to taskbar".

2. Hold down Shift key and right-click the File Explorer on the taskbar.

How to Change the Default File Explorer View in Windows 8 DNVmlo6

3. Click Properties from context menu.

4. Change the contents of the Target box to %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe  /e,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}, click Apply and OK buttons to finish. This changes the default File Explorer view to Computer folder.

How to Change the Default File Explorer View in Windows 8 MDyiRlF

You can change this target to anything you like; for example, you can put a folder location in there instead. If you click the icon on the far left of the Address bar, the text in the Address bar will change to display the current folder location. It can be copied and pasted into the Target box.

To change this back to the default view, change the Target box text to %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,::{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}.