Remove Home from File Explorer in Windows 11

Windows 11 File Explorer comes with a Home section that provides quick access to frequently used folders and files. However, some users may find this section distracting or unnecessary. If you’re one of those users, you can easily remove the Home section from File Explorer.

In this article, we’ll show you two methods to remove the Home section from File Explorer in Windows 11. The first method uses the File Explorer options, while the second method uses a registry tweak.

Now that you know how to remove the Home section from File Explorer, you can customize the File Explorer layout to your liking. You can add or remove other sections, such as the Quick Access section or the OneDrive section. You can also change the view options to make File Explorer more efficient for your workflow.

windows 11 explorer remove home

Customize File Explorer layout.

• Remove Home section.
• Use File Explorer options.
• Use registry tweak.
• Quick access to folders.
• Hide unnecessary sections.
• Improve workflow efficiency.
• Personalize File Explorer.
• Enhance productivity.

Make File Explorer work for you.

Remove Home section.

The Home section in File Explorer can be distracting or unnecessary for some users. To remove the Home section, you can use either the File Explorer options or a registry tweak.

Using File Explorer options

To remove the Home section using File Explorer options, follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner of the window.
3. Select “Options” from the menu.
4. In the “General” tab, uncheck the “Show Home button in File Explorer” checkbox.
5. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.

Using a registry tweak

To remove the Home section using a registry tweak, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and press Enter.
3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
4. Right-click on the “Explorer” key and select “New” > “DWORD (32-bit) Value”.
5. Name the new value “HideHomeButton”.
6. Double-click on the “HideHomeButton” value and set the value data to “1”.
7. Click “OK” to save the changes.

After following either of these methods, the Home section will be removed from File Explorer.

Use File Explorer options.

To remove the Home section from File Explorer using the File Explorer options, follow these steps:

• Open File Explorer.

  You can do this by pressing Windows Key + E or by clicking on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar.

• Click the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner of the window.

  This button has three dots arranged in a vertical line.

• Select “Options” from the menu.

  This will open the File Explorer Options dialog box.

• In the “General” tab, uncheck the “Show Home button in File Explorer” checkbox.

  This checkbox is located under the “Navigation pane” section.

• Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.

  The Home section will now be removed from File Explorer.

This method is the easiest way to remove the Home section from File Explorer. However, if you are unable to access the File Explorer options, you can use the registry tweak method instead.

Use registry tweak.

To remove the Home section from File Explorer using a registry tweak, follow these steps:

• Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.

  This is the quickest way to open the Run dialog box.

• Type “regedit” and press Enter.

  This will open the Registry Editor.

• Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

  You can do this by expanding the folders in the left pane of the Registry Editor.

• Right-click on the “Explorer” key and select “New” > “DWORD (32-bit) Value”.

  A new value will be created with the name “New Value #1”.

• Name the new value “HideHomeButton”.

  To do this, simply double-click on the “New Value #1” value and type “HideHomeButton” in the “Name” field.

• Double-click on the “HideHomeButton” value and set the value data to “1”.

  This will disable the Home section in File Explorer.

• Click “OK” to save the changes.

  You can now close the Registry Editor.

• Restart File Explorer or your computer for the changes to take effect.

This method is slightly more complicated than using the File Explorer options, but it will still work if you are unable to access the File Explorer options.

Quick access to folders.

One of the benefits of removing the Home section from File Explorer is that it gives you more space to access your frequently used folders. By default, File Explorer displays a list of your most recently used folders in the Quick access section. You can also pin your favorite folders to the Quick access section for even easier access.

• Pin a folder to the Quick access section:

  To pin a folder to the Quick access section, simply drag and drop the folder onto the Quick access section. You can also right-click on the folder and select “Pin to Quick access” from the context menu.

• Unpin a folder from the Quick access section:

  To unpin a folder from the Quick access section, simply right-click on the folder and select “Unpin from Quick access” from the context menu.

• Change the order of folders in the Quick access section:

  To change the order of folders in the Quick access section, simply drag and drop the folders to the desired order.

• Remove all folders from the Quick access section:

  To remove all folders from the Quick access section, click on the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner of the Quick access section and select “Clear all” from the menu.

By customizing the Quick access section, you can make it easier to access the folders that you use the most.

Hide unnecessary sections.

In addition to the Home section, File Explorer also has several other sections that you may not need or use. These sections include the Quick access section, the OneDrive section, and the Libraries section. If you want to hide any of these sections, you can do so by following these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner of the window.
3. Select “Options” from the menu.
4. In the “General” tab, uncheck the checkbox for any section that you want to hide.
5. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.

For example, if you want to hide the Quick access section, you would uncheck the “Show Quick access” checkbox. If you want to hide the OneDrive section, you would uncheck the “Show OneDrive” checkbox. And if you want to hide the Libraries section, you would uncheck the “Show libraries” checkbox.

Once you have hidden the unnecessary sections, File Explorer will be more streamlined and easier to use.

You can also hide the navigation pane in File Explorer. The navigation pane is the vertical pane on the left side of the File Explorer window. It contains links to your frequently used folders and libraries. To hide the navigation pane, click on the small arrow in the top-left corner of the File Explorer window.

Improve workflow efficiency.

By removing unnecessary sections from File Explorer and customizing the Quick access section, you can improve your workflow efficiency. Here are a few ways that removing the Home section can help you be more productive:

• Reduce distractions:

  The Home section can be distracting, especially if you are trying to focus on a specific task. By removing the Home section, you can eliminate distractions and focus on the files and folders that you need to access.

• Speed up navigation:

  With the Home section removed, you can more quickly navigate to the files and folders that you need. This is because you will no longer have to scroll through the Home section to find the items that you are looking for.

• Simplify the File Explorer interface:

  Removing the Home section can help to simplify the File Explorer interface, making it easier to find the features and functions that you need.

• Increase productivity:

  By making File Explorer more efficient and easier to use, you can increase your productivity. This is because you will be able to find the files and folders that you need more quickly and easily.

Overall, removing the Home section from File Explorer can help you to be more productive and efficient when working with files and folders.

Personalize File Explorer.

In addition to improving your workflow efficiency, removing the Home section from File Explorer also allows you to personalize the File Explorer interface. Here are a few ways that you can personalize File Explorer:

• Change the theme:

  You can change the theme of File Explorer to match your personal preferences. To do this, open File Explorer and click on the “View” tab. Then, click on the “Options” button and select the “Change folder and search options” link. In the “General” tab, you can select a new theme from the “Color scheme” drop-down menu.

• Change the font:

  You can also change the font that is used in File Explorer. To do this, open File Explorer and click on the “View” tab. Then, click on the “Options” button and select the “Change folder and search options” link. In the “General” tab, you can select a new font from the “Font” drop-down menu.

• Change the layout:

  You can also change the layout of File Explorer. To do this, open File Explorer and click on the “View” tab. Then, click on the “Layout” button and select a new layout from the menu. You can choose from a variety of layouts, including the “Details” view, the “List” view, and the “Thumbnails” view.

• Add or remove columns:

  You can also add or remove columns from the File Explorer window. To do this, open File Explorer and click on the “View” tab. Then, click on the “Add columns” button and select the columns that you want to add. You can also click on the “Remove columns” button to remove columns from the window.

By personalizing File Explorer, you can make it more user-friendly and efficient for your own needs.

Enhance productivity.

By removing the Home section from File Explorer and personalizing the File Explorer interface, you can enhance your productivity in a number of ways:

1. Reduce distractions:

   By removing the Home section, you can eliminate distractions and focus on the files and folders that you need to access. This can help you to stay on task and get more work done.

2. Speed up navigation:

   With the Home section removed, you can more quickly navigate to the files and folders that you need. This is because you will no longer have to scroll through the Home section to find the items that you are looking for. This can save you time and help you to be more productive.

3. Simplify the File Explorer interface:

   Removing the Home section can help to simplify the File Explorer interface, making it easier to find the features and functions that you need. This can make it easier for you to work with files and folders, which can lead to increased productivity.

4. Personalize File Explorer:

   By personalizing File Explorer to your own needs, you can make it more user-friendly and efficient. This can help you to work more quickly and easily with files and folders, which can lead to increased productivity.

Overall, removing the Home section from File Explorer and personalizing the File Explorer interface can help you to be more productive and efficient when working with files and folders.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about removing the Home section from File Explorer in Windows 11:

Question 1: Why would I want to remove the Home section from File Explorer?
Answer 1: There are a few reasons why you might want to remove the Home section from File Explorer. For example, you may find it distracting or unnecessary. Additionally, removing the Home section can help to improve your workflow efficiency and personalize File Explorer to your liking.

Question 2: How do I remove the Home section from File Explorer?
Answer 2: There are two ways to remove the Home section from File Explorer: using the File Explorer options or using a registry tweak. To remove the Home section using the File Explorer options, open File Explorer, click on the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner of the window, select “Options”, and then uncheck the “Show Home button in File Explorer” checkbox. To remove the Home section using a registry tweak, press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box, type “regedit” and press Enter, navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer, right-click on the “Explorer” key and select “New” > “DWORD (32-bit) Value”, name the new value “HideHomeButton”, and set the value data to “1”.

Question 3: What are the benefits of removing the Home section from File Explorer?
Answer 3: There are several benefits to removing the Home section from File Explorer. These benefits include: reduced distractions, improved workflow efficiency, simplified File Explorer interface, and increased productivity.

Question 4: Can I still access my frequently used folders after removing the Home section?
Answer 4: Yes, you can still access your frequently used folders after removing the Home section. To do this, you can use the Quick access section in File Explorer. The Quick access section displays a list of your most recently used folders. You can also pin your favorite folders to the Quick access section for even easier access.

Question 5: Can I hide other sections in File Explorer besides the Home section?
Answer 5: Yes, you can hide other sections in File Explorer besides the Home section. To do this, open File Explorer, click on the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner of the window, select “Options”, and then uncheck the checkbox for any section that you want to hide.

Question 6: Can I personalize File Explorer after removing the Home section?
Answer 6: Yes, you can personalize File Explorer after removing the Home section. You can change the theme, font, layout, and columns in File Explorer to suit your own needs and preferences.

Overall, removing the Home section from File Explorer can help you to improve your workflow efficiency and productivity. You can also personalize File Explorer to make it more user-friendly and efficient for your own needs.

In addition to removing the Home section, there are a number of other things that you can do to customize File Explorer and make it more efficient for your own needs. For example, you can add or remove columns from the File Explorer window, change the view options, and create custom folders and libraries.

Tips

Here are a few tips for customizing File Explorer and making it more efficient for your own needs:

Tip 1: Add or remove columns from the File Explorer window.
You can add or remove columns from the File Explorer window to display the information that is most important to you. To do this, open File Explorer, click on the “View” tab, and then click on the “Add columns” or “Remove columns” button. You can choose from a variety of columns, including the file name, the file size, the file type, and the date modified.

Tip 2: Change the view options.
You can change the view options in File Explorer to make it easier to find the files and folders that you are looking for. To do this, open File Explorer, click on the “View” tab, and then select a view option from the “Layout” group. You can choose from the “Details” view, the “List” view, the “Thumbnails” view, and the “Tiles” view.

Tip 3: Create custom folders and libraries.
You can create custom folders and libraries in File Explorer to organize your files and folders in a way that makes sense to you. To create a new folder, right-click on any empty space in File Explorer and select “New” > “Folder”. To create a new library, click on the “Libraries” tab in File Explorer and then click on the “New library” button.

Tip 4: Use keyboard shortcuts.
There are a number of keyboard shortcuts that you can use to navigate File Explorer more quickly and easily. For example, you can press the “Ctrl” key and the “E” key to open File Explorer. You can also press the “Alt” key and the “F” key to open the search box. For a complete list of keyboard shortcuts, see the Microsoft support website.

By following these tips, you can customize File Explorer and make it more efficient for your own needs.

Removing the Home section from File Explorer is just one way to customize the File Explorer interface. By following the tips in this article, you can further personalize File Explorer and make it more efficient and user-friendly.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed how to remove the Home section from File Explorer in Windows 11. We have also provided a number of tips for customizing File Explorer and making it more efficient for your own needs.

Removing the Home section from File Explorer can help you to reduce distractions, improve your workflow efficiency, and simplify the File Explorer interface. You can also personalize File Explorer by changing the theme, font, layout, and columns. By following the tips in this article, you can make File Explorer more user-friendly and efficient for your own needs.

Whether you choose to remove the Home section or not, there are a number of ways to customize File Explorer to make it work better for you. By taking the time to learn about the different customization options, you can make File Explorer a more efficient and productive tool.

We hope that this article has been helpful. If you have any further questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.