How to Customize Windows Explorer Toolbar Buttons in Windows 7
Information
This article will show you how to customize the toolbar (command bar) in Windows Explorer to add, remove, or rearrange toolbar buttons of your choice for all users.
You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.
EXAMPLE:
Windows Explorer Toolbar
Add, Remove, or Rearrange Toolbar Buttons in Windows Explorer
1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press enter.
2. If prompted byUAC, then click on Yes.
3. In regedit, navigate to the Windows Explorer location below for the toolbar that you would like to add or remove buttons from.
General Items Folder Template (see also step 4)
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{5c4f28b5-f869-4e84-8e60-f11db97c5cc7}
Videos Folder Template
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{5fa96407-7e77-483c-ac93-691d05850de8}
Documents Folder Template (see also step 4)
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{7d49d726-3c21-4f05-99aa-fdc2c9474656}
Music Folder Template
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{94d6ddcc-4a68-4175-a374-bd584a510b78}
Pictures Folder Template (see also step 4)
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{b3690e58-e961-423b-b687-386ebfd83239}
General (Generic) Library Folder
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{da3f6866-35fe-4229-821a-26553a67fc18}
Main Library Folder
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{b3690e58-e961-423b-b687-386ebfd83239}
Videos Library Folder
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{631958a6-ad0f-4035-a745-28ac066dc6ed}
Documents Library Folder
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{fbb3477e-c9e4-4b3b-a2ba-d3f5d3cd46f9}
Music Library Folder
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{3f2a72a7-99fa-4ddb-a5a8-c604edf61d6b}
Pictures Library Folder
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{0b2baaeb-0042-4dca-aa4d-3ee8648d03e5}
4. If the name of the Windows Explorer location you selected above is in RED (General Items, Documents, and Pictures folder templates), then:
NOTE:
If not in red, then skip this step and go to step 5 or 6.
In the left pane under FolderTypes, right click on the {long number} key below and click on Permissions. Take ownership (step 3 in Option Two of Method TWO at this link) of this key with your administrator account, and set permissions to Allow your administrator account Full Control of the key. (see screenshots below)
Continue on to step 5 or 6 below.
5. To Add or Remove Buttons to be Displayed when a Item is Selected
NOTE:
When you select an item (ex: file or folder), the buttons displayed on the Windows Explorer toolbar locations below are defined in the TasksItemsSelected registry key.
A) In the left pane, click on the TasksItemSelected key under the exanded {long number} key above. (see screenshot below)
NOTE:
If there is not a TasksItemSelected key, then right click on the {long number} key, click on New and Key, type TasksItemSelected and press enter.
B) Go to step 7.
6. To Add or Remove Buttons to be Displayed when No Items are Selected
NOTE:
When you open a folder without anything selected, the buttons displayed on the Windows Explorer toolbar locations below are defined in the TasksNoItemsSelected registry key.
A) In the left pane, click on the TasksNoItemSelected key under the exanded {long number} location above. (see screenshot below)
NOTE:
If there is not a TasksNoItemSelected key, then right click on the {long number} key, click on New and Key, type TasksNoItemSelected and press enter.
7. In the right pane of TasksItemSelected or TasksNoItemSelected, right click on (Default) and click on Modify. (see screenshots below steps 5A and 6A)
8. To Add a Toolbar Button
A) Type in the Value data (see table below) for the button that you want to add in the order you want it to be displayed within the other listed buttons. (see screenshot below step 11.
NOTE:
Be sure to leave only one semicolon (;) inbetween each Value data entry to separate them.
FOR EXAMPLE:
If I wanted to add the Cut and Paste buttons to the Pictures Library tool bar after the default Burn button, I would add Windows.Cut and Windows.Paste in the Edit String (modify) window like this below.
Code:
Windows.slideshow;Windows.burn;Windows.Cut;Windows.Paste;Windows.CscWorkOfflineOnline
|
Toolbar Button
|
Value Data
|
Description
|
|
Burn
|
Windows.burn
|
It allows you to burn the folder or the file selected
|
|
Close
|
Windows.closewindow
|
It allows you to close the active window
|
|
Copy
|
Windows.Copy
|
It allows you to copy the item selected in the clipboard
|
|
Cut
|
Windows.Cut
|
It allows you to move the item selected into the clipboard
|
|
Delete
|
Windows.Delete
|
It allows you to delete the item selected
|
|
Details pane
|
Windows.previewpane
|
It allows you to toggle the Details pane on or off
|
|
(Details view)
|
Windows.topviewrestoredefault
|
It allows you display the details view
|
|
E-mail
|
Windows.email
|
It allows you to send by email the item selected
|
|
Folder and search options
|
Windows.folderoptions
|
Opens Folder Options
|
|
Include in library
|
Windows.includeinlibrary
|
It allows you to include in any library the folder selected
|
|
Layout
|
Windows.layout
|
It allows you to turn on or off the navigation pane, the detail pane, the reading pane or the library pane
|
|
Library pane
|
Windows.librarypane
|
It allows you to turn on or off the library pane
|
|
Manage Default Printers
|
Windows.ManageDefaultPrinters
|
It allows you to manage the printer installed by default
|
|
Menu bar
|
Windows.menubar
|
It allows you to turn the menu bar on or off
|
|
Navigation pane
|
Windows.navpane
|
It allows you to turn the navigation pane on or off
|
|
New folder
|
Windows.newfolder
|
It allows you to create a new folder in the folder you have open or selected
|
|
Organize
|
Windows.organize
|
It allows you to turn on or off the options for the organization of items
|
|
Paste
|
Windows.Paste
|
It allows you to paste the content of the clipboard
|
|
Play all
|
Windows.playmusic
|
It allows you to play all the music files in a opened folder
|
|
Properties
|
Windows.properties
|
It allows you to display or hide all the properties of the item selected
|
|
Preview pane
|
Windows.readingpane
|
It allows you to turn the Preview pane on or off
|
|
Print
|
Windows.print
|
It allows you to print the document selected
|
|
Print server properties
|
Windows.OpenPrinterServerProperty
|
It allows you to display or hide the properties of your printer
|
|
Windows.OpenSearchViewSite
|
||
|
Redo
|
Windows.redo
|
It allows you to cancel the last modification made
|
|
Rename
|
Windows.rename
|
It allows you to rename the item selected
|
|
Remove Properties
|
Windows.removeproperties
|
It allows you to delete all the properties you want about the item selected
|
|
See what’s printing
|
Windows.OpenPrintQueue
|
It allows you to display or hide all the files you’re printing
|
|
Select all
|
Windows.selectall
|
It allows you to select all of the items in the opened folder
|
|
Separator
|
Windows.separator
|
It allows you to create an empty space between the tasks
|
|
Share with
|
Windows.Share
|
It allows you to share the item selected in private or with your homegroup
|
|
Share with
|
Windows.ShareHomegroupFullAcces
|
It allows you to share the item selected in private or with your homegroup
|
|
Share with
|
Windows.ShareHomegroupReadAccess
|
It allows you to share the item selected in private or with your homegroup
|
|
Share with
|
Windows.SharePrivate
|
It allows you to share the item selected in private or with your homegroup
|
|
Share with
|
Windows.ShareSpecificUsers
|
It allows you to share the item selected in private or with your homegroup
|
|
Slide show
|
Windows.slideshow
|
It allows you to see any images through a slideshow
|
|
Start scan
|
Windows.StartScan
|
It allows you to execute a quick scan of the selected item
|
|
Sync
|
Windows.CscSync
|
It allows you to synchronize your folders or files with your device
|
|
Undo
|
Windows.undo
|
It allows you to cancel the last modification made, or restore the folder or file deleted from the Recycle Bin
|
|
Windows.CscWorkOfflineOnline
|
??
|
|
|
Windows.UpdatePrinterDriver
|
It allows you to update your printer’s drivers
|
9. To Remove a Toolbar Button
A) Remove the Value data (see table below step 8A) for the button that you want to remove. (see screenshot below step 11)
NOTE:
Be sure to leave only one semicolon (;) inbetween each remaining Value data entry to separate them.
FOR EXAMPLE:
If I wanted to remove the Cut and Paste buttons added to the Pictures Library tool bar from step 8, I would edit out Windows.Cut and Windows.Paste in the Edit String (modify) window like this below.
BEFORE
Code:
Windows.slideshow;Windows.burn;Windows.Cut;Windows.Paste;Windows.CscWorkOfflineOnline
AFTER
Code:
Windows.slideshow;Windows.burn;Windows.CscWorkOfflineOnline
10. To Rearrange Display Order of the Toolbar Buttons
A) Arrange the Value data (see table below step 8A) listed in the Edit String (modify) window in the order of how you would like them displayed on the toolbar. (see screenshot below step 11)
NOTE:
Be sure to leave only one semicolon (;) inbetween each Value data entry to separate them.
FOR EXAMPLE:
If I wanted to rearange the Cut and Paste buttons added to the Pictures Library tool bar from step 8, I would edit the Windows.Cut and Windows.Paste value data in the Edit String (modify) window like this below.
BEFORE
Code:
Windows.slideshow;Windows.burn;Windows.Cut;Windows.Paste;Windows.CscWorkOfflineOnline
AFTER
Code:
Windows.slideshow;Windows.burn;Windows.Paste;Windows.Cut;Windows.CscWorkOfflineOnline
11. When finished adding, removing, or rearranging the button’s Value data (ex: Windows.burn) in the Edit String box, click on OK. (see screenshot below)
12. Repeat the steps above if you would like to add, remove, or rearrage toolbar buttons for any other Windows Explorer location in step 3.
13. When finished, close regedit.
14. If open, close and reopen Windows Explorer to see the changes applied at the location you selected in step 3 (not the registry location).
