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Remove "Favorites" in Windows 7 Explorer navigation pane

Remove "Favorites" in Windows 7 Explorer navigation pane

Is there a way to remove the "Favorites" item at the top of the navigation pane in Explorer in Windows 7? It really bugs me that it wastes so much space, and I can't find a way to remove it.

Asked by: Guest | Views: 336
Total answers/comments: 4
Guest [Entry]

"Here are links to remove any or all parts of the navigation bar so you can customize it the way you like. Personally I remove Homegroup and Libraries as I like having My Computer Network and Favorites. As for favorites if you click the favorites it will bring you to the folder that contains your shortcuts and you can ad or remove anything you like. Personally besides the the computer and network browsing shortcuts this is the best, you could actually remove everything but favorites and add your computer and network folders in it.

Anyway here are the links and the site they all come from is a GREAT resource.
First off to stay on topic this is the link to remove Favorites then i will follow with the instructions for the rest in the list of links below they all contain the registry information on how to remove or ad them and if you are so inclined you can create a .reg file to edit them on the fly or to create a.reg file to bring back anything you removed (that is if you know how to create on I wont get into that here):

Favorites,

I am a new user so i am only able to post one URL so if you want to edit anything else read the whole post this links you to and at the bottom their are links to do the same for all the other nav options available."
Guest [Entry]

"Edit - As John T said, there is no way to remove just the favourite section - the following refers to the whole bar.

To shrink the favourites bar, click on the separator line and drag it further to the left.

If you want to remove it completely do the following:

Click ""Organise""
Expand the ""Layout"" option
Untick the ""Navigation pane"" option."
Guest [Entry]

"I searched for “favorites” in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID part of the registry, and I found key {323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}. The key looks a bit like the library key and has a shellfolder subkey with a Attributes d-word set to a0900100.
After I made a restore point for the operating system, I first tried to change the attributes word to a0800100, which didn’t do anything; then I deleted the shellfolder subkey; which left the Favorites folder but rightclicking offered to delete the folder… but didn’t execute the promise.
Then I deleted the entire key. That left only a vague icon with the same right-click menu, and the same behaviour. So maybe it is some setting in the explorer itself."
Guest [Entry]

"Collating the answers above, here is a registry file that works without admin access (tested on Win 7) that will hide:

Favourites
User Folder
Libraries

in both Windows Explorer and Open/Save dialogs.

Save it and import it in regedit (Start > Run > regedit)."