Customize Windows Explorer Toolbar Buttons

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).