How to manage folder and library templates in Windows 11 File Explorer. Windows 11's File Explorer tries to make organizing files easier with a feature called Automatic Folder Type Discovery. It scans what's inside a folder and automatically switches its layout to one of five templates: documents, pictures, music, videos, or general items. But if you prefer full control over how your folders look, you can customize these templates yourself. In this video, we'll show you how to change a folder's template in Windows 11. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne's IT Video Hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. Prerequisites to keep in mind. Before we get started, make sure you have the following. Administrator access. You'll need it to make system-level changes. A Windows 11 device. The steps in this guide only apply to Windows 11. Basic knowledge of the Registry Editor and PowerShell. We'll be using both tools, so some familiarity is helpful. Method 1: Change template via File Explorer. Use this method when you just want to make fast, individual adjustments to how a folder looks. Press Win+E to open File Explorer. Go to the folder or drive you want to change. Right-click it and choose Properties. Open the Customize tab and select a template under "Optimize this folder for": General, Documents, Pictures, Music, or Videos. Check "Also apply this template to all subfolders" if you want the change to apply everywhere inside it. Click OK to save your changes. Method 2: Customize folder template via Registry Editor. This method is best for keeping the same folder layout across different devices or user accounts. Press Win+R, type regedit, and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags. Each folder's view settings are stored in a numbered subkey. To find the right one, open HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU. This section links folder paths to their bag IDs. After finding the correct bag ID, return to its matching subkey under Bags. Look for or create a FolderType string value. Set FolderType to one of these: Not specified, Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos. Close the Registry Editor. Restart your PC to apply the changes. Method 3: Set folder template using PowerShell. Use this method to assist with automation in managed environments. Open PowerShell as an administrator. Use this script to set a folder's template. This opens the folder's properties window where you can manually adjust its template. Changing folder templates in Windows 11 is a quick way to improve how your files are organized. Using tools like File Explorer, the Registry Editor, or PowerShell, you can customize any folder's layout to fit your needs. To ensure your changes persist, consider disabling the Automatic Folder Type Discovery feature. For more information, check out our official blog post on managing folder and library templates in Windows 11, linked in the description below.