Ways to add “Show Home” to the File Explorer’s Folder Options For IT pros managing multiple endpoints or standardizing configurations across environments, the Show Home option can help streamline File Explorer’s UI and reduce unnecessary clutter for users. In this video, we’ll outline three ways to make the “Show Home” option visible in File Explorer’s Folder Options. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne’s IT Video Hub, and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. 3 Ways to Add the “Show Home” Option in File Explorer on Windows 11 Add “Show Home” via the Windows Registry This method enforces changes system-wide and ensures consistent behavior across sessions. Here’s how to configure it: Press Win + R, type regedit, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch with elevation. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\NavPane Right-click NavPane, select New > Key, and name it ShowHome. Inside the ShowHome key, create the following DWORD (32-bit) values (note that “Type” is a String value, not DWORD): Then create these String values: Finally, restart Windows Explorer or reboot the device to apply the changes. Automate “Show Home” with PowerShell For IT administrators managing multiple systems, PowerShell provides a safer, more scalable alternative to manual registry edits. Here’s a sample PowerShell script that automates the entire configuration: Run this script inside elevated PowerShell, then restart the device or Windows Explorer. For the full automation package, including validation logic and rollback scripts, check the blog linked in the description. Enable “Show Home” via Local Group Policy Group Policy is the cleanest way to control user access to File Explorer’s Folder Options, particularly in managed enterprise environments. Here’s how: Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter. Navigate to: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. Find the policy: Do not allow Folder Options to be opened from the Options button on the View tab of the ribbon. Set this to Disabled or Not Configured. This ensures users can open Folder Options, where the Show Home setting appears. Apply the changes, then run gpupdate /force. Verifying the “Show Home” Option Is Active Once you’ve applied your configuration, verification is quick: Open File Explorer. Select the three-dot menu > Options. If Options is missing, revisit the Group Policy method. Open the View tab. Scroll down to Navigation pane. Look for the Show Home checkbox. If the checkbox is missing entirely, recheck your Registry or PowerShell configuration. An incorrect value or missing key is usually the culprit. Whether you're deploying this for individual devices or managing settings across a large environment, you now have three reliable ways to make the “Show Home” option visible, plus a clear validation process. For more information, check out our official blog post on the different ways to add “Show Home” to File Explorer’s folder options, linked in the description below.