Remove Libraries from Windows 10 Windows Explorer

Question

How do I remove Libraries from Windows Explorer in Windows 10?

• Pressing delete while the registry folder is selected does nothing.
• Right-clicking to get the context menu does not reveal a delete option.
• The Navigation pane option for libraries is already disabled.
• This is obviously a registry issue.
• Clean/full install of Windows 10 Build 18363.

Answer 1

Update - Doesn't work on Win10 (20H2 and later) and Win11

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For older Win10 systems, try the tutorial at TenForums - Option 2 and Option 4

Option 2:

Open File Explorer, click on File, select Options

Click on View tab, scroll down and uncheck Show libraries and click/tap on OK.

Option 4:

• Run regedit
• Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}
• Create new DWORD by right clicking > New > DWORD (32-bit Value) > System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree if it doesn't already exist
• Set value of DWORD to0 (by double clicking on DWORD or right click > Modify) to hide Libraries

Answer 2

wenpcfg

(Windows Explorer Navigation Pane Configuration)

This works in Windows 10 21H1 and Widows 7:

Step 1: Download :

https://github.com/andif888/wenpcfg

Step 2: Create a batch.bat file with the following contents (choose your options):

wenpcfg /HideLibraries
wenpcfg /HideFavorites
wenpcfg /HideHomeGroup

Step 3: Run batch.bat.

Step 4: Log out of the Windows user account and log back in.

Answer 3

This solution will completely remove Library folder from Explorer navigation bar, not just close it:

Windows 7: Libraries Folder - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane

Only thing which differs from Windows 7 is that ShellFolder key is owned by the owner "SYSTEM" and it will prevent you from changing values! To overcome this, in step 5 you should first click to the "Advanced" button, then in new dialog change owner "SYSTEM" to "Administrators":

and then apply Full Control access and proceed with other actions in the step 5 and later.

This is checked on Windows 10 Pro, version 1607, build 14393.0 and version 1909, build 18363.418

Answer 4

To locate the regisry entry corresponding to a Navigation Pane iten, you can use this PowerShell to reveal the CLSID. Just modify the $SerchText value as needed:

$SearchText = 'Libraries'
$shell = New-Object -ComObject shell.application
@($shell.NameSpace(0).Items() | ? Name -match $SearchText).Path

Sample output:

PS C:\>@($shell.Namespace(0).Items() | ? name -match Libraries).Path
::{031E4825-7B94-4DC3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}
PS C:>