Make “Windows Explorer” taskbar icon open “My Computer” instead of “Libraries”

Oct 5th, 2010 by morpheus

Edit: This trick also works for Windows 8 & Windows server 2012 !

The default “Windows Explorer” icon on the taskbar in Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2 opens the “Libraries” by default.

Now, I’m not sure about you, but I would much rather it opened up “My Computer” instead.

Fortunately, it’s a very simple change.

Right click on the “Windows Explorer” icon in the taskbar, now right click “Windows Explorer” in the menu, and click “Properties”.

windows explorer taskbar icon properties

In the properties dialog-box that opens up, the “Target” field would read –
%windir%\explorer.exe

Change it to –
%windir%\explorer.exe ::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

windows explorer taskbar icon properties

Click “OK” and you’re done !

Posted in Tutorials

on 12 Oct 2010 at 4:12 pm1whoever said

Thanks for the quick buck..! 🙂
on 20 May 2011 at 5:18 pm2Data warehouse said

Will that code work for all computers or is it a code we have to look for?
on 21 May 2011 at 5:13 pm3morpheus said

@Data warehouse,

In windows, “20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D” is the CLSID of “My Computer” – it’s the same on every computer running Microsoft Windows.
So this code works on them all.
on 31 May 2011 at 1:19 pm4keylogger said

Hey, thanks for this useful tip that I was searching from long time. It makes easy to navigate on my computer now.
on 28 Jan 2013 at 2:52 am5Harman said

Thanks
on 19 Mar 2015 at 1:48 pm6BrianSnoop said

This is the long way.
Easy way: explorer /n,
Make sure comma is added after the n

Cyber Militia