How to Add or Remove Libraries from File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 10?

On Windows 10,  File Explorer comes with four libraries: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. A library includes folders stored in different locations on your PC, OneDrive, network, etc. It displays a single view location for all these folders.

These folders add to the library by default. You can find Libraries located in the hidden folder %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries.

In this risewindows article, we will guide you on how to Add or Remove Libraries from File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 10.

There are different methods to Add or Remove Libraries from File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 10. These are as follows:-

1. Navigation Pane in Windows 10 using File Explorer
2. through Folder Options
3. Via  Registry Editor
4. Using File Explorer

How to Add or Remove Libraries from File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 10 using File Explorer?

To Add or Remove Libraries from File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 10 using File Explorer, do the following steps:-

Step 1. Firstly, launch File Explorer.

To open the File Explorer on Windows 10, you can use the Windows + E shortcut keys.

Step 2. After that, When File Explorer appears on your computer, right-click on the empty area inside the navigation pane and check or uncheck the Show libraries option to enable or disable Libraries per your requirements.

How to Show or Hide Libraries through Folder Options?

To hide or unhide Libraries from File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 10 via Folder Options, do the following steps:-

Step 1. Firstly, open Folder Options.

Step 2. Next, switch to the View tab.

Step 3. Now, scroll down to the bottom to find the “Navigation pane” section and check or uncheck the option Show libraries.

Step 4. Then, click the Apply button.

Step 5. At last, select the OK button.

When you complete the above steps, depending upon your settings, Libraries will appear or disappears from File Explorer Navigation Pane on your Windows 10 PC.

How to Show or Hide Libraries using Windows 10 Registry Editor?

To hide or unhide the Libraries in Windows 10 File Explorer navigation pane via Registry Editor, do the following steps:-

Step 1. Firstly, open the Registry Editor window.

Step 2. When Registry Editor appears on your computer, browse to the following key on the left side:-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}

Step 3. Next, double-click on the System on the opposite side.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree REG_DWORD and set its “Value data” to:-

• 1: Add Libraries.
• 0: Remove Libraries.

Step 4. Click OK.

When you complete the above steps, depending upon your settings, Libraries will show or hide from File Explorer Navigation Pane on your Windows 10 PC.

How to Add or Remove Folders from Libraries on Windows 10 File Explorer?

To add or remove folders to Libraries on Windows 10, do the following steps:-

Step 1. Firstly, Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder you want to add to the Libraries.

Step 2. Then, select Include in library > Create new library.

Step 3. After that, the selected folder is added to the Libraries.

To remove any folder from the Libraries, right-click on the folder in Libraries you want to remove and select the Delete option.

Then, click the Yes button to remove that folder from Libraries.

Please note that removing a folder from Libraries will not remove that folder from the physical location. If you want to erase that folder from your PC completely, locate it in File Explorer and delete it.

That’s it.