Start File Explorer with ribbon minimized: registry value ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimizedComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
- Policy ID
- ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized
- Scope
- Computer Configuration, User Configuration
- Supported on
- At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
- Source
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
- Category
- Windows Components › File Explorer
Registry
ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized
-ComputerUser…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\ExplorerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Current key
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized
REG_DWORDComputerUser…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\ExplorerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Current key
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
- Enabled value
- Depends on the option value
- Element
- Pick one of the following settings
| Item | Stored value |
|---|---|
| Always open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. | 1 |
| Never open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. | 2 |
| Minimize the ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. | 3 |
| Display the full ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. | 4 |
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
ComputerMachine-wide setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] ; Options (use only one) ; Always open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized"=dword:00000001 ; Never open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized"=dword:00000002 ; Minimize the ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized"=dword:00000003 ; Display the full ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized"=dword:00000004
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Always open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f :: Never open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f :: Minimize the ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f :: Display the full ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized" /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Always open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null # Never open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null # Minimize the ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null # Display the full ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized' -PropertyType DWord -Value 4 -Force | Out-Null
UserPer-account setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] ; Options (use only one) ; Always open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized"=dword:00000001 ; Never open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized"=dword:00000002 ; Minimize the ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized"=dword:00000003 ; Display the full ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized"=dword:00000004
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Always open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f :: Never open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f :: Minimize the ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f :: Display the full ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized" /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Always open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null # Never open new File Explorer windows with the ribbon minimized. New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null # Minimize the ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null # Display the full ribbon when File Explorer is opened the first time. New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ExplorerRibbonStartsMinimized' -PropertyType DWord -Value 4 -Force | Out-Null