In this guide, we’ll explore the steps to remove the homepage from File Explorer in Windows 11. Many users have asked if it’s possible to get rid of the “Home” entry in File Explorer’s navigation pane. The good news is yes, you can! However, you’ll need to use the Windows Registry to make these changes.
Before we begin, let me share a warning: Editing the Windows Registry can be risky if not done correctly. It’s strongly recommended that you create a backup of your system before proceeding. For those unfamiliar, check the guide on creating a backup in Windows 11.
How to Remove the Homepage from File Explorer
If File Explorer is open, close it to ensure changes are applied properly. After that, follow this steps:
1. Press Win + S and search for Registry Editor.
2. Open the Registry Editor and accept any permission prompts.
3. Go to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer4. Right-click on the Explorer key, select New, and choose DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name the new value HubMode and press Enter.
6. Right-click the newly created HubMode key, select Modify, and set its value to 1. Click OK.
7. Next, Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace8. Look for {f874310e-b6b7-47dc-bc84-b9e6b38f5903}, right-click the key and select Delete.
When you open File Explorer, you will notice that the Home entry is no longer visible in the left navigation pane.
If you ever want to undo these changes, start by opening the Registry Editor. Delete the HubMode DWORD key you created earlier under the Explorer path.
Next, recreate the namespace key that was deleted. To do this, right-click on NameSpace, select New > Key, and name the new key {f874310e-b6b7-47dc-bc84-b9e6b38f5903}.
Finally, add the default string value back as CLSID_MSGraphHomeFolder. Once you have completed these steps, reopen File Explorer, and the Home entry will be restored.
Changing the Default Page Without Registry Edits
If you don’t want to edit the Registry but dislike the homepage, you can change the default page for File Explorer but it will not remove the Home page entirely.
1. Open File Explorer and go to Folder Options by click on the three-dot and select Options.
2. Under the General tab, locate Open File Explorer to and choose This PC instead of Home.
3. Click Apply, then OK.
Now, File Explorer will open directly to This PC or another specified location without removing the Home entry.
