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.

4 Answers

Try the tutorial at TenForums - Option 2 and Option 4

Option 2:

Open File Explorer Options > Uncheck Show libraries > click/tap on OK.

Option 4:

• Run regedit
• Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}
• Open/create key System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree
• Use DWORD 0 to hide Libraries

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

wenpcfg

(Windows Explorer Navigation Pane Configuration)

This works in Windows 10 21H1 and Widows 7:

Step 1: Download :

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.

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 | Select Path

Sample output:

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