How in the Tech

Hiding “Libraries” in Windows 7 Explorer

By Adam Myers ⋅ November 4, 2009 ⋅ Tags: Customization, Windows 7

Libraries is one of the new features introduced in Windows 7 and typically you will either love it or hate it. Libraries can be thought of as virtual folders on your hard drive. Their contents are composed of specific data types, like music or documents, that are found throughout your entire hard drive. In previous Windows you may have your music files spread throughout multiple folders and drives – with libraries, once configured, you would have a single point of access to all your media.

Ever so slowly, Microsoft is transitioning away from the traditional C:\ and folder hierarchy organizational system. Windows 7 libraries is truly a window to what is to come. I have found that long-time PC users are resistant to this type of change – we, I’m including myself in this group, like to know exactly where our files are on the computer and manage them closer to the file system level rather than in a virtual realm like libraries. It’s a paradigm shift that in all actuality, we’ll likely just have to learn to accept sooner or later.

Unfortunately, Windows 7 pushes it’s Library concept front in center in Explorer whether you use it or not – the links to your libraries are always displayed. With a simple registry tweak, however, the Library listing can be hidden – which suits my minimalist perspective.

Launch regedit.exe from the Windows 7 search box.

Navigate the tree down to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\

Delete the key {031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5} and reboot.