Open desktop folders and external folder in new tab of Explorer

In this tutorial, we will show you how to always open desktop folders and external folder links in a new tab of File Explorer on a Windows 11/10 PC. By default, whenever we open a folder from the desktop, instead of opening it in an existing File Explorer window, it opens in a new or separate window or in its own window (based on the option you have set). Now, we have a new setting, which, if enabled, will open desktop folders in new tabs of an existing File Explorer window.

So, let’s say you have already opened a File Explorer window and then you open a desktop folder or another File Explorer window from some other location (say using the Search box), that particular folder will silently open in a new tab of that window. If multiple File Explorer windows are opened, desktop folders and external folder links will open in the new tabs of the latest or last opened File Explorer window.

How to always open desktop folders and external folder links in new tab of File Explorer in Windows 11/10

There are two native ways to always open desktop folders and external folder links in the new tab of File Explorer in Windows 11/10. These are:

Using the Folder Options
Using the Registry Editor.

Let’s check both options.

1] Using the Folder Options

The steps are as follows:

Open File Explorer using Win+E hotkey or another preferred way
Click on the three horizontal dots icon (or See more option)
Select Options. This will open the Folder Options window
In the General tab, select Open each folder in the same window option
Tickmark the Open desktop folders and external folder links in new tab option
Press the Apply button and OK button.

2] Using the Registry Editor

This option will work if the Open each folder in the same window option is already selected or enabled in the Folder Options. Here are the steps:

Type regedit in the Search box and hit the Enter key. The Registry Editor window will open
Select the Explorer Registry key. Here is the path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Double-click on the OpenFolderInNewTab DWORD (32-bit) Value. If for some reason, this value is not present, then create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value and rename it
In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, add 1 in the text filed
Press the OK button.

To turn off this setting, add 0 in the Value data field of OpenFolderInNewTab value, and press OK.

Hope this helps.

Also read: How to disable tabs in File Explorer on Windows PC

How do I open the same folder in a new tab in Windows 11?

Open a folder in a File Explorer window. Right-click on the tab title and select the Duplicate tab option. This will open the same folder in a new tab in the same File Explorer window. In addition, you can also right-click on a folder in a File Explorer window and use the Open in new tab option to open that folder in a separate tab within the same window. You can repeat this to open the same folder multiple times in new tabs of a File Explorer window.

How do I change the default folder to open in File Explorer in Windows 11?

By default, File Explorer opens to the Home menu on a Windows PC. But you can make File Explorer open to OneDrive or to This PC on Windows 11/10. For this, open the Folder Options, and access the General tab. Open the drop-down menu available for the Open File Explorer to option and select a location to make it default. Press the OK button.