Location where all default Library definition files for users/machines reside.
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\File Explorer User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\File Explorer Description
This policy setting allows you to specify a location where all default Library definition files for users/machines reside. If you enable this policy setting, administrators can specify a path where all default Library definition files for users reside. The user will not be allowed to make changes to these Libraries from the UI. On every logon, the policy settings are verified and Libraries for the user are updated or changed according to the path defined. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, no changes are made to the location of the default Library definition files.
Registry
HKLM
SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer HKCU
SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_WindowsExplorer/DefaultLibrariesLocation User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_WindowsExplorer/DefaultLibrariesLocation Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
Applying both scopes creates an ambiguous configuration (computer takes precedence over user). Only do this intentionally.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Location where all default Library definition files for users/machines reside.
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DefaultLibrariesLocation"=""More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Location where all default Library definition files for users/machines reside.
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DefaultLibrariesLocation' -Value '' -Type StringIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_WindowsExplorer/DefaultLibrariesLocation
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>
<data id="DefaultLibrariesLocation" value=""/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Location where all default Library definition files for users/machines reside.
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'DefaultLibrariesLocation' -Expected '' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Location where all default Library definition files for users/machines reside.
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DefaultLibrariesLocation' -Value '' -Type StringSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Location where all default Library definition files for users/machines reside.
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Location where all default Library definition files for users/machines reside.
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'DefaultLibrariesLocation' -Expected '' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Location where all default Library definition files for users/machines reside.
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DefaultLibrariesLocation' -Value '' -Type StringBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.