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Remove Shared Documents from My Computer

Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026

Windows 11 25H2

Supported on: Windows XP Professional only

Path in the GPO console

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\File Explorer

Description

This policy setting allows you to remove the Shared Documents folder from My Computer. When a Windows client is in a workgroup, a Shared Documents icon appears in the File Explorer Web view under "Other Places" and also under "Files Stored on This Computer" in My Computer. Using this policy setting, you can choose not to have these items displayed. If you enable this policy setting, the Shared Documents folder is not displayed in the Web view or in My Computer. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the Shared Documents folder is displayed in Web view and also in My Computer when the client is part of a workgroup. Note: The ability to remove the Shared Documents folder via Group Policy is only available on Windows XP Professional.

Registry

HKCU Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Value name: NoSharedDocuments

MDM / Intune (CSP)

./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_WindowsExplorer/NoMyComputerSharedDocuments
User Since Windows 10, version 2004 with KB5005101 [10.0.19041.1202] and later | Windows 10, version 20H2 with KB5005101 [10.0.19042.1202] and later | Windows 10, version 21H1 with KB5005101 [10.0.19043.1202] and later | Windows 11, version 21H2 [10.0.22000] and later Official mapping (Microsoft Learn)

Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)

Export Builder

BETA

Configure 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.

.reg file

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Remove Shared Documents from My Computer
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Windows XP Professional only

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSharedDocuments"=dword:00000001
More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)

PowerShell

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Remove Shared Documents from My Computer
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows XP Professional only
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.

$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoSharedDocuments' -Value 1 -Type DWord

Building a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.

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