Windows 11 keeps track of how you view folders in File Explorer, such as window size, view type, column layout, and sorting order, to provide a personalized experience. This information is stored in the Windows Registry using a feature known as ShellBags. While ShellBags are useful for convenience, some users want to remove or disable ShellBags due to privacy concerns, corrupted folder views, performance issues, or forensic data retention.
If you are looking to clear existing ShellBags data or prevent Windows 11 from storing new ShellBags information, this guide will walk you through all the safe and effective methods to do so.
What Are ShellBags and Why You May Want to Disable Them
ShellBags are registry entries that store folder view settings for every folder you open in File Explorer. Over time, these entries can become corrupted, leading to folder view issues, grow excessively large within the registry, and retain historical folder access data, which may raise privacy concerns. This buildup happens gradually as you browse more directories, and Windows continues to save each interaction without automatically clearing outdated entries.
Additionally, these entries can cause File Explorer to behave inconsistently, such as resetting folder layouts, slowing down navigation, or displaying incorrect view preferences. Windows does not provide a straightforward built-in option to completely reset or manage ShellBags, which means users often need to rely on manual registry edits or third-party tools to clean them and restore normal File Explorer performance.
Remove or Disable ShellBags on Windows 11
Follow the steps carefully. Some methods involve editing the Windows Registry, so proceed cautiously.
1. Back Up the Registry
Before making any registry changes, create a backup.
1. Press Windows + R
2. Type regedit and press Enter
3. Click Yes on the UAC prompt
4. In Registry Editor, click File > Export
5. Choose All under Export range
6. Save the backup to a safe location
This allows you to restore the registry if something goes wrong.
2. Delete Existing ShellBags Registry Entries
This removes all stored folder view data, effectively resetting how folders are displayed across the system. Any customizations you previously made, such as preferred layouts (icons, list, details), column arrangements, sorting order, grouping settings, and window sizes, will be cleared. As a result, all folders will revert to their default view settings the next time you open them.
1. Open Registry Editor
2. Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell3. Delete the following keys:
BagMRU
Bags
4. Close Registry Editor
5. Restart File Explorer or reboot your PC
After this, Windows will recreate ShellBags from scratch.
3. Limit ShellBags Instead of Fully Disabling Them
Windows allows you to control how many folder view records it stores, which affects how many folder customizations it can remember. Increasing the limit helps retain more unique folder settings, while a lower limit may cause older preferences to be reset.
1. In Registry Editor, go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell2. Right-click in the right pane → New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
3. Name it:
BagMRU Size4. Double-click it and set the value to:
0(disables saving folder views)
- or a low number like
100
5. Click OK
6. Restart your PC
Setting this value to 0 effectively prevents Windows from retaining folder view history.
4. Reset Folder View Settings in File Explorer
This method clears view-related issues caused by ShellBags corruption by removing stored folder display data and forcing Windows to rebuild it. As a result, any corrupted or inconsistent view settings are reset, helping restore normal folder behavior.
1. Open File Explorer
2. Click ⋯ (three dots) > Options
3. Go to the View tab
4. Click Reset Folders
5. Click Yes, then OK
This does not delete ShellBags completely but resets their behavior.
5. Use Group Policy to Reduce Folder View Storage
On Windows 11 Pro or higher, you can reduce ShellBags impact through Group Policy behavior, allowing you to control how folder view data is stored and managed.
1. Press Windows + R
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter
3. Navigate to:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer4. Review policies related to folder view persistence
5. Enable policies that restrict user-specific Explorer settings if available
Note: Group Policy cannot fully disable ShellBags but can limit user-level persistence.
6. Use Third-Party Privacy Tools
Some advanced privacy tools can automatically clear ShellBags during logoff or system startup, helping maintain privacy without manual intervention. However, it’s important to use only trusted and reputable tools, as unreliable software can cause unintended system issues. Avoid aggressive “registry cleaners,” since they may remove critical entries and lead to instability.
Always review the changes any tool makes before applying them. In general, manual registry methods are considered safer and more predictable, giving you better control over what is modified.
Wrapping Up
With that, we wrap up our detailed guide on how to remove or disable ShellBags on Windows 11. While ShellBags help Windows remember your folder preferences, they can also become a source of clutter, privacy concerns, or File Explorer issues over time.
By deleting existing ShellBags, limiting how many are stored, or resetting folder view settings, you can regain control over File Explorer behavior without harming system stability.
