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To show Libraries on Windows 11 (or 10), open File Explorer, right-click on the left pane, and choose the
Show libraries
option. - You can add or remove folder and network locations to each library and create new libraries to group other types of files.
You may allow libraries to access several directories from a single location in File Explorer on Windows 11, 10, 8.1, and previous versions. I’ll walk you through how to use this functionality in this post.
To put it simply, libraries are virtual folders that collect data from several physical places and display them as a single collection on any version of Windows. This means that files from your hard drive, external drives, or network locations can all show in one area.
The ability to add or remove folders from libraries to suit your needs and a unified display of particular file kinds (documents, images, music, etc.) in one spot, regardless of their actual location, are the main advantages of this feature. It’s also the only way to use the File History function to add custom destinations for file backups.
You can always make additional libraries as needed, but Windows 11 (and 10) comes with four default libraries: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos.
I’ll walk through how to show, add, remove, and build libraries on Windows in this guide.
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Enable Libraries on File Explorer
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Add a folder to library on File Explorer
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Remove a folder from library on File Explorer
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Create a new library on File Explorer
Enable Libraries on File Explorer
On Windows 11 (or 10), you may either follow these procedures or right-click on the File Explorer left pane and select the Show libraries option to see libraries:
OpenFile Explorer.
Navigate to the “See more” menu.
Select Options.
Select the Viewtab.
In the Navigation pane area, scroll down and select the Show libraries option.
Press the “Apply” button.
Press the “OK” button.
The Libraries feature will show up in the left pane with the default groupings for Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos when you’ve finished the tasks.
Add a folder to library on File Explorer
Use these procedures to add a new network location or folder to a library:
OpenFile Explorer.
To access the properties, right-click the library and choose it.
Press the “Add” button.
Select the network location or folder.
Press the button labeled “Include folder.”
(Selective) Choose the newly inserted folder.
To set the location as the default folder for storing files in the library, click the “Set save location” button.
Press the “Apply” button.
Press the “OK” button.
The new location will be added to File Explorer’s library after you finish the steps.
The Gallery page is a good option if you intend to use the Pictures library on Windows 11 because it offers improved image organizing, instantly displays your OneDrive photos, and adds and removes locations from the Collection menu.
Remove a folder from library on File Explorer
Use these procedures to delete a folder location from a library in File Explorer:
OpenFile Explorer.
To access the properties, right-click the library and choose it.
Choose the library folder that you no longer want.
Press the “Delete” button.
(Selective) To conceal the item from libraries, clear the Show option in the navigation pane.
Press the “Apply” button.
Press the “OK” button.
(Optional) To delete the library, right-click on it and select the Delete option.
The folder will be deleted from the library once you have finished the procedures.
Create a new library on File Explorer
Follow these instructions to create a new library in File Explorer.
OpenFile Explorer.
Holding down the Shiftkey allows you to right-click the library, select the New option, and then click on Library.
After confirming the library’s name, hit Enter.
To access the properties, right-click the library and choose it.
Press the “Add” button.
Select the network location or folder.
Press the button labeled “Include folder.”
Press the “Apply” button.
Press the “OK” button.
The new library will show up in File Explorer’s left pane after you’ve finished the instructions.
Libraries vs. system folders
System folders (Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos, Downloads, and Desktop) are included in File Explorer on Windows 11 (and 10), but they are not the same as libraries, even though you will discover the same Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos locations.
Both virtual and actual folders can be found in system folders. To put it another way, they serve as holding spaces for various files and folders in a certain location. For instance, by default, the Videos system folder corresponds to the Videos folder from the folders in your profile.
A Windows library is a logical collection of symbolic links to several destinations that may be accessed from a single library or entry point. For instance, the path to your account’s Videos folder may be included in the Videos library. Additional folder locations can be added with video files, and all of the locations will be accessible from a single entry point when the library is opened.