Folder Views Still Resetting After Using WinSetView
This is the most common issue reported by users. Here are the causes and fixes:
- Open apps during Submit: Close all open applications — especially File Explorer windows — before clicking Submit. Open Explorer windows can prevent some view types from updating correctly.
- Specific folder types not set: Some folder types like Desktop, Search Results, or Control Panel may need individual settings. Uncheck Inherit for those types and set them explicitly.
- Windows profile corruption: In rare cases, a corrupted Windows user profile can prevent folder view settings from sticking. Create a new Windows user account to test.
WinSetView.hta Not Opening
If double-clicking WinSetView.hta does nothing or shows an error:
- Right-click WinSetView.hta and select Open with → Microsoft HTML Application Host (mshta.exe)
- Make sure mshta.exe is not blocked by your antivirus — add an exception for WinSetView folder
- Try running from a local drive (not a network share or cloud-synced folder)
Right-click WinSetView.hta → Open with → Microsoft HTML Application Host
Antivirus Blocking WinSetView
Some antivirus programs flag HTA files as potentially unsafe because they can execute scripts. WinSetView is open source and safe — add an exception for the WinSetView folder in your antivirus settings, or temporarily disable real-time protection while running WinSetView.
Settings Applied But Explorer Keeps Old View
If Submit completes without errors but folders still show the old view:
- Manually restart Explorer: press Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Task Manager → Windows Explorer → Restart
- Sign out of Windows and sign back in
- Reboot the PC — a full restart clears all cached Explorer state
Windows 11 Context Menu Not Restoring
If the classic right-click menu option in WinSetView is not working on your Windows 11 build:
- Make sure you are running the latest version of WinSetView from GitHub
- Try the manual registry method: delete HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} and restart Explorer
Frequently Asked Questions
WinSetView says Submit was successful but nothing changed — why?▼
The most likely cause is open File Explorer windows during Submit. Close all Explorer windows, run WinSetView again, and click Submit. Then open a fresh Explorer window to check the result.
Where can I get help if none of these fixes work?▼
Open an issue on the official WinSetView GitHub repository at github.com/LesFerch/WinSetView. The developer actively responds to issues and the community discussion section has solutions for many edge cases.