There is nothing more frustrating than having five different File Explorer windows meticulously arranged across your monitors for a complex project, only to be forced to restart your computer for a mandatory Windows update. Upon logging back in, all your open folders are gone, forcing you to navigate through your hard drive and manually reopen each directory.
Fortunately, Windows 11 includes a deeply buried, legacy feature that forces the operating system to remember exactly which folders you had open when you shut down, and automatically restores them the moment you log back in.
How to Enable “Restore Previous Folder Windows at Logon”
This setting is not found in the modern Windows 11 Settings app. You must access it through the classic File Explorer Options menu.
- Open a new File Explorer window by pressing Windows Key + E.
- Look at the top menu bar. Click on the three horizontal dots (…) located on the far right side of the toolbar.
- From the dropdown menu, select Options at the very bottom.
- A new window titled “Folder Options” will appear. Click on the View tab at the top of this window.
- In the “Advanced settings” box, scroll down until you find an option labelled Restore previous folder windows at logon.
- Check the box next to this option.
- Click Apply, then click OK.
How It Works in Practice
The feature works seamlessly in the background. The next time you shut down, restart, or simply log out of your Windows user profile, Windows will quietly save the file paths of every File Explorer window currently open on your screen.
When you power your PC back on and log in, your desktop will appear briefly empty before Windows automatically launches File Explorer and restores all your previous directories, allowing you to pick up your workflow exactly where you left off.