This article describes steps one can take to enable or disable the Ubuntu Linux folder on the File Explorer navigation pane in Windows 11.
By default, when you enable Windows Subsystem for Linux and installed Ubuntu, the Ubuntu folder is automatically added to the navigation pane in File Explorer for easy access.
In most cases, users should find it useful to have the Ubuntu Linux folder in the File Explorer navigation pane. If you find the Ubuntu Linux folder on the navigation pane distracting or not useful, you can remove it using the steps below.
Removing the folder from there won’t delete the Ubuntu Linux folder on the system’s drive. On the other hand, if you don’t see the Ubuntu Linux folder on the navigation pane in File Explorer and you want to add it again, use can use the steps below to add it.
How to show or hide the Ubuntu Linux folder on the File Explorer navigation pane in Windows 11
As mentioned above, by default, when you enable Windows Subsystem for Linux and installed Ubuntu, the Ubuntu folder is automatically added to the navigation pane in File Explorer for easy access.
The Ubuntu Linux folder on the File Explorer navigation pane picture below:
Here’s how to hide or show the folder in Windows 11
First, open the Windows Registry, and navigate to the folder key path as listed below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6}
If you don’t see the {B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6} folder key, right-click on the CLSID key, then create the subkey {B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6} folders.
On the right pane of the {B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6} folder key, right-click and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type a new key named System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree.
Double-click the new value name (System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree) and enter the Value data as 1 to show the Ubuntu Linux folder on the File Explorer navigation pane in Windows 11.
A Value data of 0 will hide the Ubuntu Linux folder on the File Explorer navigation pane in Windows 11.
Close out and restart your machine for the changes to apply.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to show or hide the Ubuntu Linux folder on the File Explorer navigation pane in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.