Windows 10: Add or Remove Linux from Navigation Pane in Windows 10

How to: Add or Remove Linux from Navigation Pane in Windows 10

How to Add or Remove Linux in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10


The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a new Windows 10 feature that enables you to run native Linux command-line tools directly on Windows, alongside your traditional Windows desktop and modern store apps.

Starting with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

You can find your WSL distros files by accessing \\wsl$\{distro name}\ where {distro name} is the name of a running distro.

Linux in the navigation pane allows you to quickly see all currently running WSL distros from wsl$.

If you like, you can remove Linux from the navigation without having to disable WSL.

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove Linux in the navigation pane of File Explorer for your account in Windows 10. When you click/tap on the Distro shortcut in Linux, it will show all currently running WSL distros.

*note If you choose to remove Linux from the navigation pane and have Show all folders turned on for the navigation pane, then Linux will still show until Show all folders is turned off.


EXAMPLE: Linux in navigation pane of File Explorer when WSL is enabled








Here's How:

The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6}
@="Linux"

System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree DWORD

1 = add
0 = remove


1. Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Add Linux to Navigation Pane of Current User
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 4 below.

Add_Linux_to_navigation_pane_in_File_Explorer.reg

Download

3. To Remove Linux from Navigation Pane of Current User
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 4 below.

Remove_Linux_from_navigation_pane_in_File_Explorer.reg

Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Enable or Disable Windows Subsystem for Linux (Bash on Ubuntu) in Windows 10
• How to Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distros in Windows 10
• How to Update and Upgrade Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distro Packages in Windows 10
• How to Unregister and Reset Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distro in Windows 10
• How to Add User to Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distro in Windows 10
• How to Add, Remove, and List Sudo Users in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distro in Windows 10​
• How to List Users in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distro in Windows 10
• How to Change User Password in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distro in Windows 10
• How to Reset User Password in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distro in Windows 10
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• How to Create a Bash on Ubuntu on Windows 10 shortcut
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• How to Enable or Disable Extended Line Endings in Notepad in Windows 10
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• How to List All Available Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distros in Windows 10
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• How to Terminate Running Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distro in Windows 10
• How to Set Default Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distro in Windows 10
• How to Run a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distro in Windows 10
• How to Access Linux Files in a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distro from Windows 10

:)

 

Remove Quick access from Navigation Pane in Windows 10  

Thanks Shawn When I was looking at your request for the reg files I saw that the one in root wasn't done and I thought maybe I misread the Tut..LOL But it is now out of the navigational pane but the folders are still there but I think that maybe they should be..





Thank you for your help. I appreciate it!

 

Remove Quick access from Navigation Pane in Windows 10  


I followed the steps in the this tutorial and was able to remove the Quick Access feature from the navigation pane of Windows Explorer - thanks for this.

However, the Quick Access feature can still be seen in the navigation pane of the save dialog explorer when trying to save a file from a web browser, for example. Do you have any tips on how to remove the Quick Access feature from this location as well?

 

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Ty!!!!

 

Add or Remove Duplicate Drives in Navigation Pane in Windows 10  


Hello Josey,

It'll remove all the separate groups of drives in the navigation pane. It won't remove the ones listed under the "This PC" group.

 

Modify Navigation Pane

Thank you, sorry it has taken so long to follow up.

The suggested actions did not resolve the problem. I want to add/remove items from the navigation pane (left hand side) of a windows explorer window. When I reset the folders, it did remove my libraries from the navigation pane; which I expected. They
are not hard to get back so that is not an issue.

The current issue is I want to remove "Dropbox" from the navigation pane. More fundamentally, I want the ability to remove or add items to the navigation pane.