Change Default New Folder Name in Windows 10

This guide shows you how to change the default name that Windows 10 assigns to new folders (e.g., “New folder”) to something more personal or useful, like “New Project” or “Drafts”. You’ll edit the Windows Registry, so you’ll need administrator access to your PC. No additional software is required.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC with administrator privileges
• Basic comfort with editing the Windows Registry (we’ll guide you safely)

Step-by-Step

1. Back up the Registry (recommended). Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. In the Registry Editor, click File > Export. Choose a location, name the file (e.g., registry-backup), select All under Export range, and click Save. This lets you restore if something goes wrong.
2. Navigate to the correct registry key. In the Registry Editor, paste this path into the address bar and press Enter:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
3. Create a new key (if needed). In the left pane, right-click on the Explorer key (folder icon), select New > Key, and name it NamingTemplates (exactly as written). If the key already exists, skip to the next step.
4. Create the string value. Right-click on the NamingTemplates key, choose New > String Value, and name it RenameNameTemplate.
5. Set the new folder name. Double-click RenameNameTemplate. In the Value data field, type the name you want Windows to use as the default for new folders (e.g., New Folder is the default; you can replace it with My Folder or any other name). Click OK.
6. Restart Windows Explorer. To apply the change without rebooting your PC, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find Windows Explorer in the list, right-click it, and select Restart. Your taskbar will disappear and reappear – that’s normal.
7. Test it. Right-click on your desktop or in any folder, select New > Folder. The new folder should now have your custom name (e.g., “My Folder”).

Common Mistakes

• Typo in the key name: The key must be exactly NamingTemplates (case doesn’t matter, but spelling does). A misspelled key will be ignored.
• Wrong registry location: Placing the value under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE instead of HKEY_CURRENT_USER will affect all users and may require different permissions. Stick to the path above.
• Forgetting to restart Explorer: The change won’t take effect until Explorer restarts. If you skip this, you might think it didn’t work.
• Using invalid characters: Windows doesn’t allow certain characters in folder names, like \ / : * ? " < > |. If you use them, the rename will fail.

Tips

• Use a short, simple name – it’s easier to type and less likely to cause issues.
• You can include spaces (e.g., “New Project”), but avoid leading or trailing spaces as they may be trimmed.
• To revert to the default, just delete the RenameNameTemplate value (or the entire NamingTemplates key) and restart Explorer.
• This also affects the default name for new folders in File Explorer, not just on the desktop.

Troubleshooting

• Change doesn’t apply: Make sure you restarted Windows Explorer. If not, do that. Also double-check the registry path – a common mistake is putting the value under Explorer directly instead of Explorer\NamingTemplates.
• New folders still show “New folder”: Verify that the value name is exactly RenameNameTemplate (no spaces). Also, ensure you’re testing in a location where you have permission to create folders (e.g., desktop, Documents).
• Registry editor says “Cannot create key”: This usually means you don’t have administrator rights. Right-click on regedit.exe and select Run as administrator, then try again.
• Custom name appears only for some folders: The setting applies to all new folders created via the context menu. If you’re using a third-party file manager, it may have its own default naming.
• After a Windows update, the setting resets: Some updates may reset registry tweaks. Simply re-apply the steps above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this change affect existing folders?

No, it only changes the default name for folders you create after applying the tweak. Existing folders keep their names.

Can I use a different name for each new folder?

No, this sets a single default name. You can still rename each folder manually after creation.

Is it safe to edit the registry?

Yes, if you follow the steps exactly and back up the registry first. The change is minor and reversible.

Does this work on Windows 11?

This guide is specific to Windows 10. Windows 11 may have a similar registry structure, but it’s not guaranteed; proceed with caution and back up first.

Can I set it to a blank name?

No, Windows requires at least one character for a folder name. Leaving it blank will cause an error.

Why does the default name include “folder”?

The default “New folder” is a built-in localization string. This tweak overrides it with your custom text.

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