How to Apply Folder Templates in Windows 10 and 11

Applying a template to a folder is one of those overlooked features in Windows. Even I’ve been guilty of moving my music files into the standard Music folder just so I could get that handy “Play all” menu. If only I’d realized sooner that you can make any folder act like a Music, Pictures, or even Videos folder. This is super handy when you are organising files on your computer.

This works perfectly in Windows 10 and Windows 11, and is a great way to keep your file organization personalized.

What is a Folder Template?

A folder template changes the way your folder behaves and what options appear in the toolbar when you open it. For example:

• If you open a folder set to the Music template, you’ll see options like “Play all.”
• If you open a Pictures folder, there’s usually a link to start a slide show.

Windows is smart enough to avoid putting a “Play all music” link inside your Pictures folders. Applying the right template keeps these tools relevant.

Why Bother Changing Folder Templates?

There are some big advantages:

• If you store photos, music, or videos outside of the default Pictures, Music, or Videos folders (like on an external drive), you can still get the same convenient menus.
• A Picture template lets you quickly start a slide show of everything in that folder.
• A Music template gives you an instant “Play all” option, acting almost like a playlist.

How to Apply a New Template to Any Folder (Windows 10 and 11)

Changing the template is easy. Here’s how to do it step by step:

1. Navigate to the folder you want to customize.
2. Right-click on the folder background (not on a file), then select Properties.
3. Go to the Customize tab.
4. Under “Optimize this folder for:”, open the drop-down menu.
5. Choose the template you want:
   • General items
   • Documents
   • Pictures
   • Music
   • Videos
6. If you’d like, check the box “Also apply this template to all subfolders”.
7. Click Apply, then OK.

For Older Windows Users

1. Go to the folder that you want to apply the template to.
2. Go to the menu at the top and choose view.
3. Then choose customize this folder.
4. The folder properties should open and start on the customize tab.
5. Press the drop down arrow to see your choices for a new template.

In Windows Vista, if the file, edit , view, tools, help menu is not there press the ALT key to make them show.

Handy Use Cases

• Pictures folders:
  If you love slideshows, apply the Pictures template. Then, opening the folder gives you quick links to start a slideshow of everything inside.
• Music folders:
  Make custom music folders (for genres or moods), then apply the Music template. Now you can just hit “Play all” and let it work like a mini playlist.

Notes on Using Folder Templates

• Applying a Pictures template to a folder of photos is especially nice if you want to quickly cycle through them without opening a separate viewer.
• Similarly, a Music template is great for folders of songs scattered outside your main Music library.

Final Thoughts

This little customization trick is one of the easiest ways to make Windows feel more organized and tailored to your needs, whether you’re using Windows 10 or 11. It also saves you from cluttering your default Pictures and Music folders if you prefer storing media on external drives.

Applying a template to a folder is often an overlooked feature in Windows. Even I have been guilty of moving music to a music folder so I can have access to the menu that comes with that template. If only I had realized that you could just make any folder a music folder or a picture folder.