How To Remove Network From Windows 8 Explorer Navigation Pane

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Windows 8 contains a lot of new features while some features are still useless. Showing Network in explorer navigation pane of Windows 8 is also of little use to many. It was there in Windows 7 and it is now there in Windows 8 too.

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You do not need to use it, and even if you do, it is rather infrequently, since it has limited options. If you want to change some Network settings, you have to perform settings search (Windows Key + W) and just type Network. The results displayed are relevant for every case – so we have to rely on search and not on that Network entry, as much as we’d like to.

Remove Network From Windows Explorer Navigation Pane

In this article, I’m going to tell you how to remove this option ‘Network’ from the navigation pane of Explorer.

1. Press Windows Key + R combination on keyboard and type Regedt32.exe in Run dialog box. Press OK.

2. Navigate to following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}\ShellFolder

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3. In the left pane, take the ownership of key ShellFolder. This article will tell you how to take full control or ownership of registry keys.

4. Now in the right pane, double-click on Attributes, and look out for Value data section. It must have value b0040064 by default, which displays Network in explorer pane.

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5. Replace that value with b0940064 and the press OK.

6. These steps are applicable to 32-bit users only. If you’re using 64-bit Windows then perform steps 3, 4, 5 for this location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}\ShellFolder

7. Reboot the machine and you’ll see that Network has been removed from the explorer pane.

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If you want to display the Network link back, in Windows explorer pane, just restore the previous value in step 5.

Do remember to create a system restore first!

Posted by on , in Category Windows with Tags , ,
Kapil is passionate Windows blogger who loves to write about Windows tricks, tips and customization. He loves to help people in troubleshooting their problems.

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  • http://caspan.com Caspan

    This did not work for Windows 8 Professional x64 just so you know. No idea why not and I did follow your x64 instructions. Not sure why but mine is still there

  • http://caspan.com Caspan

    Found out the issues, your instructions are a little hard to understand. When on a x32 bit machine you only have to do the first steps 1-5. If you are on a x64 you need to change it in the 2 locations. Little confusing… hope this helps anyone else out on a x64 machine.

  • Chandika Vamsi Krishna

    can’t edit the attributes

  • http://caspan.com Caspan

    In step 3 if you read it it states “This article will tell you how to take full control or ownership of registry keys.” then has a link on how to take ownership of the registry key.

    If you don’t know about basic things like ACL and permissions in the registry, maybe you should not be messing with it! Might get yourself into some hot water.

  • telemarker

    or simply create a reg-file with this:

    [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerDesktopNameSpace{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}]

    [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerDesktopNameSpace{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}]

    you can also delete this 2 keys manually, works with win 8 pro 64bit.