NoFolderOptions Policy hides Folder Options from Control Panel, and the Folder Options… command under Tools menu in Windows Explorer. The Folder and Search Options command in the Organize menu (in Windows Vista) is grayed out as well.

If your system is not part of any network and this restriction was enabled without your knowledge, it could be caused by Virus or Malware. There are plenty of viruses which enable the NoFolderOptions Policy in the registry, and in addition, hides file extensions for known file types. To get the option back, use one of these methods:

Using Registry Editor

Launch Regedit.exe and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer

-and-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer

Delete the NoFolderOptions value (if found) from the above locations

Exit the Registry Editor.

Using Group Policy Editor

Group Policy Editor is not available in Windows XP Home Edition and Windows Vista Home Editions. For all editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista, you may use the .reg file (under paragraph "Registry fix") to remove the Policy setting.

Note that this only resets the NoFolderOptions per-user Policy, whereas NoFolderOptions can be a per-machine setting as well.

1. Launch GPEDIT.MSC

2. Navigate to the following branch:

User Configuration | Administrative Templates | Windows Components | Windows Explorer

3. Double-click Removes the Folder Options menu item from the Tools menu

4. Set it to Not configured

Registry Fix

Download folderopt.zip, unzip and run the file folderopt.reg.

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6 Responses to “Folder Options Missing From Tools Menu in Windows Explorer” Subscribe to comments!

  1. b0g3l
    said this on Wednesday, November 18th 2009 4:52 am

    I love you!! *muach~

  2. Debbie
    said this on Saturday, November 7th 2009 5:46 pm

    I have the folder options, but am unable to change any file types under the file types tab. That option is grayed out for me. I have ran virus scan, uninstalled software recently installed, etc. No luck. Very frustrating. Any ideas how to get this back?

  3. Paul
    said this on Saturday, October 17th 2009 2:53 am

    Excellent!!

    Other posts only tell to remove from HKEY_CURRENT_USER and not from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE as well.

    Thank you very much!

  4. Peter
    said this on Thursday, May 7th 2009 5:06 pm

    Ive been looking for this for ages!!! Thanks!
    The NoFolderOptions key was not in the registry but adding it, and leaving the value blank worked.

    Now on to the next task – Displaying icons in the bottom right of the windows bar (with no access to the properties).

  5. Stef..
    said this on Sunday, December 14th 2008 3:31 am

    I tried what you said (I have win Vista home premium), but still no,lck, my “Folder Option” is still missing..?

  6. Kim
    said this on Saturday, September 13th 2008 12:29 pm

    Thanks for the tip on fixing my disabled Task Manager but am struggling to get back my misssing folder options.

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