How to Change the Default New Folder Name in Windows 10 and Windows 11

When creating a new folder in Windows 10 or Windows 11, it automatically gets named “New Folder.” If you’d like to customize this default name, you can do so by tweaking some system settings and making a few changes in the Registry. This guide will show you how.

Important Warning

Before making any Registry changes, it’s strongly recommended to create a system restore point. Modifying the Registry can be risky, and any errors might cause unexpected issues with your system. Always back up your system and proceed carefully.

Steps to Change the Default New Folder Name in the Windows Registry

  1. Open the Registry Editor

    Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter. This will open the Registry Editor.

  2. Navigate to the Appropriate Registry Key

    In the Registry Editor, go to the following path:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

    This is where the setting for the default new folder name is located.

  3. Create a New Parameter NewFolderName

    Right-click the Explorer folder, select New > String Value, and name this parameter NewFolderName.

  4. Set Your Preferred Default Folder Name

    Double-click on the new NewFolderName parameter and enter the desired default folder name in the value field. For example, you could use “My Documents” or “Project.”

  5. Restart Windows Explorer

    To apply the changes, you’ll need to restart Windows Explorer. Open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find Explorer in the list, right-click it, and select Restart.

Possible Issues and Solutions

In some cases, a system restart may be required for the changes to fully take effect. If the NewFolderName parameter doesn’t seem to work, double-check the Registry path and confirm you’ve restarted Windows Explorer.