Show or hide Libraries folder in Windows 11

Windows 11 has a separate Libraries folder that is located in Windows Explorer and hidden by default. This is a nice way to organize your important files and folders that you use often. So if you have multiple folders on your local PC or in a hidden folder, you can save them all to the Libraries folder and access the files and folders from this one location.

This libraries folder works as a database where you can store all the files you open regularly, saving time from opening multiple folders in different locations.

If you think copying files and folders to Libraries will take up more hard drive storage space, that's not the case. So you won't lose disk space when you copy folders to the Libraries folder, but you can easily access all your important documents from a single location.

Additionally, some folders such as Music, Videos, Camera, or Saved Pictures all automatically appear in the Libraries folder. So this libraries folder is very useful. If you wish to display the libraries folder, do so as follows.

Show or hide Libraries folder in Windows 11

Show Libraries folder

Open Windows Explorer. In Windows Explorer, click on the three horizontal dots in the menu. Click Options in the menu. Then click on the tab: View.

In the Advanced settings, navigate all the way to the bottom. Enable the option: Show libraries. You will now immediately see a Libraries folder appear on the left side in Windows Explorer.

Hide Libraries folder

Open Windows Explorer. In Windows Explorer, click on the three horizontal dots in the menu. Click Options in the menu. Then click on the tab: View.

In the Advanced settings, navigate all the way to the bottom. Disable the option: Show libraries. On the left side in Windows Explorer you will immediately see that the Libraries folder disappears.

Add folder to Libraries folder

Adding a folder to the Libraries folder is actually nothing more than creating a shortcut. As previously mentioned in the introduction text, adding a new folder does not take up additional disk space because it is a shortcut and not a copy action.

To add a folder, go to the folder you want to add, right-click on the folder and click Show more options.

Then click Add to Library and choose an existing folder in the Libraries folder or create a new one.

You will see that the folder has now been added to the Libraries folder in Windows Explorer.

Remove folder from Libraries folder

To remove a folder from the Libraries folder, right-click on the folder and click Remove. You do not directly delete a folder, but a shortcut.

read more: 14 tips for Windows Explorer in Windows 11.

I hope this helped you. Thank you for reading!