ExplorerTweaks v2.7.0

ExplorerTweaks is a Windows File Explorer and shell configuration utility with a dark CustomTkinter GUI, live preview, profile import/export, and deployment tooling for local users, IT scripts, and PSRemoting.

Features

• Live Explorer and taskbar preview for file extensions, hidden files, status bar, taskbar buttons, theme mode, and Windows 11 navigation items.
• More than 50 File Explorer, taskbar, search, privacy, performance, and Windows 11 shell toggles.
• Built-in presets for Minimal, Privacy, and Power User setups.
• JSON profile export/import plus diff view against saved profiles or built-in presets.
• CLI apply/export, dry-run mode, preset listing, recent-items wipe, and policy-lock warnings.
• Shared registry plan/apply/verify/rollback engine for local GUI, CLI, preset, multi-user, and restore operations.
• Targeted shell/theme refresh after supported changes, with forced Explorer restart kept as an explicit fallback.
• Persistent GUI operation log/status panel plus structured JSON operation reports from CLI dry-runs.
• PowerShell deployment script export for current-user or all-loaded-user registry hives.
• PSRemoting profile push for fleets that already have WinRM access configured.
• Multi-user local apply across HKU\.DEFAULT and loaded user SIDs.
• Backup/restore bundles for ExplorerTweaks registry subtrees, wallpaper, and taskbar pins, with archive validation before restore.
• Right-click shell entries that launch ExplorerTweaks focused on the relevant settings category.
• Sunrise/sunset dark-mode auto-switch using Windows Location API or explicit latitude/longitude overrides.
• Send To folder manager, classic context menu toggle, classic Photo Viewer registration, and .reg export.

Quick Start

git clone https://github.com/SysAdminDoc/ExplorerTweaks.git
cd ExplorerTweaks
pip install -r requirements.txt
python explorer_tweaks.py

Build the portable executable:

build.bat

The executable is written to dist\ExplorerTweaks.exe.

CLI Usage

python explorer_tweaks.py --list-presets
python explorer_tweaks.py --preset "Power User" --dry-run
python explorer_tweaks.py --preset "Power User" --dry-run --dry-run-report report.json
python explorer_tweaks.py --apply profile.json
python explorer_tweaks.py --apply profile.json --all-users
python explorer_tweaks.py --export settings.json
python explorer_tweaks.py --export settings.reg --format reg
python explorer_tweaks.py --export settings.ps1 --format ps1 --all-users
python explorer_tweaks.py --export-profile-ps1 profile.json deploy.ps1 --all-users
python explorer_tweaks.py --remote-apply profile.json --computer PC-01 --computer PC-02 --dry-run
python explorer_tweaks.py --backup ExplorerTweaks_backup.zip
python explorer_tweaks.py --restore ExplorerTweaks_backup.zip
python explorer_tweaks.py --install-context-menu
python explorer_tweaks.py --uninstall-context-menu
python explorer_tweaks.py --install-darkmode-auto-switch
python explorer_tweaks.py --install-darkmode-auto-switch --darkmode-lat 40.7128 --darkmode-lon -74.0060
python explorer_tweaks.py --uninstall-darkmode-auto-switch
python explorer_tweaks.py --wipe-recent

Setting Categories

• Appearance: file extensions, hidden files, protected OS files, checkboxes, compact view, thumbnails, type overlays, status bar, title/address path display.
• Navigation: launch target, nav pane expansion, all folders, separate process, restore windows at logon, sharing wizard.
• Privacy: recent files, frequent folders, document/app tracking, OneDrive sync provider notifications, suggested app installs.
• Search: Bing web results, Cortana consent, search history, taskbar search mode.
• Taskbar: Task View, Widgets, centered icons, End Task menu.
• Performance: taskbar animations, Aero Peek, thumbnail cache, network thumbs.db, Snap Assist, Snap Layouts.
• Theme: app and system dark mode.
• Windows 11: Gallery and classic context menu.
• Tools: presets, Send To cleanup, recent-items wipe, Photo Viewer, profile diff, deployment, backup/restore, shell integration, auto dark mode.

Deployment Notes

--format ps1 exports the current machine state as a PowerShell script. By default it applies to the current user; pass --all-users to make the script target HKU\.DEFAULT and all loaded user SIDs unless the script is run with -CurrentUserOnly.

--remote-apply uses PowerShell Remoting and assumes WinRM access is already configured for the target computers. It does not manage credentials or enable remoting.

The dark-mode auto-switch installs a per-user scheduled task named \ExplorerTweaks\DarkModeAutoSwitch. If Windows Location access is disabled, reinstall with --darkmode-lat and --darkmode-lon.

Registry Locations

ExplorerTweaks writes user-level registry settings under:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM
HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}
HKCU\Software\Classes\Directory\shell
HKCU\Software\Classes\Directory\Background\shell
HKCU\Software\Classes\Drive\shell
HKCU\Software\Classes\DesktopBackground\Shell

Most settings do not require administrator rights. Multi-user mode can only touch user hives that are already loaded.

Development

python -m unittest discover -s tests -v
python -m py_compile explorer_tweaks.py
python explorer_tweaks.py --help

License

MIT. See LICENSE.

Disclaimer

This tool modifies Windows Registry settings. Export settings or create a backup bundle before large changes, and restart Explorer where Windows requires it.