Choose default behaviors

Set the app-wide starting point for common actions while leaving room for a more specific choice when you need one. These preferences do not move, rename, or edit your files.

• Choose new-tab and folder defaults to set where a new Explorer tab starts and how an otherwise unconfigured folder is presented.
• Choose which files appear to control hidden files, extensions, the parent entry, folder ordering, and always-hidden patterns.
• Choose how files open to choose a persistent primary-open action for each supported extension.
• Configure thumbnails and media behavior to balance thumbnail quality, storage, and generation work, then find the format-specific playback controls.

These are fallback behaviors, not replacements for live or named configurations. Use Configure a file view for the active Explorer tab, Save and reuse views for named presentation configurations, and Open in… for a one-time choice of external app.