How to Remove “Network” from Windows 7 Explorer’s Navigation Pane?

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If you enable "Navigation Pane" in Windows 7 Explorer, it shows following 5 items in the pane:

Favorites
Libraries
Homegroup
Computer
Network

This tutorial will help you in removing "Network" item from the Navigation pane as shown in following screenshot:

Simply follow these simple steps:

1. Type regedit in RUN or startmenu search box and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}\ShellFolder

3. Now you'll need to change value of "Attributes" DWORD value present in the right-side section. But Windows will not allow you to change its value as you won't have proper permissions.

To get permissions, first right-click on "ShellFolder" key and select "Permissions".

It'll open a new window. Select "Administrators" in user list and check "Allow" box given for "Full Control" permission.

Click on OK button to apply the changes.

4. Now double-click on "Attributes" DWORD value given in right-side section and change its value to b0940064

5. That's it. Log off or restart your system and "Network" will no longer present in Explorer window.

NOTE: If you want to restore "Network" in Navigation pane, simply change value of "Attributes" DWORD to b0040064 using step 4.

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This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 7.

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SCBright

Why?
SCBright

Why somebody wants to remove this?
ian

this not important to me so I remove this. and also Homegroup. thank you Vishal for the guide!
Ray

I love these guides, thanks for sharing VG!

I've removed Network, Libraries and HomeGroup but left Favorites (very handy). Those others take up space in Explorer's Navigation Pane which I can use for Favorites (ie more shortcuts to folders).

Wouldn't it be possible to have an on/off VBS script or something? :) Beyone my skills but maybe someone can do it?

Remove Libraries http://www.askvg.com/how-to-remove-libraries-from-windows-7-explorers-navigation-pane/

Remove HomeGroup http://www.askvg.com/how-to-remove-homegroup-from-windows-7-explorers-navigation-pane/
bruno

there are opportunities to do so Recent Places ?
limp

Thank you so much. Your tweak works exactly as you presented it. I don't know how you figured it out. That annoying Network entry has been bothering me for months. Not only was it obtrusive in the Windows Explorer Navigation Pane, but also it was screwing up my Desktop Toolbar. Thank you again.
PacMani

Thanks Vishal, I just wonder how you found that out? I was always searching for a table of those registry GUIDs or what it is.
Curt

This is an excellent reg hack. Good job! Thank you...
Killerbanjo

Easyer way

Task Manager /services /services Disabled the "Function Discovery Resource Publication" service

Just disable it or make it manual or whatever you want
mofo

hmm, nice, but it comes back sooner or later, especially after windows update.