How to Rename “Favorites”, “Libraries”, “Homegroup”, “Computer” and “Network” Items in Windows 7 Explorer’s Navigation Pane?

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We have posted a few tutorials in past about removing "Favorites", "Libraries", "Homegroup", "Computer" and "Network" Items from Windows 7 Explorer’s Navigation Pane:

Today in this tutorial, we'll tell you how to rename these items present in Navigation pane. By default, Windows only allows you to rename "Computer" item. You can right-click on it and select "Rename" and type whatever name you want to give.

But what about other items? You can rename them too using a simple registry trick which is mentioned in the coming steps.

We'll modify the same registry keys which we modified in the above mentioned tutorials to remove the items. We'll just edit a String value "LocalizedString" for each Navigation pane item and give it our desired name.

So without wasting any time, lets start the tutorial:

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

2. Now go to any of following keys according to your requirements:

Favorites - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}
Libraries - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}
Homegroup - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}
Network - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}

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

You can use following simple steps to take permission:

[Guide] How to Take Ownership (Permission) of a Registry Key in Windows?

4. Now double-click on "LocalizedString" String value given in right-side section and change its value to any desired name like "PC Favorites", "My Libraries", "Home Network", etc.

5. That's it. Now open My Computer and you'll see the new names for each item.

NOTE: If you want to restore the default names, you can use following default values of "LocalizedString" String value:

Favorites - @%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21796
Libraries - @%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-50691
Homegroup - @%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-50688
Network - @%systemroot%\system32\NetworkExplorer.dll,-1

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

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seahorsepip

holy thanks gonna play with this trick =P! and did you got mail allready about my new app?
Dustin

Thanks! I almost had this figured out myself, I was literally one string off with the name!
seahorsepip

How to Change the word computer????
seahorsepip

found the clsid allready by remove computer =P
Dustin

I just right clicked on the Computer icon and clicked rename lol.
seahorsepip

hahaha thanks Dustion would be cool if there was a mod that could do that by everything just right click =P
Ralph

At last! Favorites renamed to Favourites for us in England! :)
Dustin

No problem seahorsepip, and yes I agree! You may know me better as asilaydyingdl on DA.
Dustin

You know VG, if we wanted the original names, couldn't we just type the original name into the string instead of the full original value? I think so.
VG

^^ Yes. You can but its always advisable to restore default values to keep consistency. :)