Windows 10

Microsoft is no longer treating possibly the most unused folder, 3D Objects, as a special folder in File Explorer.

With the release of Windows 10 1703, otherwise known as the Creators Update, Microsoft included a new application called '3D Viewer' that allowed you to view and manipulate 3D models.

Windows 10 3D Viewer
Windows 10 3D Viewer

As a place to store all those 3D object files that Microsoft thought people would be downloading, they created a '3D Objects' folder in each user's user profile directory. This folder was given a unique icon and was designated as a special folder in File Explorer, as shown below.

Caption

However, most people did not find 3D Viewer as useful as Microsoft, and the most popular search queries regarding the '3D Objects folder' was how to remove it.

Search results asking how to remove the 3D Objects folder
Search results asking how to remove the 3D Objects folder

Microsoft finally got the hint, and with yesterday's release of Windows 10 Insider build 21322 in the Dev channel, the 3D Objects folder is no longer displayed as a special folder in File Explorer. However, Windows 10 users can still access it directly from the %UserProfile% folder.

"The 3D Objects folder will no longer be shown as a special folder in File Explorer after updating to this build. If you need to access this folder, you can do so via typing %userprofile% in File Explorer or through the navigation pane option “Show all folders," Microsoft explained in the Windows 10 Insider build 21322 release notes.

3D Objects folder removed from File Explorer
3D Objects folder removed from File Explorer

While this is not a particularly big change for Windows users, it is one less folder cluttering Windows 10's File Explorer, which can quickly become filled with extraneous devices and drives.

Related Articles:

Microsoft April 2024 Patch Tuesday fixes 150 security flaws, 67 RCEs

Windows 10 KB5036892 update released with 23 new fixes, changes

New Windows driver blocks software from changing default web browser

Recent Windows updates break Microsoft Connected Cache delivery

Microsoft fixes Windows Sysprep issue behind 0x80073cf2 errors