Question: Every time I open Windows Explorer it is not maximized so I have to double click on the window header.

Is there some way to have it open maximized by default?

Answer: 
**Tip #1 - Maximize Window Explorer window from shortcut**

![alt text](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GJwL6.png)

**Tip #2 Registry Setting**

A little snooping in the registry turns up the MaximizeApps key. I don’t know if this works on all apps or just Windows Explorer but I solved my problem.

Find this Key

```
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
* CurrentVersion\Explorer

```

Add a new DWORD value named “MaximizeApps”

```
* Set the value to 1

```

**Tip #3 use key short cut** 

Open explorer, maximize and close it with `Shift`  pressed...
A VBscript that will do the tip #3 of @joe automatically (Windows 8+)

```
Dim WshShell
Set WshShell = createObject("Wscript.Shell")
WshShell.Run "explorer.exe"
Wscript.Sleep 2000
WshShell.AppActivate "File explorer"
WshShell.Sleep 2000
WshShell.SendKeys "+%{F4}"
Set WshShell = Nothing

```

Set `WshShell.AppActivate` to "This PC" if it is set be opened there.