File Explorer is the application you use to navigate files and folders on your hard disk, memory stick, CD/DVD, USB drive - and perform tasks with them such as open, rename, delete, move etc.
The functionality of File Explorer is similar to previous version of Windows especially Windows 10 but it has gone through a redesign and the main change is the replacement of the complex ribbon interface with a new simplified toolbar.
Accessing File Explorer
File Explorer can be opened using the icon on the Taskbar.
or from the icon on the Start menu.
or by right clicking on the Start Menu icon.
or by pressing.
+ 
File Explorer Overview
|
Toolbar |
Allows for the creation of new files / folders, along with buttons for cut, copy, paste, rename, share and delete. You can also choose how to view and sort your files and folders. Covered in more detail below |
|
Navigation Pane |
This pane allows you to navigate through your Drives and Folders (This PC), Network locations, local storage locations such as Documents, Pictures and Music, and OneDrive locations |
|
Back / Forward / Up |
Allows you navigate back and forward through the folder structure as well as moving up a level, you can also click the drop down arrow to see recent locations |
|
Address Bar |
This shows the path of the currently selected location e.g. C: > Users > Darren > Documents |
|
Search |
Allows you to search the currently selected path |
|
Content Pane |
Shows the content of whatever you have selected in the Navigation Pane |
|
Total Item Count |
Shows how many files / folders are in the currently selected path |
|
Tabs |
You can open multiple locations in File Explorer at once by opening additional tabs across the top of the window using the + button
To close a tab click the X button |
File Explorer Toolbar
|
New |
Allows you to create new Folders, Shortcuts and Files |
|
Cut |
Cut currently selected files(s) / folder(s) - this means they will be moved from this location when pasted |
|
Copy |
Copies currently selected files(s) / folder(s) - this means they will be copied from this location when pasted |
|
Paste |
Paste files(s) / folder(s) currently in clipboard e.g. previously copied or cut to this location |
|
Rename |
Rename currently selected files(s) / folder(s) |
|
Share |
Share currently selected files(s) / folder(s) with Nearby Sharing, Email or selected App |
|
Delete |
Delete currently selected files(s) / folder(s) |
|
Sort |
Choose how you wish the content pane to be sorted - by Name, Date, Type etc and whether ascending or descending |
|
View |
Choose how you wish the files / folders in the content pane to be viewed - as Icons, List, Details, Tiles or Content |
|
. . . |
see below |
|
Details |
Show or hide the details pane |
|
Undo |
Undo the last operation |
|
Redo |
Redo the last operation |
|
Burn to disc |
Burn (Write) selected files(s) / folder(s) to CD/DVD |
|
Compress to ZIP file |
Compress selected files(s) / folder(s) to a ZIP file |
|
Add to Favourites |
Pin to quick access |
|
Copy path |
Copy to clipboard full path of currently selected item |
|
Select all |
Select all items in current location |
|
Select none |
Deselect all items in current location |
|
Invert selection |
Invert currently selected items e.g. what is selected becomes deselected and vice versa |
|
Properties |
Show properties of currently selected files(s) / folder(s) - more details below |
|
Options |
Show File Explorer options - more details below |
File Explorer Context Menu
If you right mouse click on a file or folder you will see the following context menu.
|
Open |
Open the currently selected file with the default application for that file type e.g. .DOCX open with Microsoft Word |
|
Open with > |
Choose to open the currently selected file with a different application |
|
Share |
Share selected file(s) / folder(s) using Email / Microsoft Teams / OneDrive |
|
Add to Favourites |
Pin to quick access |
|
Compress to ZIP file |
Compress selected files(s) / folder(s) to a ZIP file |
|
Copy as path |
Copy to clipboard full path of currently selected item |
|
Properties |
Show properties of currently selected files(s) / folder(s) - more details below |
|
Show more options |
This displays another context menu with additional less commonly used options on |
|
Cut |
Cut currently selected files(s) / folder(s) - this means they will be moved from this location when pasted |
|
Copy |
Copies currently selected files(s) / folder(s) - this means they will be copied from this location when pasted |
|
Rename |
Rename currently selected files(s) / folder(s) |
|
Share |
Share currently selected files(s) / folder(s) using Email / Microsoft Teams / OneDrive |
|
Delete |
Delete currently selected files(s) / folder(s) |
If you right mouse click on an empty area you will see the following context menu.
|
View > |
Choose how you wish the files / folders in the content pane to be viewed - as Icons, List, Details, Tiles or Content |
|
Sort by > |
Choose how you wish the content pane to be sorted - by Name, Date, Type etc and whether ascending or descending |
|
Group by > |
Group files / folders by name, date, type or size |
|
Undo |
Undo the last operation |
|
New > |
Allows you to create new Folders, Shortcuts and Files |
|
Properties |
Show properties of currently selected files(s) / folder(s) - more details below |
|
Open in Terminal |
Open this file location in Windows Terminal |
|
Show more options |
This displays another context menu with additional less commonly used options on |
|
Paste |
Paste files(s) / folder(s) currently in clipboard e.g. previously copied or cut to this location |
File Explorer Properties
This window is shown when you choose Properties from the toolbar or from the context menu.
The General tab shows you the name, type of file, location, size, creation / modified and last accessed dates, along with the file attributes e.g. if it is read-only or hidden.
The Security tab shows you who has permissions to access this file - used more in a work / enterprise environment.
The Details tab shows you further details on the file and what appears here depends on file type, if a document it will show author, what program created it, editing time and much more. If a photo will show detailed information on camera and settings used to take the image.
The Previous Versions tab allows you to easily restore to an older version of the file - need to have File History enabled for this to work, but this is becoming obsolete in favour of using OneDrive instead.
If you have multiple files / folders selected when choosing Properties then the window shown will be slightly different, it will show a count of files / folders and the combined size of these files / folders.
File Explorer Options
File Explorer options can be accessed from the Options button on the toolbar.
On the General tab you can choose whether File Explorer opens to This PC (where it shows all you user folders e.g. documents, pictures, and drives) or Quick Access (which shows all your recent files and folders), you can also choose whether to open folder in the same window or a new window, whether you wish to double-click (default) or single-click to open an item, and you can choose privacy settings such as whether you want to show recently and frequently used files and folders and files from Office.com in Quick Access. You can also clear File Explorer history.
On the View tab you choose the default view for folders e.g. icons or details, and configure advanced settings such as whether to show file extensions for all files, whether to show hidden or protected operating system files, and much more.
On the Search tab you choose defaults for searching such as whether to include non-indexed locations such as compressed files, system directories, and whether to search content of files as well as names of files.
Copy/Move Progress Dialog
When copying or moving files from one location to another you will see the following dialog box - which shows the progress/speed of the current operation along with the current file being processed, time remaining and items remaining - the process can be paused or stopped using the buttons above the graph (as highlighted below).
Unlike previous versions of Windows if you are doing multiple copy/move operations they now all show in the same progress dialog box.
Delete Progress Dialog
Deleting files/folders will show the following progress box as it first calculates the sizes of the files and then moves the selected files/folders to the recycle bin.
Unlike previous versions of Windows you do not by default get a prompt confirming you wish to delete the selected files/folders - so be very careful!
To enable the confirmation prompt so you are always asked if you are sure before deleting files/folders - right mouse click on the Recycle Bin icon (located on the Desktop) and choose Properties.
When the Recycle Bin Properties window appears tick the box next to "Display delete confirmation dialog" and click OK.
Now whenever you try to delete a file or folder you will see the following box to confirm you wish to proceed.
