File Explorer is a powerful tool that lets you access and manage your files and folders on your PC and in the cloud. Whether you want to find a file, share it with someone, or customize its appearance, File Explorer can help you do it easily and quickly. In this article, we will show you some tips and tricks on how to use File Explorer in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
How to Open File Explorer
There are many ways to open File Explorer in Windows. Here are some of the most common ones:
• Press the Windows logo key + E on your keyboard.
• Click the File Explorer icon on the taskbar or the Start menu.
• Type File Explorer in the search box on the taskbar or the Start menu and select it from the results.
• Right-click the Start button and select File Explorer from the menu.
• Go to Start > Windows System > File Explorer.
You can also pin File Explorer to the sidebar above the Start button for easy access. To do so, go to Settings > Personalization > Start, and then click Choose which folders appear on Start. Toggle on File Explorer.
How to Use File Explorer
File Explorer has a simple and intuitive interface that lets you navigate through your files and folders. Here are some of the main features of File Explorer:
• The ribbon at the top contains various tabs and commands that you can use to perform different actions on your files and folders, such as copying, moving, deleting, sharing, renaming, etc. You can also customize the ribbon by adding or removing buttons, changing their order, or hiding or showing the ribbon.
• The navigation pane on the left shows you a list of quick access locations, such as your desktop, documents, downloads, pictures, etc. You can also pin your favorite folders to quick access by right-clicking them and selecting Pin to Quick access. You can also access your cloud storage accounts (such as OneDrive) from the navigation pane if you sign in to them from Start > Settings > Accounts.
• The address bar at the top shows you the path of the current folder. You can click any part of the path to go to that folder, or type a new path and press Enter to go there. You can also use the arrow buttons on the left and right of the address bar to go back or forward in your history.
• The search box on the right of the address bar lets you find relevant files from your PC and the cloud by typing keywords or using filters. You can also use advanced search operators to refine your search results.
• The main pane shows you the contents of the current folder. You can change how your items appear in File Explorer by selecting View on the ribbon and choosing between showing icons, lists, details, and more. You can also sort, group, filter, or arrange your items by different criteria. To reduce the space between files, select View > Compact view.
• The context menu appears when you right-click on a file or folder. It gives you quick access to popular commands, such as open, cut, copy, paste, delete, rename, share, etc. You can also access more options by selecting Show more options at the bottom of the context menu.
How to Get More Help with File Explorer
If you need more help with File Explorer, you can press F1 or Fn + F1, which will open a browser window with a help page or a Bing search. You can also use some keyboard shortcuts to work faster in File Explorer, such as:
• Windows+E: Open a new window
• Ctrl+N: Open a new window in file explorer
• Ctrl+W: Close the current window
• Shift+Delete: Delete a file or folder permanently
• Ctrl+D: Delete a file or folder to recycle bin
• Ctrl+E: Go to the search box