Microsoft is working on its new File Explorer for Windows 11. It will be a significant upgrade since the company last revamped it with Windows 8. The new File Explorer will be based on the Windows UI Library (WinUI), which makes it more native to Windows and has a clean and straightforward interface with a new command bar, new icons, and new additions, along with improvements.
It still feels and looks like the legacy version of File Explorer with new visual elements and tweaks in the UI. It will be based on a newly designed language, making it more like Windows 11 with the unique style and controls. Microsoft has confirmed this with the new WinAPPSKD (Windows App SDK), enabling the WinUI, new APIs, and other features.
How to enable the new File Explorer on #Windows 11. It includes a modern search box and an updated header. #Microsoft365 integration, #WinUI, and a gallery in the file manager have an in-depth detail panel.
— AndroidGreek (@AndroidGreek) April 10, 2023
Know-More⤵️https://t.co/AioFetOLE1#Microsoft #Windows #Windows11 pic.twitter.com/IQ9JWNnj6t
The new design will have a minimal impact on battery life or performance. The background design will ship and remain solid when the app is in focus, which is more like Windows design. As Microsoft has already updated its File Explorer with tabs, new icons, redesigned context bars, and many others, many more features are making their way to Windows 11 with future updates.
Gallery in File Manager
Microsoft Photos recently received an update where the company made several changes and integrated iCloud to view photos, and there is also support for OneDrive images. On the upper-left side panel, you will have the option to view the gallery under Home. It uses XAML and can show images in all image formats. It looks more like a Microsoft Photos app installed in Windows 11 apps.
There will be a series of pictures that you can check. Likewise, you can sort the files according to your preference, and to view them, click on the image, and it will open in Microsoft Photos. Also, on the right-side panel, you have a details pane to show the info about the image in the File Manager. At this point, it isn’t working as it should, as it still has some limitations that are likely to be fixed. If you can’t find the collection from the drop-down menu, choose the location of images to help start showing in the Gallery of File Manager in Microsoft Windows. Microsoft is also expected to add tagging to make it easier for users to view and find images in the File Manager.
Modern Search Box, Home Button, and Overhaul of Header
A redesigned header with a modern file directory box, home button, and search box will make it a more clutter-free and intuitive user interface. The header option for New or Copy to any file/folder has now moved below the header to make it clutter-free. This makes some room for the search bar. Search has also been improved with the previous update, as it will begin searching for the file in real time, and you don’t need to press enter to start the search.
The File Manager’s menu and title bar will no longer combine into one header interface. The header is now ditching the Ribbon-style menu with a new seamless header. All the feature labels like Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Share, and Delete are still in the exact location on the upper-left side of the header menu.
Microsoft 365 Integration to File Explorer
In the new File Explorer, the Home section on the upper-left side panel still has the Home, which also has integrated Microsoft 365 Files. This is one of the great features, as all users using Microsoft 365 can now check their files. The new File Explorer will have recommended files and deeper file details under the Recommended File section, with large thumbnails to view the files alongside emails, threads, comments, and tags and find the files quickly, as they are well organized within the File Explorer.
This will surely be one of the most significant updates to File Explorer, as it will eliminate the headache of some of the things we now have to go through. Without browsing the file in our Drive, we can directly access and manage it from File Explorer. As Microsoft keeps integrating Microsoft 365, it will be more convenient and attract more users to have Microsoft 365. We have seen with the past build that Microsoft updated the Windows Settings with Account, which will display the Microsoft 365 subscription, data usage, and products and services.
The details Panel will show more in-depth info about the file.
The details panel and the left-side panel have improved. It will now show more info to know more about the file without opening the properties from the context menu. This panel is now more intuitive to touch-friendly screens, and with the Microsoft 365 integration to the File Manager, there are more details to look into the file as it will patch data like Emails, Threads, Comments, Tags, Shared Files, and others. This will also help make the file more organized using the File Manager.
Improved File Explorer
Besides new features, Microsoft has made many changes under the hood to deliver better performance and web integration to the File Manager. There is a rounded button new animation of the File Manager, and this New File Explorer is likely to be added with the latest Windows Update. Before that, Windows Insider Preview will receive the beta version of File Explorer to fix any issues and avoid critical bugs ahead of the stable release, likely to happen sometime before August.
How to enable new File Explorer on Windows 11
It’s not enabled by default, and users need to enable it now manually; you can follow the following instructions below.
- Download ViveTool, and to install, extract the file and then copy the address of the removed patch.
- Next, open the CMD as administration, and then execute this command cd c:\folder\path\Paste-Vivetool-patch
- After successfully installing the ViveTool, execute this ViveTool /enable /id:38664959,40729001,41076133, and restart your computer.
If you encounter any issue after enabling the New File Explorer, you can execute this ViveTool /disable /id:38664959,40729001,41076133 to disable it from your Windows.
