It's fun to criticize all the things Microsoft has done wrong with Windows 11, but the truth is many aspects of the operating system have improved with this latest iteration. Both through the initial Windows 11 launch and subsequent feature updates, File Explorer has consistently improved in a wide range of ways compared to previous releases, much like other parts of the OS, such as Notepad and the Snipping Tool.
It's good to recognize these improvements so we understand what we'd like to change and what we'd like to carry forward as we move into the future, so here are a few things that Windows 11's File Explorer does better than previous versions.
1.Simplified context menus (They look nicer and they're more useful)
One of the most notable changes in Windows 11 File Explorer has been here from the very beginning, and I suspect it's a somewhat controversial one. However, if you ask me, the new context menus used in File Explorer are a big improvement over what we had before.
First, they look a lot nicer. The transparency effects, icons, and animations make the new context menu much more pleasant to look at, and it's easier to identify different options at a glance. For a while there, the experience was also much cleaner because this new menu didn't support the same integrations as the old one, but as apps have integrated with the new menu more, it's start to get equally busy. Still, the visuals are much nicer and I'd rather use this new menu compared to the old one any day.
2.Tighter OneDrive integration (See your cloud storage more easily)
Windows 11 also brought in tighter OneDrive integration in File Explorer, and it's just kept getting better over time. Early on, Microsoft added a OneDrive button that let you quickly see your storage quote in OneDrive directly, so you didn't have to use the OneDrive app or flyout.
With Windows 11 version 23H2, this integration became even deeper, so you can access this information from the address bar, and if you're browsing your local folders, File Explorer can also now prompt you to back up certain folders if you're not already doing so. It does make the experience a bit more seamless if you keep cloud backups of your data, even though this particular feature isn't for me.
3.The new Home page (Faster access to what matters)
It's easy to overlook the changes Microsoft has made to the Home page in File Explorer, but when you take a closer look, things have definitely improved in a few ways. The Quick access area is still here, and there's also a list of your recently opened files just like before, but one major addition is the new Favorites section. Quick Access was an area that only let you pin folders, but the Favorites section is for files you access frequently, and it makes it even faster to get to those files.
And that's to say nothing of some of the changes made for specific sets of users, like those using a Microsoft 365 work account. Those users can see relevant files highlighted in a much more prominent way and the changes other users in the organization have made to those files, making it easier than ever to stay on top of relevant projects.
4.Gallery (All your photos in the same place)
Prior to Windows 11, there really wasn't an easy way to view all your photos aside from using the Photos app itself. And that was fine, but with one of the more recent Windows 11 updates, the company decided to bring the File Explorer experience a bit closer to that Photos app with a dedicated Gallery section.
The Gallery section pulls photos from different folders on your PC (and even a connected phone using Phone Link), which you can customize, and it creates a timeline of those photos, so you can view them all by the date on which they were taken, irrespective of where they're stored on your PC. This makes it easier to collect and relive your memories, and on top of that, this particular view has an optimized layout for photos, so images appear bigger and their aspect ratio is mostly preserved, making for a much better experience than view the small, standardized thumbnails of a typical Windows 11 folder.
5.Phone integration (Browse all your files, no extra apps or cables needed)
Another neat feature that was very recently added to File Explorer on Windows 11 is the ability to browse all the files on your Android phone if you've connected it using the Phone Link app. In the past, you could see your photos in the app, but now, you can browse everything on your phone directly in File Explorer without having to use a USB cable and enable data transfer like what's typically been done.
It's become increasingly clear that Microsoft expects users to have their phone and PC linked at all times, and if you do, you have a lot of seamless experiences being added that do make this feature that much better.
1.Tab support (It's a game changer)
Of course, you knew this would be the top pick. Tab support ws one of the most wanted features in File Explorer, and with Windows 11 version 22H2, Microsoft finally delivered it. Tab support means pretty much what you think it means: now, you can open multiple folders at the same time to manage your files without having multiple windows open. Everyone has used a tabbed web browser before, and it's easy to understand how managing tabs is much more natural and easier than having multiple tabs.
The implementation of tabs in File Explorer hasn't been perfect, but it follows most of the principles you'd expect from a tabbed app, with similar shortcuts supported for creating and closing tabs, so you'll get used to it in no time. It really makes a huge difference for productivity and window management overall.
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