Microsoft has paid a lot of attention to Windows Explorer and file manager in Windows 10. Some new options are very useful right away, others are even better switched off. We show all the new possibilities and tell you how you can work with them even more conveniently.
Tip 01: Start up
The file explorer is an essential part of any operating system. It is the entrance to folders and files and the tools to modify, move, copy and so on. Unnoticed you use the file explorer much more often than you think, for example because it does its work unnoticed when Word opens or saves a file. Also read: Navigate more conveniently through the Explorer in 3 steps.
Windows file explorer is Windows Explorer. You can start File Explorer in several ways. We already knew the best known, that is with Windows key + E or via Home / Explorer. You can also launch it by right-clicking Start to click and then in the system menu choose Explorer. Or by clicking the magnifying glass to the Start button and searching for scout. Once the program is found, press Enter to launch it.
Tip 02: The parts
When using Windows Explorer it is important to know the different parts of the interface. It starts on the left with the large vertical column, the Navigation Pane. Here you see all drives and folders, but never files. You can see folders and files on the right side of the file window. At the top of the screen you have the Ribbon with the functions that play a role when working with Explorer. By default, the functions on the Ribbon are divided into three tabs: Start, To share and Image. A click on each of these switches the functions on the Ribbon.
Finally, at the very top of the window, in the title bar, you have the Quick Access Toolbar, which we also know from, for example, the Office programs. It lists some of the most commonly used features and you can add features to them yourself. If you don't see the Ribbon permanently (which we find very useful), click on the arrow on the far right of the blue circle with the question mark Expand the ribbon.
Tip 03: Quick access
A handy new feature in File Explorer in Windows 10 is Quick Access. This section automatically fills itself with the folders and files you use most. The folders selected by the Quick Access are on the left side of the explorer window. You can pin folders that show up in the Quick Access list and that you really use often. They will always remain there in the list, even if you use them less often.
If you want to add a folder to the Quick Access section yourself, right-click on a folder and choose Pin to quick access. If you don't want to have a pinned folder in that list anymore, right click on it and choose Unpin from Quick Access.
Tip 04: Recent files
A variant of the Quick access are the Recent files. This list is automatically built and maintained by Windows. Handy because you can quickly open the photo or document you have worked on before. You can see these files in the Navigation pane by clicking Quick access to click. If there is a file that you would rather not have in the list, right-click on the file and choose Remove from Quick access.
Privacy
If you'd rather not let everyone see which folders you use a lot or which files you've recently opened, you can disable Quick Access altogether and clear its history. Slightly less ease of use, but considerably more privacy. To do this, click at the top of the Ribbon on View / Options / Change folder and search options. On the tab General are at the bottom below Privacy two options. Uncheck the box View recently used files in Quick access then Windows stops showing the list of the most recently opened files.
By unchecking View recently used folders in Quick access, make sure that Windows no longer includes folders that you open often in the list on the left in Explorer. If you want to make sure that people cannot see which folders and files you have opened or if you just want to clean up the list, click on To clear at the option Clear Explorer History.
Tip 05: Start in This PC
When you start Windows 10 Explorer, it opens by default in the Quick access section. In previous versions of Windows, File Explorer always opened with My Computer or later This PC. Did you secretly find that much more convenient? Fortunately, it can be adjusted with a few clicks. Start File Explorer and go to View / Options. In the tab General you will find a menu at the top Open explorer in, where you change Quick access to This PC. Confirm with OK.
