12 Best File Explorer Tips And Tricks For Windows 11

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 30, 2025, 3:57 AM

12 best file explorer tips and tricks for windows 11

Windows File Explorer has come a long way since its inception in 1995. While the underlying concept remains the same, much has changed under the hood, making it a productivity powerhouse for Windows 11 users. A few years ago, I shared some File Explorer tips and tricks for Windows 10, however, Windows 11 has made some important changes. So here I am again with the best tips and tricks for File Explorer on Windows 11 this time. Let’s begin the guide with an extensive list of keyboard shortcuts for File Explorer on Windows 11. It will come in useful for the rest of the guide and make your experience snappier saving you precious time.

Regular keyboard shortcut to cut, copy, paste, and select all work everywhere including File Explorer. The 2H22 update in Windows 11 brought a much anticipated and required feature — multiple tabs in the same window. Just like your favorite browser, you can now open multiple tabs in Windows 11 File Explorer too. Simply press Ctrl+T to open a new tab window and press Ctrl+W to close it. There seems to be no limit as to how many file explorer tabs you can open but I would recommend you keep this number low so as to not affect the performance of the... Windows 11 has unveiled a host of exciting features and improvements, particularly in its File Explorer.

This vital utility is your gateway to file management on your computer, and mastering it can significantly enhance your productivity. In this article, we’re going to explore the twelve best tips and tricks that will help you become a File Explorer pro in Windows 11. Whether you are a seasoned user or a newcomer, these tips will enable you to navigate your system, organize files, and customize your experience efficiently. One of the most visible changes in Windows 11’s File Explorer is the revamped user interface. The new layout options provide a fresh approach to file management. You can switch between different views—Details, List, Large Icons, or Medium Icons—depending on your needs.

To change the view: Adjusting your view can make it easier to find files, especially if you’re dealing with images or music. Large Icons can give you a quick visual reference, while Details mode can help you see vital file information, such as file size and modified date. Quick Access is a powerful feature that allows you to pin frequently used folders and recent files for easy access. To take advantage of this feature: Once pinned, these folders will appear in the left sidebar of File Explorer.

This is especially handy for those who often need to access specific directories, as it reduces the time spent navigating through multiple levels of folders. Here is a guide on some useful Tips and Tricks on Windows 11 File Explorer that you must know. The File Explorer in Windows 11 has been redesigned and it has some new features. It has a new context menu, revamped ribbon, and more new features. To utilize all of its features to the fullest, you can check out these tips and tricks that we have mentioned in this post. Let us check out.

To open up File Explorer Options (earlier called Folder Options) in Windows 11, click on the three-dot menu button from the main ribbon. You will see Options; simply click on it and it will open up the File Explorer Options window. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the best out of Windows 11 File Explorer. Start using Explorer as a power user! You can choose what you want to open whenever you launch File Explorer, This PC or Quick Access. By default, the Quick Access panel with selected folders is shown when you open File Explorer.

If you want, you can change the target folder to This PC if that is what you prefer. To do that, here are the steps you can follow: Now, whenever you open File Explorer, This PC panel will show up. In case you decide to change the settings later, you can use the same steps as discussed above. Windows File Explorer has received several enhancements in Windows 11, making file management more efficient for users of all skill levels. From keyboard shortcuts to advanced organizational features, knowing the right tips can save time and streamline your workflow.

Here, we’ll explore the best File Explorer tips and tricks, backed by professional insights, to help you stay organized and productive with your files and folders. How Can You Quickly Access Frequently Used Folders? Pinning folders to Quick Access is a powerful way to keep your most frequently used locations within easy reach. To do this, right-click any folder and select “Pin to Quick Access.” These folders will appear at the top left of the File Explorer window. This feature is especially helpful for project folders or shared drives you use daily. If you want to remove a folder from Quick Access, simply right-click it in the Quick Access list and choose “Unpin from Quick Access.” Over time, curating this list can make navigation much faster,...

What Keyboard Shortcuts Save the Most Time? File Explorer in Windows has changed in look, feel, and functionality over the years, but its basic goal has always been to help you manage, view, and launch the array of documents, photos, and... Even if you’ve been using Windows for a long time, there are likely features in File Explorer that you may not know about or haven’t used in awhile. And that’s even more true in Windows 11, which has tweaked File Explorer visually and functionally. Within File Explorer, you’ll see a Quick Access section that displays your most frequently used folders and recently used files. A dedicated Share button allows you to quickly share files from File Explorer.

If you’re a OneDrive user, the file storage service is embedded inside File Explorer so you can easily store and sync files in the cloud. Read on for other useful features that will ease your use of file management in Windows. The Quick Access section of File Explorer appears at the top of the left pane and displays your most frequently used folders as well as recent files. As this section is home to the folders you want to access most often, you can customize the Quick Access view to make it more useful. To add any folder in File Explorer to Quick Access, right-click the folder and select Pin to Quick Access from the pop-up menu, or drag and drop the folder to the entry for Quick... Note that you can pin local folders as well as folders from network drives and those from integrated cloud services such as OneDrive or Dropbox.

To remove a folder from Quick Access, right-click it and select Unpin from Quick Access from the pop-up. Windows File Explorer has come a long way since its inception in 1995. While the basic concept remains the same, a lot has changed under the hood, making it a productivity powerhouse for Windows 11 users. A few years ago, I shared some tips and tricks for File Explorer for Windows 10, however, Windows 11 has introduced some significant changes. So here I am again with the best tips and tricks for File Explorer on Windows 11 this time. <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://www.a7la-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Best-File-Explorer-Tips-and-Tricks-for-Windows-11-585x390-1.jpg" alt="Best-File-Explorer-Tips-and-Tricks-for-Windows-11-585x390-1 أفضل 12 تلميح وحيلة حول مستكشف الملفات Windows 11" width="585" height="390" srcset="https://www.a7la-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Best-File-Explorer-Tips-and-Tricks-for-Windows-11-585x390-1.jpg 585w, https://www.a7la-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Best-File-Explorer-Tips-and-Tricks-for-Windows-11-585x390-1-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px"/>

Let's start the guide with a comprehensive list of keyboard shortcuts for File Explorer on Windows 11. It will be useful for the rest of the guide and make your experience easier, saving you valuable time. A simple keyboard shortcut to cut, copy, paste and select all your work everywhere including File Explorer. The 2H22 update to Windows 11 brought a much-anticipated and requested feature—multiple tabs in the same window. Just like your favorite browser, you can now open multiple tabs in Windows 11 File Explorer as well. You probably use Windows File Explorer all the time, but there’s a ton of tricks and secrets lurking in there that you haven’t discovered yet.

Here’s a bunch of my favorite File Explorer secrets that I bet will make you say “How did I not know that?!“ Now let’s get into the juicy stuff — the hidden settings and tricks that will supercharge your File Explorer experience. First off, let’s talk shortcuts. Sure, you probably know the basics like Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, but did you know you can use Ctrl+Shift+N to instantly create a new folder? Or that Alt+D jumps straight to the address bar? These little shortcuts add up to save a TON of time.

The default look of File Explorer is quite bland. It doesn’t open to our preferred folder, less frequently used features like Recent Items are enabled, the navigation pane is cluttered, and more. Today, I’ll show you how to customize File Explorer using the built-in Windows options. By default, File Explorer opens to the Home folder containing Quick Access, Favorites, and Recent Items sections. I wasn’t a fan of this setup because I prefer to land directly in the This PC folder, where I can easily navigate to the different partitions to find what I need. Fortunately, Windows allows you to change the default folder to which File Explorer opens.

To do this, click on the three horizontal dots on the far right of the ribbon, then select "Options." In the drop-down menu next to “Open File Explorer To,” choose your preferred folder—in my... Finally, click “Apply” and then “OK.” Now, whenever you open File Explorer, it'll take you straight to the “This PC” folder. File Explorer displays recently accessed files in the Recent Items section on the Home page. This can be a privacy concern if you share your computer with others and can also clutter your File Explorer. Fortunately, Windows allows you to remove this section, and it's one of the first things I do after a fresh Windows installation. To remove recent items, click on the three horizontal dots on the far right of the ribbon, select "Options," uncheck the box next to "Show Recently Used Files," click "Apply," and "OK."

12 Best File Explorer Tips And Tricks For Windows 11

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