Overview

Windows Explorer is a built-in application that allows you to organize and view files and folders. It is the default file management application in the Windows operating system and provides a graphical user interface for users to navigate and manage files and folders on their computers. It is also called File Explorer in the Windows 10 operating system and later versions.

Launch Windows Explorer

To launch the Windows Explorer application, click the Explorer icon on the taskbar or Start Menu, or double-click on any folder on the desktop. A new Explorer window will appear.

 

What is a folder?

The Windows operating system uses folders to help you organize files. You can create or put files inside a folder, just like you would put documents inside a real file folder.

What is a file?

Files are entities that store different types of data. There are many different types of files you can use. For example, Microsoft Word documents, digital photos, digital music, and digital videos are all types of files. When you use different applications, you’ll often view, create, or edit files.

Windows Explorer Features

Some key features of Windows Explorer are as follows:

• File Navigation
• File Operations

File Navigation

Windows Explorer allows users to navigate the file system, view folders, and access files stored on local drives, network drives, and external storage devices.

File Operations

Users can perform various Windows Explorer file operations, including copying, moving, renaming, and deleting files and folders. It also supports basic file manipulation tasks like creating new folders and organizing files.

Search and Filters

Windows Explorer includes search functionality to help users find specific files or folders. It also provides filters and sorting options to organize files based on criteria such as name, date, type, and size.

File Preview

Users can preview certain types of files directly within Windows Explorer without opening separate applications. This can include previewing images, videos, and document content.

Taskbar Integration

In later versions of Windows, Windows Explorer integrates with the taskbar, providing quick access to frequently used folders and offering features like jump lists for recent files and pinned folders.

Libraries

Windows Explorer introduced Libraries in Windows 7, allowing users to organize and access files from different locations in a unified view. Libraries aggregate content from multiple folders into a single view.

In more recent versions of the Windows operating system, especially Windows 10, File Explorer is commonly used to refer to the file management tool. File Explorer is essentially an updated version of Windows Explorer with additional features and improvements.