File Explorer in Windows 11 has been having difficulties. Windows 10's initial redesign replaced familiar functionality with a truncated right-click menu and truncated options in the ribbon menu.
After a few updates, things improved, and Windows 11 finally added tab support in File Explorer. But if you're annoyed by File Explorer's lack of consistency, there's a free, open source, community-supported alternative that's more customizable. It's simply called the Files app.
How to Download Files App for Free
You can buy the Files app from the official Microsoft store for $8, but it's also available completely free from the developer's website, although it's a bit hidden: After opening the link, click the Classic Installer button at the bottom of the page to start the free download.
But before doing this, I recommend you to create a backup of your computer and all your important files just to be on the safe side, since this is an application that has the power to directly edit all files on your computer.
Files app wins with its design
There's no shortage of File Explorer alternatives (XYPlorer is a popular choice), and that was the case even before Windows 11. But none of them have as modern or beautiful a design as the Files app. It draws inspiration from Microsoft's Fluent design system and looks even better on Windows 11 than Microsoft's own File Explorer, which feels like a cheap redesign of Windows 10's File Explorer.
This emphasis on design carries over to its customization options, of which there are many. You can choose from several default themes, or have fun choosing colors and transparency effects that suit you. And dark mode is divine .
If you're looking for a form factor closer to macOS, you can switch to Column view. Like the Finder on the Mac, this app has a quick preview feature that allows you to view photos and PDFs by pressing the space bar (doing this in File Explorer requires a third-party app.)
My favorite part, though, is that you can make the icons and previews larger so you can see what's in the image or PDF without even going through the quick view menu - something that's not possible natively with file resources Manager application.
Files app is a great file manager
The intuitive user interface in the Files app also translates into functionality. Tabbed browsing is fast and easy to navigate, and there's dual-pane support (you can add panes to tabs from the Menu button). This feature splits each window into two. The second pane displays quick shortcuts and allows you to browse to any folder. From there, just drag and drop files to rearrange or edit them the way you like.
The dual-pane layout makes file transfers a breeze, and you don't have to worry about window management. The "Details" button is another good option. The sidebar can display a preview and details of the selected file.
As mentioned above, column view is another useful way to navigate deeper into complex folder structures without losing context, since you can see the parent folders on the left.
Another macOS Finder feature that works well in the Files app is tag support. Tags can be created from the sidebar, and multiple tags can be assigned to a single file. When you open a tab from the sidebar, it will display all the files related to that tab. This is a great way to bring together files in different folders without actually moving them.
The Files app works with OneDrive and Google Drive by default, and you can view all files stored in your cloud storage account, as well as preview and decompress files. You can add support for other services like iCloud Drive and Dropbox.
Added functionality comes at a price
If you prefer, you can make the Files app your default file management app in Advanced settings. It can be used to open a folder from a search or even while downloading a file. (Due to Windows limitations, you can't use it when you upload files in the browser, but it can become the default file manager everywhere else.)
But the question is, should you use Files as your default app? This will depend on your computer. The Files app is modern and feature-rich, but it can also be a drag on your resources. It's slow to start the first time, and can be very slow when you batch rename files. But if you have a fast enough desktop computer, you won't be nervous.
Overall, its intuitive design, added navigation features, and the fact that it's available for free (competing apps in this space typically cost $25) make it well worth trying, and much better than Windows 11 standard.
