Files Is a Windows File Explorer Alternative That Meets All User Needs

Explore files is a Windows file explorer alternative that meets all user needs.

The default File Explorer is a perfect example. It certainly meets the needs, but it hasn't been upgraded as much as it should have been. People want something more modern and adaptable to how they use computers today. And Files, an open-source file manager, has completely replaced File Explorer on many laptops. After using it for a while, many people claim they will never go back to File Explorer again.

The Files app is the perfect blend of modern and classic

It feels like someone has given File Explorer a much-needed upgrade

The best thing about the Files app, besides being free, is its design. It tries and succeeds in fitting in with the design language that Microsoft has adopted for Windows 11. But the Files app shines and takes customization to a whole new level.

While File Explorer defaults to letting you switch between light and dark modes, the Files app lets you choose any color you want to apply.

Multitasking has never been easier

The file tagging, two panes, and separate tabs are a complete breakthrough

With the default Windows File Explorer, you had to open multiple file manager windows if you wanted to move files from one place to another. That's no longer the case with the Files app. The Dual Pane feature is a breakthrough.

You can open a window displaying images from the camera's SD card and open another window alongside it to display the new folder where you want to move the images. You can easily drag and drop files from one window to the other, which is especially efficient when handling hundreds of files.

Additionally, there's another quite useful feature that Mac users will be familiar with, called file tagging. Thanks to file tagging, you can create a new tag called "Untag" and assign it a red color. Then, all you need to do is select the unpaid invoice, right-click on it, and tag it as "Unpaid." All your unpaid invoices will then be easily accessible under the "Unpaid" tag.

Integrate with PowerToys to unlock more features

If you use PowerToys, the Files app will become much more powerful

Many people use PowerToys, a handy tool that allows them to perform several important tasks, such as resizing images, extracting text from images, customizing window layouts, getting screen colors, etc. There's also a useful feature, also available on macOS, called Peek.

Peek allows you to preview files without opening them. So, if you want to move a PDF or image file, simply select the file and press the spacebar on your keyboard to display a high-quality preview of the file.

Files also brings a Mac feature to Windows users called Column View. This feature is very useful when you want to access a file that's deep inside multiple folders. In Windows' default File Explorer, this is frustrating because if you want to go back to a specific folder, you have to press the back button or get lost in the complex folder structure.