How to Customize Windows 11 File Explorer for Your Needs

Getting Started with File Explorer

New to Windows 11 File Explorer 📁? These guides cover the basics to help you get comfortable with its layout and common functions. Understand how to view your files and connect to other devices.

1 How to Show or Hide Status Bar in File Explorer in Windows 11 The status bar in Windows 11 File Explorer shows helpful information at the bottom of every window. This bar can display details… 2 min read

2 How to Change Folder Layout View in Windows 11 File Explorer Folder layout view in Windows 11 File Explorer changes how your files and folders look on screen. Windows 11 uses a medium… 2 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

3 How to Show or Hide Preview Pane in File Explorer in Windows 11 The preview pane in Windows 11 File Explorer is a side panel that shows a live look at your files right on… 2 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

4 How to Show or Hide Drive Letters in Windows 11 File Explorer The article provides a guide on how to hide or show drive letters in the File Explorer of Windows 11, with the new default view set to 'Home'. This can be done via File Explorer folder options or using the Windows Registry editor. The modifications require a computer restart to take effect. 3 min read · ↻ Updated Jul 2026

Organizing and Accessing Your Files

Keep files tidy and find what you need without hassle. These guides show how to use features like Favorites, manage folder views, and access files stored on a phone.

1 How to Access Your Phone’s Files Directly in Windows 11 File Explorer Accessing phone files directly in Windows 11 File Explorer lets you browse photos and download documents from your mobile device without using… 5 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

2 How to Use Favorites in Windows 11 File Explorer Windows 11 File Explorer offers a Favorites feature that allows users to quickly access frequently used files without searching through folders, enhancing efficiency. Users can easily add or remove files from their Favorites list, streamlining file organization and management for those who handle numerous documents daily. 3 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

3 How to Rename Folders in Windows 11 This guide outlines various methods to rename folders in Windows 11, enhancing file organization. Users can rename folders through keyboard shortcuts, single clicks, the command bar, or right-click menus. Advanced users have the option to use PowerShell or Command Prompt. Avoid using specific characters when naming folders for best results. 4 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

4 How to Delete Folders in Windows 11 This guide details how to safely delete unnecessary folders on a Windows 11 PC. It explains that deleted folders typically move to the Recycle Bin, allowing for recovery. Users can delete folders using keyboard shortcuts, File Explorer, or command-line tools. Learning to delete helps free up space and maintain organization. 4 min read · ↻ Updated Jul 2026

5 How to Add or Remove the Navigation Pane in Windows 11 This guide explains how to show or hide the navigation pane in Windows 11's File Explorer. The navigation pane displays folders for easy access but may take up space. Users can toggle it via the View menu in File Explorer or by using advanced registry commands in Windows Terminal. A restart is required for registry changes. 3 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

6 How to Hide Office.com Files in Windows 11 File Explorer The article guides users on managing the "Show Files from Office.com" feature in Windows 11 File Explorer. By default, the feature is enabled, presenting Office.com files in the home view. Users can disable it manually via Folder Options or using the Local Group Policy Editor or Windows Registry. The guide details each method for users. 3 min read · ↻ Updated Jul 2026

Customizing Your File Explorer Experience

Make File Explorer work the way you want it to. These guides cover settings that change how File Explorer behaves and looks, from startup locations to information displays.

1 How to Make File Explorer Open to Mobile Device in Windows 11 File Explorer in Windows 11 lets you change its startup folder so it opens directly to your mobile device or phone storage… 5 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

2 How to Make File Explorer Open to OneDrive in Windows 11 File Explorer in Windows 11 opens to your OneDrive folder by default instead of the cluttered Home screen when you change a… 4 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

3 How to Enable or Disable Window Preloading in File Explorer on Windows 11 Window preloading in File Explorer keeps a background process active so folders open instantly on Windows 11. Microsoft added this feature in… 2 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

4 How to Show or Hide Gallery in Windows 11 File Explorer The article outlines how to show or hide the Gallery feature in the File Explorer navigation pane in Windows 11. Introduced in Windows build 23435, this feature eases access to photo collections, including auto-display of photos from OneDrive Camera Roll Backup. The steps to add or remove Gallery involve modifications in the Windows Registry and system restart. 3 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

5 How to Switch Tabs in Windows 11 File Explorer The post instructs students and new users on how to switch between File Explorer tabs on Windows 11, which allows multiple locations to be worked on simultaneously. Key steps include opening File Explorer, creating a new tab with CTRL + T or the 'Add new tab' button, and switching between tabs using CTRL + Tab or mouse clicks. 2 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

6 How to Enable or Disable Pop-up Tips Description in File Explorer on Windows 11 The article provides instructions for enabling or disabling pop-up descriptions for folder and desktop items in Windows 11. These pop-ups, or tooltips, show basic item details like creation date and size. Users can control this feature either via File Explorer Folder Options or the Windows Registry editor. 3 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

Advanced Features and File Recovery

Explore specific features and handle tricky situations. These guides cover useful tools like undo/redo and image rotation, alongside recovering files accidentally deleted from mobile devices.

1 How to Recover Deleted Mobile Device Files from Windows 11 File Explorer Recovering deleted mobile device files from Windows 11 File Explorer is possible when you use the Link to Windows feature to connect… 4 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

2 How to Use Undo and Redo in Windows 11 File Explorer Undo and Redo commands in Windows 11 File Explorer help users quickly rectify mistakes like deleting or moving files. Users can reverse actions using CTRL + Z and redo them with CTRL + Y. These features streamline file management by eliminating the need to search for lost files or restart tasks. 2 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

3 How to Rotate Images in Windows 11’s File Explorer This guide explains how to rotate images on a Windows 11 computer using File Explorer, the Photos app, or Paint. Users can easily select a picture and use the rotate options available in these applications to adjust their images’ orientation. Each method is straightforward and requires no additional software. 3 min read · ↻ Updated Aug 2026

4 How to Use Access Keys in Windows 11 File Explorer Microsoft is testing a new feature on Windows 11's development version which adds Access Keys shortcuts to the XAML context menu in File Explorer. Access Key, a one-keystroke shortcut, enables a user to execute commands in the context menu swiftly. However, this feature's availability is currently limited to participants of the Microsoft Insider Preview program. 3 min read · ↻ Updated Jul 2026

Common questions

How do I make File Explorer open to 'This PC' instead of 'Quick access'?

Adjusting a single menu preference fixes this behavior. Click the '...' menu, select 'Options', open the 'General' tab, and switch the 'Open File Explorer to' setting to 'This PC'.

How can I see file details like size and date modified more easily?

Folder views adapt to specific needs in a couple of clicks. Click the 'View' menu, then choose 'Details' to see a list with columns for size, date, and type. Right-clicking the column headers adds or removes extra columns.

What is the 'Gallery' in File Explorer?

Photos and videos scattered across the PC collect in this dedicated view, letting users browse an entire media library without clicking through separate folders.

How do I use tabs in File Explorer?

File Explorer in Windows 11 supports tabs, similar to web browsers. Opening new tabs takes Ctrl+T, switching between them uses Ctrl+Tab, and closing them relies on Ctrl+W. This speeds up multitasking across multiple directories.

Can I get back a file I accidentally deleted?

Deleted files usually land in the Recycle Bin first. Open the Recycle Bin, locate the target item, right-click it, and select 'Restore'. Files removed from a mobile device via File Explorer require specific recovery software.