The File Explorer in Home windows 11 has been having a tough time. The preliminary redesign from Home windows 10 displaced acquainted options and the right-click menu was truncated, as have been the choices within the ribbons menu.
A few updates later, issues have improved considerably, and Home windows 11 lastly added tab help in File Explorer. However if you happen to’re irritated by the dearth of consistency in File Explorer, there’s a free, open-source, community-supported different that is much more customizable. It is merely known as the Recordsdata app.
How you can obtain the Recordsdata app without spending a dime
You should buy the Recordsdata app from the official Microsoft Retailer for $8, nevertheless it’s additionally obtainable utterly freed from value from the developer’s web site, although it is a bit hidden: After opening the hyperlink, click on the Basic installer button on the backside of the web page to start out the free obtain.
However earlier than you try this, I counsel you create a backup of your laptop and all of your essential information simply to be secure, given that is an app with permissions to straight edit all information in your laptop.
The Recordsdata app wins with its design
Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
There is no scarcity of File Explorer options (XYPlorer being a well-liked alternative), and this was the case even earlier than Home windows 11. However none of them characteristic as trendy or polished a design because the Recordsdata app. It takes its cues from Microsoft’s Fluent design system, and appears even higher on Home windows 11 than Microsoft’s personal File Explorer, which looks like a cheaply re-skinned model of the Home windows 10 File Explorer.
This emphasis on design continues with its customization choices, of which there are lots. You possibly can select from a few default themes, or have enjoyable selecting colour and transparency results that give you the results you want. And the darkish mode is divine.
Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
Should you’re in search of a type issue nearer to macOS, you possibly can change to the Column view. Like Finder on Mac, this app additionally has a fast preview characteristic that lets you peek into images and PDFs by urgent the House bar (doing this within the File Explorer requires a third-party app.)
My favourite half although, is the truth that you may make the icons and previews further, further massive, so you possibly can see what’s in a picture, or a PDF with out even going by the short look menu —one thing that is simply not potential with the native File Explorer app.
The Recordsdata app is a good file supervisor
The intuitive UI in Recordsdata app additionally interprets to the performance. The tabbed shopping is quick and straightforward to navigate, and it has Twin Pane help (you possibly can add a pane to a tab from the Menu button). This characteristic splits each single window into two. The second pane reveals fast shortcuts, and lets you browse to any folder. From there, merely drag and drop information, rearrange, or edit nevertheless you want.
The twin-pane structure makes transferring information a breeze, and you will not want to fret about window administration both. The Particulars button is one more good contact. The sidebar can present a preview, and particulars of the chosen file.
Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
As talked about above, the Column view is one other helpful option to navigate deeper into a posh folder construction with out shedding context, as you possibly can see the father or mother folder to the left.
One other macOS Finder characteristic that works nicely within the Recordsdata app is Tagging help. Tags may be created from the sidebar, and a number of tags may be assigned to an single file. Once you open a tag from the sidebar, it can present all of the information associated to the tag. It is a nice option to pool in information from totally different folders, with out truly shifting them.
Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
The Recordsdata app works with OneDrive and Google Drive by default, you possibly can see all of the information saved in your cloud storage account, and it could actually preview and unzip information. You possibly can add help for different providers like iCloud Drive and Dropbox.
Added performance comes at a value
From the Superior settings, you may make the Recordsdata app your default file administration app if you happen to like. It may be used to open folders from Search, and even when downloading information. (Due to a Home windows limitation, it could actually’t be used if you’re importing information within the browser, however it may be the default file supervisor all in all places else.)
However the query is, do you have to use Recordsdata because the default app? That may rely in your laptop. The Recordsdata app is trendy, and feature-rich, nevertheless it will also be a drag in your assets. It is gradual in addition up the primary time, and it may be actually gradual if you’re batch-renaming information. However if in case you have a quick sufficient desktop PC, you will not really feel the pinch.
Total, its intuitive design, added navigation options, and the truth that it is obtainable without spending a dime (aggressive apps within the area normally value $25), makes it nicely value attempting out—and rather a lot higher than the Home windows 11 normal.
