The modern 3rd-party file manager gets an update

Jun 6, 2019 08:37 GMT  ·  By

While Microsoft doesn’t seem to be too keen on rolling out a visual overhaul for File Explorer, and features like tabs are still nowhere to be seen, the dev community has been hard at work on creating concepts and early versions of modern file managers.

Such an example is the intuitively-called Files UWP, which isn’t necessarily a fully-featured alternative to File Explorer just yet given it’s still a pre-release, but which comes with a modern look that we’ve previously seen in a series of really popular design concepts.

Despite not being listed for download in the Microsoft Store, Files UWP keeps evolving, and version 0.5 introduces a series of welcome changes.

One of them is support for custom locations, which makes it possible for users to set up different paths for Windows libraries like downloads, pictures, documents, and music.

Then, Files UWP 0.5 allows us to pin folders to the sidebar. This is a feature that has been around for a long time in File Explorer, and beginning with this update, Files UWP users can pin folders to the sidebar straight from the context menu.

Rounded corners

Additionally, the developer introduced what are being described as “more subtle rounded corners.” Windows 10 itself is believed to be migrating from a sharp corner design language to rounded corners, so this update prepares the file manager for the updated guidelines that Microsoft could announce when the visual overhaul becomes official.

A more controversial change is the removal of sidebar acrylic.

“While I understand many users may be disappointed by this change, it was necessary because heavy splashes of acrylic can distract the user. This change is also in-line with the revised Microsoft Fluent Design guidelines for navigation panes, which I am committed to utilizing fully,” the dev says on GitHub.

Needless to say, Files UWP is still a work-in-progress, but it’s still a neat way to get a taste of a modern file manager that Microsoft doesn’t seem to be too interested in developing.

Files UWP for Windows 10

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Files UWP for Windows 10
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